Tops Day Nurseries 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, in turn, can influence the way future generations live.
Connect Childcare – Ask the Expert with Cheryl Hadland
Sustainability Report
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We believe that the way we currently live our lives is environmentally unsustainable and, therefore, ultimately socially and economically unsustainable too.
Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility
Tops Day Nurseries became the first children’s nursery chain in the UK to achieve B Corp accreditation, which requires the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.
The accreditation aligns with the company’s purpose and goals, whereby the B Corp companies work toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and the creation of more high-quality jobs with dignity and purpose. B Corps companies use profits and growth as a means to achieve these goals.
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Cheryl believes that investing in 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 staff and children to ensure we leave our environment fit for the next generation to enjoy a healthy life.
17 Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs)
Our Sustainability Plan
It’s been 8 years since we first announced our 10 year plan including financial, social and environmentally sustainable objectives , so we now give you our 8-point plan…
See what makes Tops different!
Tops is a B-Corp Business
B Corporation (or B. Corp) are businesses that live the highest social and environmental standards for people and the planet. Tops were assessed and audited against demanding standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. There are currently over 3,500 B. Corps in 150 industries and 70 countries across the globe and Tops Day Nurseries has become the first Day Nursery in the UK to become a certified B. Corp business.
Key Performance Indicator Reports
Due to our sustainability vision, mission, and values and receiving B.Corp accreditation we have to ensure that we are being as transparent as we can, as a result, below are our quarterly reports on how we are doing with our key performance indicators in the three main areas, Financial, Social, and Environmental:
Green Flag certifications
ops Day Nurseries was the first nursery group in the UK to achieve Green Flag certifications at all settings!
The prestigious family of eco-sustainable nurseries have been working hard to become one of the UK’s leading sustainable Early Education and Care 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 and Green Flag Award.
Creating an Eco-Friendly Early Years Setting Book
Cheryl Hadland, Managing Director of Tops Day Nurseries, has published her brand new book: Creating an Eco-Friendly Early Years Setting. Proceeds of the book will go to the Charity, GECCO, because Cheryl wants to spread the word to help anyone who works with children, both in the UK and internationally, to care for, and educate children in a more sustainable way.
Glitter ban
You may have seen in the paper or on the news that Tops Day Nurseries have put a ban in place for any more ordering of glitter.
Glitter microplastics are an increasing problem. These tiny, shimmering specs of microplastic are virtually impossible to remove from the environment once there. When we’ve finished using plastic glitter for play, in decorating a card, sprinkling it into playdough or glue or painting with it, it goes into a bin or into the sink. It can’t be recycled because it isn’t practical to do so, it’s too small to separate out.
Our children, our future
Children at Tops Day Nurseries are encouraged to be considerate with their actions by recycling and caring for the environment just as part of everyday play and being in the nursery.
We talk about nature and the importance of respect and caring for the environment every day, whether it be through a mud kitchen, bug garden, clearing up after lunch or Tops Forest School.
Dorset Business Awards - Top Environmental Business Award
In the nurseries...
Nursery colleagues have already made huge improvements to the nursery environments; you may have noticed them wearing lovely pink aprons (that are washed and re-used).
Rather than the one use plastic aprons we were using, they are not buying straws or balloons or one use plastic cups, cutlery or plates. Nurseries have also started to grow their own herbs and vegetables with the children, using water from the water butt.
Bamboo toothbrushes
We are excited to announce that Tops Day Nurseries has now invested in bamboo toothbrushes for the children to use, supporting our ethos as a green, sustainable company. Tops will not be buying any more plastic toothbrushes for the children.
Electric cars
Tops Day Nurseries have recently invested in electric vehicles for staff to use in order to produce zero emissions when needing travel at work. These cars are fully electric and have many different benefits when it comes to helping the environment and being sustainable. The biggest benefit of which being that the cars do not emit toxic gases or smoke as they run on a clean energy source.
Switch it off!
Tops Day Nurseries gave ‘Switch it off’ stickers to every child and put them up in the nurseries and offices to remind ourselves, parents and children to switch off the lights and electrical appliances when not in use.
Cutting the costs on printing
The nurseries have also reduced the amount of welcome packs handed out to new parents by sending them via email.
GECCO
Tops Day Nurseries are proud to support the local charity GECCO.
GECCO, the Green Early Years Choices Champion Organisation (not-for-profit), was started as a way to share best practice in caring for children in a sustainable way.
Green Pea Initiative
As part of our commitment to a better environment for ours and our children’s futures we have joined the Green Positive Environmental Action (PEA) scheme and we are delighted to announce we have now accumulated four peas out of 5, mostly for reducing our carbon impact by 10%!
The 16 Steps
We have introduced these 16 steps, selected by experts, to reduce our carbon pollution and persuade others to do the same.
Whether it’s switching energy, driving electric, repair & reuse or talking to friend, there’s a step that we can all do.
Carbon Offset Certificate
Tops Day Nurseries Ltd has been awarded the Carbon Offset Certificate. This certificate means all of our locations have balanced greenhouse gas emissions associated with our general and recyclable waste collections and through changes we have made internally/externally, through carbon offsetting.
Our Sustainability Timeline
Over the years we have made many developments in working towards our sustainability as a company. We have compiled all that we have done over the years and composed it into a timeline of events for you to be able to see our progress. From reducing our carbon footprint and waste, to investing in renewable energy and green products, we have been committed to making a positive impact on the environment and society. Our timeline showcases some of our major achievements and milestones. We hope you enjoy learning more about our sustainability journey and how we are striving to make a difference.
