Best Practice Quality Area 3 – UCVT Early Years Cluster is committed to: promoting respect for, and an appreciation of, the natural environment among all at the service; to understand and respect the natural environment, and the fostering children’s capacity interdependence between people, plants, animals and the land; supporting the development of positive attitudes and values in line with sustainable practices; ensuring that educators and other staff engage in sustainable practices during the operation of the service. This policy provides guidelines to assist UCVT Early Years Cluster services to take an active role in caring for the environment, and promoting and contributing to a sustainable future. Environmental education can be defined as learning about the environment and how natural systems function; the interconnectedness of plants, animals, humans and the planet we inhabit. Environmental education promotes the growth of knowledge, skills and values about the environment, often with a focus on science and nature. In an early childhood setting, environmental education should be integrated into everyday decisions made as part of the curriculum. Sustainability can be defined in a broader and more holistic context of education for the environment. The complexities of social, environmental and economic systems are acknowledged, and their implications for sustaining life are considered. The goal of sustainability education is to empower children and adults to think and act in ways that meet their immediate needs without jeopardising the potential of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable practice in early childhood settings requires a holistic approach that integrates all aspects of sustainability into service operations. The Approved Provider, supervisors, staff, children and families who attend the service should be responsible for ensuring that environmental sustainability is an integral aspect of the service. Attachment 3 contains a list of strategies for environmental sustainability.
Best Practice – Quality Area 3 UCVT Early Years Cluster is committed to: promoting respect for, and an appreciation of, the natural environment among all at the service; fostering children’s capacity to understand and respect the natural environment, and the interdependence between people, plants, animals and the land; supporting the development of positive attitudes and values in line with sustainable practices; ensuring that educators and other staff engage in sustainable practices during the operation of the service. This policy provides guidelines to assist UCVT Early Years Cluster services to take an active role in caring for the environment, and promoting and contributing to a sustainable future. Environmental education can be defined as learning about the environment and how natural systems function; the interconnectedness of plants, animals, humans and the planet we inhabit. Environmental education promotes the growth of knowledge, skills and values about the environment, often with a focus on science and nature. In an early childhood setting, environmental education should be integrated into everyday decisions made as part of the curriculum. Sustainability can be defined in a broader and more holistic context of education for the environment. The complexities of social, environmental and economic systems are acknowledged, and their implications for sustaining life are considered. The goal of sustainability education is to empower children and adults to think and act in ways that meet their immediate needs without jeopardising the potential of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable practice in early childhood settings requires a holistic approach that integrates all aspects of sustainability into service operations. The Approved Provider, supervisors, staff, children and families who attend the service should be responsible for ensuring that environmental sustainability is an integral aspect of the service. Attachment 3 contains a list of strategies for environmental sustainability.
Summary%20-%20Environmental%20Sustainability%20Policy.docx