Environmental sustainability policy was adopted by Truly Scrumptious Early Years Nursery.

The Department for Education (DfE) strategy states that: ‘By 2025, all education settings will have nominated a sustainability lead and put in place a climate action plan’. The 4 key pillars that represent aspects of addressing climate change to foster a sustainable future are:

  • Decarbonisation
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate education and green careers goals
  • Resilience and adaptation

For Truly Scrumptious Early Years Nursery, these pillars inform our activities in terms of:

Decarbonisation:                  Recycle cardboard for junk modelling

                                                PFA free cookware

                                                 Biodegradable plastic free baby wipes       

                                                 Use of washable flannels replaces disposable hand towels

                                                 Ongar 20% parents walk, 8% staff drive electric, 38% staff walk to setting

                                                 Romford  38% parents walk, 50% public transport, 11% staff walk, 

                                                 Staff uniform is organic cotton

                                                 Separate wastes between general, food, clinical and recycling

                                                  Upcycling and repairer furniture and resources

Biodiversity:              Fostering children’s empathy with nature through exploration

                                    Engaging with flora and fauna in the setting and outings to local community  spaces

                                    Use leaf mulch for compost

                                    Tree canopy to shade garden

 

Climate education:                   Sharing books, stories and songs with the children on nature and the environment

                                                   Weaving environment and climate topics into the EYFS areas of learning

                                                    Encouraging parents to engage with sustainability topics at home

Resilience and adaption:      Reviewing all aspects of our setting’s environment to assess what sustainability and climate adaptations can be made

                                                 Actively considering the risk of extreme weather events on our children, families and provision, ie. UV levels

 

Aim

Truly Scrumptious Early Years Nursery actively promotes environmental sustainability.

Our eco-sustainability lead who is the Climate Champion for our settings are :

  • Patricia T in Ongar and Sarah M in Romford.  –

Changing perspectives – at TRULY SCRUMPTIOUS EARLY YEARS NURSERY we will:

  • Educate ourselves, our children and our families on what sustainability means and how to respect our planet.
  • Weave sustainability into our daily lives and decisions – ask ourselves could this be done in a more sustainable way.
  • Display our sustainability policy and educate and inform others on the steps that we are taking.

Objectives

At TRULY SCRUMPTIOUS EARLY YEARS NURSERY we are committed to protecting our planet for the next generations to the best of our ability by:

  • Reducing the use of plastics – in particular single use plastics (SUPs) in our everyday lives.
  • Cutting down on waste by reducing, reusing and recycling (the 3Rs).
  • Minimising food waste.
  • Caring for the world we live in.
  • Changing perspectives and developing understanding in ourselves, our families and our children.

At TRULY SCRUMPTIOUS EARLY YEARS NURSERY we support children to learn about sustainability – to respect and care for both the living and non-living environment.

Children have the opportunity at TRULY SCRUMPTIOUS EARLY YEARS NURSERY to learn about and understand sustainability and environmental issues.  They will observe adults’ model sustainable practices, learn about the world around them and how to protect it. Together we will support the children to develop positive attitudes and values about sustainable practices.

Our curriculum encourages children to explore ideas and practices that promote environmental sustainability and to understand the interdependence between people and the environment.

Examples of ways that we will embed sustainability into daily life and our curriculum include:

Reducing the use of plastics:

  • Reducing the use of plastic bottles and bags as much as possible by finding
  • Switch suppliers to ones that offer more environmentally sustainable products.
  • Buy milk in large bottles not individual cartons.
  • Use alternatives to baby wipes that contain plastic.
  • Source alternatives to craft materials – recycle materials and encourage parents to bring in recycling materials for art and creative activities.
  • Look for resources that are not just plastic representations when real alternatives are available.
  • We support children to experience the natural environment through natural materials.
  • We use “Phox sustainable water filter jug” across all rooms for childrens drinking water-  we replace the filter granules only, not the plastic cartridge helping to reduce our carbon footprint

Cutting down on waste by reducing, reusing and recycling:

  • Introduce recycling bins – following the local recycling scheme guidance.
  • Take steps to reduce the junk mail sent to the setting.
  • Reduce the amount of paper printing.
  • Recycle any electronic equipment – where possible using an environmentally friendly disposal scheme.
  • Collect batteries and recycle them through www.recyclemore.co.uk
  • Recycle resources and clothes to families who want/need them
  • Encourage families to donate pre-loved clothes, books and toys to charity shops, refugee support groups or to the setting.
  • When purchasing new resources, we look for natural rather than plastic.
  • Use natural resources such as water with care – ensure taps are turned off and any leaks fixed.
  • Recycle water from water play by using it to water plants.
  • Using energy saving light bulbs.
  • Use energy saving wash cycles when using the washing machine.
  • Minimise the use of tumble driers by hanging washing on clothes horses.
  • We have a battery recycling station for both nursery use, we welcome parents to bring their old batteries in also

Minimising food waste:

  • We have signed up to a supermarket food share scheme for families.
  • Made links and have a box so that donations for the local food bank can be collected.
  • Plan snacks and meals carefully to reduce food waste for example using foods that are in season and being aware of portion sizes.

Caring for the world we live in:

  • We help children to explore nature through art and play.
  • Educate children not to drop litter.
  • Care for the setting environment indoors and out.
  • Discover the importance of wildlife to the environment and eco system.
  • Use natural resources.
  • We shop locally where possible.
  • We go on nature walks and learn about plants we see in our local area.

References

The Department for Education’s Sustainability and climate change strategy:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sustainability-and-climate-change-strategy/sustainability-and-climate-change-a-strategy-for-the-education-and-childrens-services-systems

 

Policy written November 2025