Teach-Primary-Issue-19.7

This campaign will take a bit of time and organising to make it work, but we’re confident it will all be worth it. We plan to break the process down into four steps, making sure we address all the angles. The steps will look like this: 1. Identify potential partners: we will approach local manufacturers, retailers and service providers; particularly those producing non-toxic, durable materials. 2. Communicate clear guidelines: we’ll also provide businesses with a simple list of what’s safe and useful, taking the guesswork out of the donation process. 3. Saying thank you: supporters will be celebrated in newsletters, social media posts and at school events to showcase their contribution to children’s wellbeing and environmental stewardship. 4. Making it easy: designated collection points or scheduled pick-ups will remove barriers for busy businesses, meaning organisations of all sizes should be able to take part. The future is ours Of course, sustainability isn’t a one-time deal; it takes continued effort and adaptability to make sure the school is doing all it can to improve its eco credentials. For us at West Coker Primary School, the PlayPod is just the beginning. We aim to not only keep it stocked with materials, but plans are also underway to integrate loose parts activities into our eco-club projects, and share best practices with other schools in Somerset. Top tips If you’d like to implement a sustainable loose parts station into your school, our top tips are as follows: 1. Embrace the mess: loose parts play looks chaotic at first, but it’s purposeful and deeply creative. Trust the process. 2. Get the whole community involved: parents, local firms and pupils can all contribute materials and ideas. 3. Link it to your curriculum: from science (forces, materials) to PSHE (teamwork, problem-solving), loose parts activities open up real learning opportunities. Most of all, have fun with it! There is no limit to children’s imaginations, and one of the greatest joys is turning up to school to see what they’ll come up with next. Philip Hyland is the headteacher at West Coker Primary School in Somerset. westcoker.somerset.sch.uk childrensscrapstore.co.uk L E ADERSH I P www.teachwire.net | 47 “Loose parts play is a wonderful example of how sustainability and education can go hand-in-hand” Big energy Looking for ways to make your school more eco-friendly? Try these pointers from the World Wildlife Foundation’s (WWF) Schools Sustainability Guide: Ask your pupils to design and put up labels for switches around school; one label for switches that should be turned off after use, and another for those that need to stay on permanently. Keep temperatures steady and cool – set the ambient temperature at 18-20°C throughout the year. Set the same default standby settings for all staff and student computers – instead of using screensavers, have them enter sleep mode after five minutes of inactivity. Join UK schools taking on climate change. Let’s Go Zero (letsgozero.org ) is the national campaign uniting teachers, pupils, parents and their schools as they all work together to be zero carbon by 2030. The campaign is also working with national government to ensure the right support is in place to help all schools reach this goal. Sign your schools up to the campaign to show your ambition to be climate leaders in your community. Create a ‘sharing is caring’ school culture – provide a cupboard with reusable takeaway coffee cups and Tupperware containers for staff, and reusable water bottles for students to borrow if they don’t have their own. For more top tips from the WWF, see the Schools Sustainability guide at tinyurl.com/ tp-WWFguide .