Tiaki Early Learning Centre is sporting a new sign on their gate after receiving silver recognition under the Enviroschools Programme.

The Enviroschools Programme is an initiative supported by Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Council provides resources and facilitation support to Bay of Plenty schools and kindergartens keen to look after their environment.

Tu Kaha, Finlay, Elsie, Riley, Lucia, Loki, Anthony from Tiaki Early Learning Centre with their new Enviroschools sign acknowledging their silver award.

The programme encourages schools and centres to regularly reflect on their journey and provides the bronze, silver, green/gold levels to work towards.

During the reflection students, teachers and parents gave feedback on how they have been protecting the environment.

Centre Manager Gayle Bell says it's an engaging way for everyone to list the aspects of the centre that they found were eco-friendly and provided more ideas for the next steps.

'The children were a key part of the process and have created artwork that shows ways in which we are caring for Papatuanuku,” says Gayle.

'We celebrated both the silver recognition as well as Matariki at an overnight stay where parents and staff decided the next step on our journey would be to develop a vegetarian food plan for the children.”

The centre already produces vegetables from their own gardens that the children tend, as well as eggs from their chickens.

Recycling, composting and worm farming are all part of their daily activities.

Regional Council Community Engagement Advisor Janie Stevenson facilitates the Enviroschools programme for Rotorua and is thrilled to have worked alongside Tiaki in reaching the silver level of the programme.

'Tiaki reflected on bronze two years ago and since then it is clear the students are looking beyond their centre door to support their community,” says Janie.

'It's inspiring to see the four-year-old students restoring a local wetland and regularly picking up litter along the roadside.”

The centre is looking to work towards Green/Gold recognition as the next step.

If your school or kindergarten is interested in the Enviroschools Programme, contact Stephanie Macdonald on: 0800 884 880, ext 8147.