Details on the free waste education programme that is delivered by our Education Officers in primary schools.
Planning meeting
Before the Schools Waste Action Club (SWAC) programme starts, an Education Officer will visit the school for a planning meeting. This typically consists of an overview of the school's recycling systems, a brief meeting with the site manager and a short assessment with a sample group of pupils.
It also provides an opportunity for school staff to liaise closely with the SWAC team in order to discuss the activities in more detail, consider practical arrangements and to develop an appropriate timetable tailored to meet the school’s requirements.
SWAC visits and actvities
A SWAC visit usually starts with a whole school assembly which uses a model wheeled bin to introduce the concept of sustainable waste management to the whole school.
The SWAC Education Officer will then follow up the assembly by delivering a range of classroom-based hands-on activities designed to raise awareness and kick start the process of effecting behavioural change. These include:
Storytime
Suitable for Foundation classes. An interactive session using puppets and props to explore the problems of waste disposal and the solution of re-use.
Making recycled paper
Suitable for Key Stage two classes but can be delivered to Key Stage one classes with additional adult support. Pupils learns about the benefits of recycling this most common of classroom materials before making their own piece of recycled paper. Pupils are also encouraged to consider the even more beneficial options of reuse and reduce.
The wonderful world of worms
Suitable for Key Stage one and lower Key Stage two classes. Pupils discover what makes worms nature’s best recyclers and are given the opportunity to observe composting worms close up. Pupils also find out what worms can recycle and how a wormery works.
Composting for beginners
Suitable for Key Stage two classes. Pupils are introduced to the idea of recycling organic waste and learn about what materials can go into a compost bin and how to make sure they create a good habitat for the composting worms to do their work. Pupils then visit their outdoor space and practice how to use their compost bin correctly.
Composting for improvers
Suitable for upper Key Stage two classes. Pupils recap how to make compost successfully and consider composting problem. Pupils then analyse their own school compost and look at ways of improving it.
Less lunchtime waste
Suitable for upper Key Stage two classes. Pupils consider the problem of lunchtime waste and explore some possible solutions based on consumer choice. They then design a waste free lunch and communicate their findings to other classes in their school.
Following the SWAC programme, the Education officers can put together a action plan based on the information and data gathered during the visit. This action plan of suggested ideas to help staff and pupils tackl;e the problems of waste creation and disposal can build towards an application for a school's Eco Schools award.
Throughout the year, the SWAC team run special weeks where they visit a number of schools to deliver one-off sessions. Recent initiatives have included a Christmas week where pupils made decorations by re-using waste materials. The SWAC officers also delivered hands-on sessions during National Compost Awareness Week in May.
The SWAC team also run an annual competition in the Spring term where pupils can win cash prizes and resources for their school.
