Funding Advice for Schools and Teachers

We know budgets are tight and that outdoor learning often has to compete for funding. The good news is that The Muddy Puddle Teacher® training and resources can be funded through several existing streams — especially those focused on PE, wellbeing, inclusion, and physical development.

Here’s some guidance for teachers and school leaders in each nation on how to fund your Muddy journey.

England

Schools in England can fund The Muddy Puddle Teacher® training and resources using:

1. The PE and Sport Premium
   This government funding supports the improvement of physical activity, health, and wellbeing.
   Our outdoor training helps you:

• Get children moving more often and in creative ways outdoors.
• Develop inclusive physical opportunities for children with physical or sensory needs.
• Promote physical literacy and wellbeing through play and exploration.

Many schools have successfully used their Sport Premium to fund Muddy Puddle Teacher® training, as it contributes directly to those aims.

2. The Pupil Premium
   This funding can be used to close gaps in engagement and achievement for disadvantaged pupils.
   Outdoor, inclusive learning builds confidence, language, and emotional regulation — all clear outcomes that meet Pupil Premium criteria.

When applying or reporting, show that your training supports:

• Engagement and participation for all pupils.
• Improved self-regulation and confidence.
• Equal access to creative, physical, and sensory experiences outdoors.

Scotland

Scotland’s funding structure is different, but there are still excellent opportunities to support this training.

Schools can look at:

• The Pupil Equity Fund (PEF) – targeted support for reducing the poverty-related attainment gap. Outdoor learning can be directly linked to engagement, inclusion, and wellbeing outcomes.
• Attainment Scotland Fund – supports initiatives that remove barriers to learning.
• Local Authority Wellbeing or Outdoor Learning Grants – many councils provide small-scale funding to promote health, outdoor play, and inclusion.
• School Improvement or Development Budgets – you can justify this course as professional learning supporting inclusion, wellbeing, and the Curriculum for Excellence’s “Health and Wellbeing” responsibility.

When applying, emphasise that this training:

• Promotes equitable access to the outdoors.
• Builds inclusive, sensory-friendly environments.
• Strengthens staff confidence in meeting the needs of all learners.

Wales

In Wales, schools can fund The Muddy Puddle Teacher® training through several existing schemes and budget areas.

Consider using:

• The Pupil Development Grant (PDG) – Wales’s equivalent to the Pupil Premium. It supports improved outcomes for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Curriculum for Wales budgets – outdoor learning links strongly to the Health and Wellbeing and Expressive Arts Areas of Learning and Experience.
• Local Authority or Consortia Grants for outdoor play, wellbeing, or staff development.

You can justify funding this training because it:

• Promotes wellbeing, movement, and inclusion.
• Aligns with the new Curriculum for Wales focus on creativity and the natural environment.
• Provides professional learning that enhances teaching quality and equity.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland schools don’t have direct equivalents of the Sport or Pupil Premium, but there are still pathways to fund inclusive outdoor learning.

Schools can explore:

• Engaged, Connected, and Healthy Communities grants through the Education Authority or local councils.
• Extended Schools Programme – supports engagement, wellbeing, and enrichment activities.
• Special Educational Needs and Inclusion budgets – funds for improving access, inclusion, and sensory support.
• PE and Wellbeing allocations from school development budgets.

When applying or requesting funds, show that The Muddy Puddle Teacher® approach:

• Builds inclusive practice aligned with SEN support.
• Enhances wellbeing and outdoor engagement.
• Develops physical, social, and emotional skills through nature-based learning.

Ireland (Republic of Ireland)

Schools in Ireland can use a combination of Department of Education grants and local initiatives to support this training.

Options include:

• Inclusion and Additional Educational Needs funding – to build inclusive practice and staff capacity.
• School Enrichment or Professional Development budgets – this course supports active learning, wellbeing, and inclusion goals.
• Local Authority or Community Grants – often available for environmental education, health, and sustainability.
• Parent Association or Community Fundraising – some schools combine funding streams to cover course costs.

When applying, link your proposal to:

• The school’s inclusion strategy and wellbeing priorities.
• The Physical Education, SPHE, and Arts curriculum areas.
• Whole-school professional development and sustainability goals.

Practical Tips for All Schools

1. Align your funding request with clear outcomes:
   Show that your training supports inclusion, wellbeing, movement, and engagement for all children — especially those with physical needs.
2. Use real impact evidence:
   Include photographs, reflections, or outcomes showing how outdoor learning benefits children’s confidence, regulation, and participation.
3. Link to inspection frameworks:
   Ofsted and other inspectors value professional learning that promotes inclusion, accessibility, and curriculum enrichment.
4. Share costs creatively:
   Partner with another school, nursery, or special setting to share training sessions and resource packs.
5. Keep evidence:
   Maintain a short record of your decision-making, impact statements, and outcomes to show accountability for the funding used.