Farmers gear up to host school visits

On Tuesday 1 October, the first six recruits for the new School Farm Visits Support Programme took their first steps towards creating engaging and educational farm visits for schools.

Elsa Healey, from our Education team, met with the group at Harewood Estate near Leeds, where they embarked on the initial Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme (CEVAS) training.

The training focused on essential topics such as health and safety, integrating farm visits into the school curriculum, and planning hands-on activities for children.

This training is a crucial part of a broader initiative to help farmers across England and Wales offer enriching farm experiences for students.

Developed in collaboration with LEAF Education, the programme aims to bridge the gap between agriculture and education. It allows children to learn about where their food comes from while exploring life on a working farm.

The School Farm Visits Support Programme, launched after a successful pilot last year, has expanded to include more farmers.

Twenty-four farmers from the beef, lamb, dairy and pork sectors with limited experience hosting school visits are being offered fully funded CEVAS training and one-to-one support to help them deliver high-quality, safe and memorable on-farm experiences.

“We’re thrilled to be working with such a dedicated group of farmers and excited about the potential of this programme,” said Elsa.

“By increasing opportunities for children to visit farms, we hope to inspire future generations and help them understand the vital role agriculture plays in everyday life.”

In addition to providing training and support to farmers, the programme also aims to remove barriers that schools often face when organising farm visits.

Schools participating in the project can apply for funding to cover transport costs, which is often a challenge for many schools looking to provide this enriching experience for their students.

As the programme continues to grow, it is expected to have a lasting impact on both students and the farming community, fostering a stronger connection between agriculture, education and the next generation of food-conscious citizens.