Pupil Referral Unit Toolkit: Growing for Wellbeing

Information sheet

A collection of resources designed to support pupil wellbeing in pupil referral units (PRUs) and specialist educational settings.

  • School term: All year round
  • Level of experience: No experience needed
  • Subject(s): PSHE

Feel Good by Growing

These learning activities support wellbeing by encouraging pupils to grow and care for plants.  They focus on supporting pupil voice and agency, overcoming sensory barriers and developing emotional literacy and self-regulation. 

The resources were co-developed and piloted with staff across a wide range of pupil referral units and specialist settings from October 2023-May 2024, and include materials developed in partnership with children’s mental health charity Place2Be. 

Evidence-backed approach: In the first three months of the project, pupil wellbeing scores improved from a baseline significantly below the national average to scores in line with the national average.  This step-change in pupil wellbeing corresponded with pupils taking part in introductory sensory experiences with herb plants and pupil voice being front and centre as pupils discussed and selected a gardening for wellbeing focus they wished to pursue.  Approaches chosen by pupils in different PRUs included gardening to raise money for charity and creating an indoor mindfulness garden.

Sustaining improvements in wellbeing: This improvement in pupil wellbeing was sustained at the end of the pilot in May 2024, showing engagement with plants and nature can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of young people with complex Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs.

Getting started

Reducing barriers Tuning into plants Establishing agency

Build confidence with the sensory aspects of gardening including using soil, being near insects and gardening in all weathers.

Top tips

Use supermarket herbs as a way into plants: make minty drinks and explore the appearance, feel and taste of two or more herbs.

Sensory herbs

Support pupils to identify a gardening for wellbeing focus by sharing these growing ideas including caring for classroom plants.

Pupil ideas table

 

Developing self-regulation and emotional literacy

Teachers' notes How can gardening help me? How I feel about gardening

Understand how plants support mental wellbeing, and how these resources link to the Zones of Regulation.

Guidance

Support pupils to identify gardening activities that help them feel better, regain focus and remain calm.

Widgit symbol version
Editable Word version

Support pupils to communicate how they feel when they garden, and what makes them feel that way.

Widgit symbol version

Editable Word version

Maximising success

Classroom plants Regular gardening Pupil certificates

Caring for peace lilies, tender geraniums and aloe vera, and making more plants for free.

Indoor plants

Inspire a connection to nature with weekly activities using these ideas.

Autumn term

Celebrate every achievement with these pocket-sized certificates to take home.

Download

The difference this makes

At a glance In detail

Key highlights from the Feel Good by Growing pilot evaluation report.

Summary report

Including analysis of the impact on pupil wellbeing scores by gender and key stage.

Full report

Wellbeing support from the RHS

Free school visits to RHS Gardens

Introduce children and young people to the wellbeing benefits of being amongst plants by taking part in a workshop at an RHS Garden. We have workshops for pupils from Early Years to Key Stage 4, with a variety of interactive activities supporting pupils to discover, describe and connect with the world around them.

Book now

School Gardening Awards

Supporting pupil wellbeing is at the heart of our free five level award scheme. Feel and celebrate the difference plants can make to pupils' emotional and physical wellbeing and receive a copy of the RHS book 'Your Wellbeing Garden'.

Read more

National Education Nature Park

A key element of the National Education Nature Park is promoting wellbeing, which is embedded throughout the programme. The programme helps transform eco-anxiety into agency to empower learners to respond positively and tangibly to the climate and biodiversity crises.

Find out more

New Shoots: RHS Careers

New Shoots aims to inspire the next generation of talent by giving people insights into the horticultural industry and a taste of working in a public garden. Whether you are looking for information about careers in the sector, a useful stepping-stone between education and starting a career, or want to bring a job role you heard about to life, there is something for everyone, regardless of background or experience.

Find out more

RHS Libraries

Discover herbs and flowers used for healing in the past and today with our digital collection 'Healing Garden: A History of Medicinal Plants'.

Explore collection