Environment Sustainability Policy

At Winston’s Place Day Nursery we wish to support children to learn about sustainable practices and foster respect and care for living and non-living environments, in line with the DfE Sustainability and climate change strategy.

We provide opportunities for children to develop a broad knowledge and understanding of the importance of nature, sustainability, and the causes and impact of climate change through their learned and lived experiences. Children are able to develop positive attitudes and values about sustainable practices by exploring solutions to environmental issues, learning about the world around them and how to protect it and watching adults role model positive sustainable actions and solutions.

We promote a holistic, open-ended curriculum which explores ideas and practices for environmental sustainability and helps children understand the interdependence between people and the environment by:
• Helping children to spend time in nature, and explore it through art and play
• Supporting the environment by learning how to grow and nurture plants in the garden and discovering all about the food cycle by growing food.
• Helping children to learn about water conservation, energy efficiency and waste reduction through play-based activities and adult interactions.
• Learning about plants they see in the local area.
• Encouraging parents and children to regularly walk to nursery to raise the awareness of caring for the planet.
• Encouraging children to become actively involved in the improvement of their local environment, such as by developing a recycling area and encouraging children to share a recycling ethos in the home environment.
As a nursery we will embed sustainability into all aspects of the operations including:
• Recycling materials for art and creative activities and encouraging parents to bring in their recycling materials for the same use.
• Considering our carbon footprint when purchasing materials
• Shopping local where possible
• Turning off equipment and lights when not in use
• Not leaving any equipment on standby
• Unplugging all equipment at the end of its use (e.g. chargers)
• Using energy saving wash cycles on the washing machine
• Hanging washing out to dry and/or using clothes maidens rather than tumble dryers where possible
• Composting food waste
• Incorporating water-wise strategies such as ensuring taps are turned off and leaks fixed
• Recycling water from the water play to water plants outside

Working together with all our parents and partners will help our environment to be more sustainable and make it a better place for our future generations to grow up in.
Our sustainability leads are: Erin Epton (Birkenhead) and Amy Johnson (New Ferry).