Free Breakfast Clubs and the Nature Park: working together
The Department for Education explain how their Free Breakfast Clubs can work alongside the Nature Park programme, such as at St Bede's Catholic Primary and Nursery School.
Since April 2025, the Department for Education has funded Free Breakfast Clubs in 750 early adopter schools in towns and cities across the country, offering places to nearly 180,000 children with a healthy, nutritious start to their day. This is part of the government's pledge to provide Free Breakfast Clubs in every state-funded school with primary-aged children.
St. Bede's Catholic Primary & Nursery School in South Shields is one of our early adopter schools and now offers a Free Breakfast Club available to all children at the school. They've also been awarded a £10,000 grant through the National Education Nature Park programme to support efforts to increase biodiversity on site and enhance their outdoor learning environment.
Plans for a new sensory garden and mini allotment area
The school are utilising the Nature Park funding to transform an underused section of the playground into a sensory garden and mini allotment area. This new space will provide a calm, engaging environment for pupils to enjoy during playtimes and before school, to support wellbeing and outdoor learning. It will include:
- A large seating area with integrated planters
- A wildflower garden to attract pollinators
- A large minibeast hotel to support insect habitats
- Raised beds to create a mini allotment area for pupils
- A living wall to enhance the appearance of the metal container
- A wooden arch planter to frame the entrance to the space
Hear from St Bede's about their experience so far
“Our school has begun engaging with the National Education Nature Parks initiative, and while it is still early days, we are excited to involve pupils attending the Free Breakfast Club in helping to develop our biodiversity project. This will include activities such as planting and creating habitats to support local wildlife. We hope this project will offer a meaningful and enjoyable way for the children to connect with nature in a relaxed and inspiring environment."
Carol Devine, Headteacher
