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Young Friends’ sustainable kindergarten approach grew out of a concern about how much plastic – especially single-use plastic – was being used in nurseries. They realised that children were being exposed to a throw-away culture at an incredibly important time in their lives and started counting the cost to the planet. In response, the nursery adopted a plastic-free pledge, but soon expanded to a holistic approach to sustainability. They decided that they needed to transform into a truly sustainable early years environment.
After a few years and lots of experimentation, Young Friends has created a nursery experience for children based around sustainability through its own unique Natural Curriculum. Their aim is to help every child understand that they have a role to play while they are growing up and that they can make a difference. The nursery ethos and foundational concepts are based on the Three Pillars of Sustainability:
Social: A social consciousness is established by helping the children to find their own voice and then see themselves as a member of a community – whether it be their nursery pod, family, hometown, country or their global community – caring for others and at the same time developing their own opinions and nurturing their own wellbeing.
Environmental: They encourage children to be respectful and care for their environment, their planet and beyond.
Economic: There is an expectation to look after resources at nursery and the environment around them and think about how they can reuse and recycle. They consider the cost to their pocket, the community and the planet.
The nursery’s activities, provocations and environments consider all three concepts, which also link to the seven areas of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage. When this happens, staff know that they are authentically embedding a life-long commitment to protecting the planet.
Young Friends’ sustainability journey has led them to introduce reusable nappies, which they estimate prevents 40,000 nappies from going into landfill for each cohort. The setting has adopted a plant-based approach to all their meals and they have developed a kitchen garden. Children are involved in growing, preparing and composting the plant-based menu, which helps develop a greater respect for food alongside their understanding of where it comes from. It is also a ‘loose parts’ kindergarten, meaning instead of toys, the nursery is ‘seeded’ with items that each child can use for play and problem-solving in a way that interests them, developing their creativity and confidence.
Young Friends’ passion for sustainability and eco-awareness has led it to share its approach with other nurseries through training events to motivate other leaders and further instil a desire to preserve the planet.
FINALISTS
Adventure Farm Day Nursery – Burton On Trent, Derbyshire
Bright Horizons at 24 St Swithin – Aberdeen
Honey Pot Nursery Group– Liverpool, Merseyside
CRITERION
Open to early years settings and services that are developing an eco-friendly approach in all aspects of their work, from management, resourcing, choice of materials, recycling and design to educating young children about sustainable development.
