Sustainability lead  
Sarah Green 

The sustainability role in early years education focuses on nurturing environmentally responsible citizens by integrating sustainable practices and fostering a deep connection with nature in children, such as gardening, recycling, and waste reduction. We aim to  also embed principles of sustainability into our daily practices and encourage children to understand the world's interconnectedness, promoting a sense of responsibility to protect the planet for future generations. 

Why Sustainability Matters in Early Years

• Shaping Future Generations: 

  Young children are forming their core values and understandings of the world; teaching them sustainability empowers them to become agents of positive change. 

• Environmental Responsibility: 

  Children develop a profound sense of respect and care for nature by experiencing it firsthand, leading to more responsible and informed decisions as they grow. 

• Practical Skills: 

  Sustainability introduces children to practical skills like growing food, making choices to reduce waste, and understanding natural cycles. 

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead by Example: 

  Implement sustainable practices, such as reducing single-use plastics, promoting active travel to the setting, and conserving energy. 

• Incorporate into Curriculum: 

  Integrate ideas on environmental care, using stories, songs, and practical activities like creating a food waste bin and monitoring the weather. 

• Engage with Nature: 

  Provide opportunities for children to spend time outdoors, garden, and observe local wildlife to foster their connection with the environment. 

• Foster Children's Agency: 

  Involve children in decision-making, such as choices about recycling and energy use, to give them a sense of ownership and responsibility. 

• Collaborate with Families: 

  Share sustainable messages and practices with families to create a consistent and supportive learning environment at home and in the setting. 

• Use Resources Wisely: 

  Prioritize the use of recycled materials, natural items, and reclaimed resources over constantly purchasing new items. We actively encourage those in the community to think of us when getting ride of unwanted items such as items for our outdoor play, junk modelling items and repurposing and using everyday 

Key Sustainability Practice goals for our Early Years Settings

• Gardening: 

  Create a garden where children can plant, grow, and harvest their own produce, teaching about sustainable food consumption. 

• Recycling and Composting: 

  Establish clearly labeled recycling stations and a compost bin for food waste to teach children about waste reduction and resource reuse. 

• Promoting Active Travel: 

  Encourage walking or cycling to the setting and promote car-sharing to reduce the carbon footprint of staff and families. 

• Conserving Energy: 

  Make it a habit to switch off or power down idle electrical equipment to reduce energy consumption. 

• Waste Reduction: 

  Use reusable items and look for ways to reuse materials instead of buying new ones, especially avoiding single-use plastics, encourage the use of disposable nappies and wipes 

• Nature Exploration: 

  Organise walks in local parks or beaches for litter picks (with appropriate supervision) and general exploration of the natural world. 

• Draw up a sustainability action plan and review it as required.