Since 1994 the Eco-Schools Framework has involved millions of children in delivering eco-projects that make their nursery more sustainable and increase their environmental awareness. Eco-Schools’ seven simple steps can be adapted for any setting, budget, and timescale. Nurseries that complete the seven steps can apply for our prestigious award, the Eco-Schools Green Flag. Read on to find out more about the Eco-Schools Seven Steps and register to access resources, view the criteria for each step, and begin your application today.
Step 1: Eco-Committee
An Eco-Committee is a group of children who help to deliver the Eco-Schools programme in your nursery alongside one or more adult Eco-Coordinator(s).
Step 2: Environmental Review
Completing our free to download Environmental Review allows your Eco-Committee to identify environmental initiatives already taking place in your nursery, areas for improvement, and opportunities for quick eco-wins.
Step 3: Action Plan
Inspired by the Environmental Review, you and your Eco-Committee plan and deliver projects and actions linking to three of our Eco-Schools topics across the academic year.
Step 4: Curriculum Links
Alongside taking action, it is important to understand why action is needed, so we ask nurseries to link environmental issues to at least three areas of learning during the year.
Step 5: Informing and Involving
We need to collaborate to protect our planet! Step 5 encourages you and your Eco-Committees to get loud about your Eco-Schools’ work whilst involving all members of your nursery, and when possible, your wider community!
Step 6: Monitoring and Evaluation
It is important to understand the positive impacts you have created by monitoring and evaluating the projects in your Action Plan. This provides a platform to build on and an opportunity to showcase your environmental efforts.
Step 7: Eco-Code
The final task is to create an Eco-Code that takes all your learning and inspiration then channels it into a mission statement that inspires your entire nursery.
