Carmel Caterpillars Preschool

Environmental Sustainability Policy

This Early Years Alliance policy was adopted by Carmel Caterpillars Preschool on the 9th December 2025.

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 key 4 pillars that represent aspects of addressing climate change to foster a sustainable future are:

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

For Carmel Caterpillars these pillars inform our activities in terms of:

• Decarbonisation:            Our activities to reduce plastic use, our activities to reduce utility use and encouraging sustainable transport to                                             and from the setting.
• Biodiversity:                     Fostering children's empathy with nature through exploration, engaging with flora and fauna in the setting and                                            outings to local community spaces.
• Climate Education:         Sharing books, stories and songs with the children on nature and the environment, weaving environment and                                                   climate topics in to the EYFS areas of learning and 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 setting.

Reducing the use of plastics:

• Reducing the use of plastic bottles and bags as much as possible by finding alternatives and encouraging families/staff to use reusable lunch and drinks containers in lunch boxes.
• Buy milk in large bottles, not individual cartons.
• Use alternatives to the baby wipes that contain plastic.
• Source alternative 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.
• Supporting children to experience the natural environment through natural materials. 

 Cutting down on waste by reducing, reusing and recycling:

• Introduce recycling bins.
• Take steps to reduce the junk mail sent to the setting.
• Reduce the amount of paper printing.
• Ensure printer and toner cartridges are always recycled.
• Recycle any electronic equipment and batteries.
• Recycle previously used uniform to new families.
• Encourage families to donate pre-loved clothes, books and toys to charity shops, refugee support groups or to the setting.
• When purchasing new resources, look for natural rather than plastic.
• Use natural resources such as water with care - ensure taps are fully turned off and any leaks fixed.
• Recycle water from water play to water the plants.

Minimizing food waste:

• Plan snacks and food in activities to reduce food waste. For example, using foods that are in season and being aware of portion size.
• Maintaining our compost bin. 

Caring for the world we live in:

• We help children to explore nature through art and play.
• We educate children to not drop litter.
• We care for the environment indoors and out.
• We share the importance of wildlife to the environment and eco system.