Westmeath County Childcare Committee Ltd (WCCC ) and An Taisce launched the new Green Pre-Schools pilot programme in the Bloomfield House Hotel recently.
Westmeath County Childcare Committee is the lead partner in this proposal with An Taisce aimed at increasing environmental awareness among young children and their families. Westmeath County Childcare Committee have developed an online resource, Green Pre-Schools Activity Planner, which is linked to Aistear and references Sìolta.
This innovative programme will be piloted with 15 services in Westmeath and WCCC will also help to promote the implementation of Aistear within their current curriculum in a very practical hands-on user friendly way providing support and guidance.
To date the pilot is fully subscribed with a waiting list of services from Westmeath. This is due partly to the fact that there are many benefits:
- WCCC will support with adapting Aistear hrough the use of the activity planner within the current curriculum settings of pre-schools
- An Taisce can promote environmental awareness and energy conservation and successful childcare services will receive the Green Pre-Schools Flag
- Family involvement is key and it is a great way to recycle items that would otherwise be put in landfill
- Early education of children in relation to the environment is promoted in a fun and easily comprehended manner
Aistear, Síolta, and Regulation 5 are all linked in the activity planner and all activities make key references to promoting literacy and numeracy skills.
