🌍 Climate Action Plan

Sustainability Lead :  Julie Manning

1^st May 2025

1. Vision & Commitment

We are committed to creating a sustainable future by reducing our environmental impact and instilling in young children a lifelong appreciation of nature and environmental stewardship. Our climate action efforts align with national targets and local authority goals

2. Buildings & Energy Use

• Current Actions:

• Henry Allen Nursery  is a  new build school with high energy efficiency standards.
• We use an air source heat pump for heating.

• Next Steps:

• Monitor and reduce energy use through staff training and smart controls.
• Conduct a yearly energy audit to identify potential savings.
• Explore the addition of solar PV panels .
• Ensure maintenance of the heat pump system to maximise efficiency.

3. Waste & Recycling

• Current Actions:

• Separate recycling for food, plastic, glass, and paper.
• Composting food waste.
• Certificate of Achievement from Bucks Recycles, celebrating our commitment to reducing the use of single-use plastics.

• Next Steps:

• Conduct waste audits to identify areas to reduce landfill waste.
• Work with parents to minimise single-use packaging.
• Encourage the use of reusable containers for staff and visitors.

4. Curriculum & Learning

• Current Actions:

• Weekly Forest School sessions promote understanding of nature and resources.
• Children grow their own fruit and vegetables.
• Use of sensory garden to explore natural environments
• Embed a sense of responsibility; looking after our toys and equipment at school. (Curriculum Goal 2)

• Next Steps:
• Celebrate Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in age-appropriate ways.
• Hold themed events for Earth Day and Waste Week.
• Develop more eco-literacy resources such as storybooks or songs and add as core books
• Include family workshops to share climate-friendly practices at home.
• Add climate  action to our curriculum or the Wheel of core experiences

5. Biodiversity & Outdoor Space

• Current Actions:

• Sensory garden and food-growing areas encourage biodiversity and sustainability.

• Next Steps:

• Create areas for pollinators like bees and butterflies.
• Install bird boxes, bug hotels, or a small wildlife pond.
• Involve children in regular gardening and nature observation routines.
• Record and celebrate biodiversity sightings with the children.

6. Travel & Transport

• Current Actions:

• Likely limited car use given nursery age, but parents/carers often drive.
• Celebrate Walk to School week
• Storage for bicycles and scooters at school

• Next Steps:
• Promote active travel (walking, cycling, scooting) to families.
• Work with the local authority to ensure safe walking routes 
• Consider car-sharing campaigns

7. Leadership & Community Engagement

• Next Steps:

• Share climate goals and actions in newsletters and the school website.
• Collaborate with local eco-organisations, community gardens, or secondary schools for projects.

8. Monitoring & Evaluation

• Next Steps:

• Set annual sustainability targets (e.g. reduce electricity use by X%).
• Include sustainability progress in governor reports and staff meetings.
• Celebrate achievements with the children and families.
• Pursue recognition like the Eco-Schools Green Flag or local council awards.