Swansea University has joined the Welsh Government and Keep Wales Tidy to form a new partnership that will help better understand how climate change and sustainability education can be delivered to pupils with additional learning needs (ALN).
Through Welsh Government SMART Partnership funding of more than £34,000, a research associate will visit special schools, pupil referral units, and units attached to mainstream schools to gather examples of climate change education in practice and identify any areas that need further work in supporting resources.
Dr Jennifer Rudd, Project Co-lead and Senior Lecturer in the School of Management at Swansea University, said:
“Our changing climate is affecting children across Wales. It is vital that all learners understand why it is happening and how they can make changes at home and school, as well as how to lobby for structural changes to reduce Wales’s overall carbon footprint.”
Dr Dai Thomas, Project Co-lead and Senior Lecturer in the School of Education and Childhood Studies at Swansea University, added:
“Climate change is impacting all learners in Wales and it is vital that all learners, regardless of ALN, have equal opportunity to engage with climate change and sustainability education to build a sense of empowerment and hope for the future.”
Lynne Neagle, Cabinet Secretary for Education, said:
“Supporting learners to understand climate change and sustainability issues are key parts of the Curriculum for Wales. I welcome this new partnership which will expand support and ensure that all learners, regardless of their learning needs, can access the curriculum.”
The project will strengthen Keep Wales Tidy’s mission and help bridge a current gap in its support for schools through the Eco-Schools Wales programme.
Bryony Bromley, Project Co-Lead and Education Manager for Keep Wales Tidy, said:
“Eco-Schools provides a platform for learners to study environmental challenges, identify areas for action and become a positive part of the solution.
“Ensuring that we are providing resources and support that caters to all learners across Wales is vital, and this project will allow us to learn and gain inspiration from expert practitioners to ensure that we are breaking down barriers and empowering our future generations.”
The team hopes to present their findings once the project ends in March 2025.
If you work in an ALN setting and would like to contribute to the project by sharing information on what you are teaching, please contact Dr Jennifer Rudd.
