Nursery group owner's how-to guide for sustainable settings

Creating an Eco-Friendly Early Years Setting is modelled on the changes made within the nursery group and includes chapters on pedagogy, sustainable resources for children, pets , indoor and outdoor gardening, improving air quality for children and adults, as well as inspiring change in behaviour.

Ms Hadland is a driving force behind sustainability in the early years, introducing a glitter ban across all Tops nurseries, removing single use plastics, installing solar panels, and utilising electric vehicles. 

She said, ‘The book offers a comprehensive, researched guide, from small steps that can be taken to reduce waste and improve efficiency to setting up partnerships. It illustrates how sustainable choices can become a natural part of every child’s education and how children, parents and staff can all inspire sustainable behaviour across local communities and at national and international levels.’

Drawing on the experiences of real nurseries and including a wide range of activities and lists of resources, the book aims to be a useful guide for practitioners, leaders, policymakers and all settings that want to help make sustainable choices a natural part of young children’s lives.

Proceeds of sales of the book will go to the charity GECCO, which provides ongoing information and support for day nursery owners, childminders, and nannies wishing to provide a more sustainable education. 

The first Tops Day Nursery opened in 1990 and there are now 30 settings in Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of White, Somerset, Sussex and Wiltshire.

• The e-book is available here for £11.67