What is the Environmental Review?

An Environmental Review (or audit) is designed to give a realistic picture of your centre’s current environmental performance. It should tell you what you’re doing well and what you might need to work on. The Environmental Review informs your Action Plan, helping you to decide whether change is necessary and how urgently the changes are required.

Who carries out the Environmental Review?

For early years settings, it’s expected that the adults will carry out the Environmental Review and include the children in the process. Why not take the children with you as you walk around the building and complete the review with their input? They could count if any lights are left switched on or if any taps are dripping. At Bronze level, you can compose and carry out your own assessment and the results don’t have to be recorded. This type of review is described as an informal review.

The Environmental Revew can be designed by your centre but it must cover the Eco-Schools nine topics and the results must be documented. If you don’t want to design your own review, there is a template in our Programme Materials section.

What should the Environmental Review cover?

The Environmental Review should cover: litter, waste minimisation and recycling, energy, school grounds, biodiversity, water use, pupil activities, healthy living, transport, and global citizenship.

Questions to include in your Environmental Review may be:

• Is the centre litter free?
• Does the centre recycle cans, paper, computer cartridges, etc?
• Does the centre use recycled paper in disposable materials such as paper towels?
• Are lights left on unnecessarily? Are there draughts around windows and doors? Are windows left open whilst the heating is on?
• Does the centre avoid the use of aerosols in art lessons or by domestic staff?
• Does the centre encourage users to walk to it?
• Do centre toilets have water-saving devices fitted?
• Are environmental issues discussed with the children?

Whether you’re devising your own Environmental Review or using an off-the peg form, we encourage you to link this activity into curriculum planning.

We've conducted our Environmental Review...what next?

Once the Eco-Committee has carried out an Environmental Review of the centre, it is time to develop an Action Plan based on its findings.

Find out more about the Action Plan.