Sustainable Management Plan for Early Childhood Education and Care

Running head: DIPLOMA IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
DIPLOMA IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
Name of the University
Author Note

DIPLOMA IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
Summative assessment
Sustainable management plan
Sustainability in the early childhood activity is an important part of the curriculum
and should be incorporated in each childcare setting. Creation of the natural environment and
the providing the natural material is an important way for the sustainability to occur1. There is
a greater need of a sustainable environment in child carecenter because within a short span of
time, the climate change and the global warming are hitting the radar at all the levels.
The climatic change has surfaced mainly due to the global warming, which is caused
due the rise of the average temperature of the earth due to the indiscriminate burning of the
fossil fuels and the release of the harmful gases and rampant deforestation2. The main
rationale behind this discussion is that, a contribution can also be made from our part by
reducing the CO2 emission by switching off the appliances when not in use and energy
efficient models like insulating the whole center by cavity wall insulation or loft insulation.
1 Mohan, Sathish, et al. "Sustainable practices within a school‐based intervention: a report from Project Healthy
Schools." World Medical & Health Policy 4.3-4 (2012): 80-89.
2 Xu, Zhiwei, et al. "Climate change and children’s health—A call for research on what works to protect
children." International journal of environmental research and public health 9.9 (2012): 3298-3316.

DIPLOMA IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
Ozone layer effect- Depletion of the ozone layers is exposing the humankind to the
harmful cosmic rays of the sun, which can lead to skin cancer. Chlorine and
chlorofluocarbon(CFCs) are the most harmful agents of the ozone layer depletion. Hence, the
sustainable development plan should definitely include the plantation of the trees, using the
refrigerators and the ACs that are ozone friendly and the do not use the HCFC and the CFC
as the propellants2. Another important factor behind the urgent need of a sustainable
environment is the greenhouse effect. Mainly, the human activities, such as the burning of
the fossil fuels, clearing of the forests are responsible for the greenhouse effects3. Some of the
activities that can easily be initiated from a household level involve-
Reduce-reuse-recycle, using less heat and the air conditioning system, replacing the
light bulbs with CFLs, buying the energy efficient products, using less hot water, by setting
the heater at a lesser degree, switching of the light of the center, planting trees and
encouraging the community to do the same4.
Strategies for involving the children and the stakeholders
Some of the important strategies involve involvement of the children in the discussion
about the different sustainable practices, like noticing how the garbage bin is full,
Encouraging the students to participate in the recycle programming and the development of
3 Elliott, Jennifer A. An introduction to sustainable development. Routledge, 2012.
4 Shove, Elizabeth, and Nicola Spurling, eds. Sustainable practices: Social theory and climate change.
Routledge, 2013.

DIPLOMA IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
the new strategies for recycling of the materials or the solid waste management5. Again, for
the older children, some of the environmental issues like the daily weather report, drought
including the air quality index can be discussed with during the morning group time. They
might also be educated about the different strategies that can be implemented for their peers
having any disability6. Some can be allocated to record the findings to a chart. The
preschoolers can be assigned to notice fans, the lights, and the other appliances left when not
in use5.
The Policy
The center encourages awareness of the environmental responsibilities and
implements practices that contribute to a sustainable future. Children are assisted to become
environment friendly and to show respect to the environment7.
The policy has been made taking in to consideration- the quality area 3: physical environment
(National quality standards).
5 Griggs, David, et al. "Policy: Sustainable development goals for people and planet." Nature 495.7441 (2013):
305.
6 ACECQA. Sustainability in children’s education and care. 2018.Access date: 24.2.2019. Retrieved
from:https://wehearyou.acecqa.gov.au/2016/01/28/sustainability-in-childrens-education-and-care/
7 Davis, Julie M., ed. Young children and the environment. Cambridge University Press, 2014.