Food growing schools

This contract is worth £25,000 which is match funding for the Edible Playgrounds project by Trees for Cities. The Edible Playgrounds project is worth a total of £60,00. The Edible Playgrounds project offers a lively, engaging, multi-sensory way to teach children about growing and eating healthy food. The programme establishes a pattern for healthy eating that will stay with pupils throughout their lives. Aside from the physical benefits, healthy diets have been linked to an increase in cognitive function. Learning in an outdoor environment combats Nature Deficit Disorder and has been shown to increase mental health by boosting mood, confidence and self-esteem. Allowing children to connect with nature develops attentiveness and self-reliance, leading to more sustainable behaviours in the long term. Other benefits of the project include: • Providing teaching support across the National Curriculum. • Raising standards and improving pupils' PSED (Ofsted). • Building on health initiatives already in place and helps gain Healthy Schools awards. • Parents appreciate the commitment to teaching pupils in a more holistic manner - this can be a decider when they are settling on a school.

Trees for Cities will need to describe how they will meet the terms of the specification in its application.

The value of the service is fixed at £60,000, of which, £25,000 match-funding will be provided in cash by Enfield Public Health.