Eco-Schools Early Years’ seven simple steps can be adapted for any budget or timescale. Nursery’s that complete the seven steps can apply for our prestigious award (now in it’s 30th year), the Eco-Schools Green Flag. Read on to find out more about each of the Seven Steps and watch our short explanatory videos. Register to access resources, view the criteria for each step, and begin your application.
Step 1: Eco-Club
Your first task is telling all members of your nursery – staff and children – that they are now members of your Eco-Club (you could even invite parents too)! Led by staff, with the support and ideas of children, your Eco-Club will take responsibility for working through the Eco-Schools: Early Years Seven Step framework and achieving Green Flag success.
Step 2: Nursery Review
In step 2, your Eco-Club will explore how eco-friendly your nursery is through completing 2 site reviews. The children’s version is fun and interactive, designed to encourage children to explore their nursery and discuss environmental issues. The staff version focuses on your site, policy, and operations and is designed to help you understand how your nursery can reduce its carbon footprint, cut down on waste, and support biodiversity.
Step 3: Eco-Learning
For Step 3, Eco-Club leads plan and deliver eco-themed learning experiences. These can include eco-themed story, rhyme, or song sessions, follow-on activities, like a play or art provocations, then a hands-on eco-activity for children to get involved with and make a difference. This activity could be anything from junk modelling to planting and watering.
Step 4: Sustainable Changes
Step 4 challenges staff members in your Eco-Club to reflect on your Nursery Review findings and implement at least two sustainable changes to your site, policies, or operations… If you want to make more changes, go for it!
Included in our resources is a list of more than 100 sustainable actions to get you started! These have been curated especially for nursery settings.
Step 5: Informing and Involving
Protecting our planet takes teamwork! Step 5 challenges your Eco-Club to inspire your wider nursery community to act. Eco-Clubs inform others about their Eco-Schools’ activities via methods such as newsletters, social media, or parent apps. They also create opportunities for broader participation where possible.
Step 6: Reflection
Reflecting on your activities is important. It can help your Eco-Club plan further action, reinforce learning, and build children’s confidence as they reflect on their achievements. In this step, staff support children to reflect on their activities and the skills that they have learnt.
Step 7: Eco-Promise
The final step sees Eco-Club-leads support children to create an eco-promise – a call to action, letting the world know about your commitment to protecting the planet. Your Eco-Promise could be a poster, poem, or even a song, but whatever form it takes it should show your passion and inspire others.
