Ofsted inspectors impressed with school gardens

In 2010 Ofsted inspectors commented on the benefits of gardening in two of the schools we work in.

The Ofsted report for a local nursery school included the following paragraph:

“Children learn very well about the world about them. They learn about nature and where food comes from as they help to plant and tend the compact but well-stocked garden. The children help to prepare dishes using some of the ingredients they grow, such as tomatoes, spinach, runner beans, lettuce, broad beans, potatoes, rhubarb, blackcuurants, redcurrants, onions, garlic and strawberries."

A primary school report said:

"The curriculum goes well beyond what is required and provides pupils with a remarkable range of exciting and stimulating activities to engage them actively in learning. .... Even the youngest pupils build spaceships, grow their own vegetables, visit the zoo, go on imaginary 'trips' to India to sample curries and then, importantly, write about what they have directly experienced."