Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries
In December 2020, Tops Day Nurseries were announced as the UK’s first family of early years education providers to be awarded a “Green Flag” status from Eco-Schools at all of its settings across the South.
The prestigious family of eco-sustainable nurseries have been working hard to become one of the UK’s leading sustainable Childcare Provider, using the challenges of Covid-19 to focus on something positive. Now all nurseries across Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Plymouth have achieved a bronze, silver Eco-Schools Award as well as the milestone Green Flag Award. Funding for the Green-Flag external assessment costs for all the nurseries has been donated by FRUGI, the UK’s leading ethical and sustainable children’s clothing brand. Assessment has been completed via zoom calls and photographic evidence rather than on-site visits in order to protect the assessors, and the children.
Lara Smrtnik, Head of Marketing at Frugi commented “A huge congratulations to Tops Day Nurseries on their Green Flag award, supported by Frugi, and for all their hard work in raising awareness about our environment. Benefiting children, communities, and our environment, the Green Flag award from Eco-Schools is part of our collective global effort to support the education of children on sustainable and environmental issues and to help them to change our world for the better.”
The Eco-Schools is a global programme engaging millions of children across 64 different countries, making it the largest environmental schools programme in the world. The programme provides a framework for learning and action around nine topics – biodiversity, energy, litter, global citizenship, healthy living, grounds, transport, waste and water. It follows a very simple seven-step process to lead schools on their journey to achieving a Green Flag Award. Children and staff have been able to focus on the areas that are most fascinating, and relevant to them in each nursery.
Cheryl Hadland, Managing Director of Tops Day Nurseries commented “Being the first “large chain” of nurseries in the UK to achieve Green Flags across the board is the best Christmas gift I could have asked for! I believe the education of our children is the most effective way there is to provide a sustainable environment into the future; by instilling a passion in our colleagues and children to learn more about how everyone can made sustainable decisions each day.
‘I think given 2020 has brought on new challenges with Covid-19 with the almost intolerable stress that’s been put on colleagues in the early years sector. We have continued to be open, throughout the pandemic, adapting to all the challenges as and when they hit us. It’s a huge salute to staff resilience that they been able to focus on positive sustainability with the children, despite the negative news surrounding them.
‘It is brilliant to see more early years educators achieve the Green Flag award across the country as we get further into 2021, and it makes me proud to be part of a sector with such passion for creating a sustainable future and setting an example for the next generation.”
About Tops Day Nurseries:
Tops Day Nurseries are a family of eco-sustainable day nurseries across the South & South West. Tops have an outstanding reputation in delivering top quality early years education, operating nurseries and out-of-school clubs across Dorset, Hampshire, Devon, Somerset and Wiltshire.
We believe in an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible world for all. We aim to achieve this through educating the children of today, so that they can prosper and, in turn, influence the way future generations live.
Every 15 minutes is important because time is valuable. We offer flexible childcare, so parents and carers only pay for the time they need. With extended opening hours, from 6am-8pm including bank holidays*, it means we are here when families need us. We also provide free settling-in sessions and we offer a variety of funding options.
As an environmentally-conscious business, Tops Day Nurseries are always looking for ways to care for the planet in everything they do. All nurseries are rigorously reviewed to ensure the carbon footprint is minimised, as well as having integrated learning sessions for children on the subject of caring for the environment, growing their own food and reducing waste.
To find out more about Tops Day Nurseries, please visit www.topsdaynurseries.co.co.uk
Contacts:
Frugi – www.welovfrugi.com
Eco Schools – www.eco-schools.org.uk
For PR and Media Enquiries, please contact Zoe Roberts, Marketing Manager on:
Zoe.roberts@topsdaynurseries.co.uk or 01202 970430