North London Waste Authority is expanding its educational programme to offer free SEND-inclusive sessions for special schools.
Designed in partnership with the Lightyear Foundation – which removes barriers to disabled and neurodivergent children taking part in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) - the workshops at EcoPark House are fully aligned with the national curriculum and will teach students all about waste prevention and the circular economy.
They have been tested by 65 students at four special schools across north London, which provided feedback to ensure the sessions are fully inclusive and accessible. North London Waste Authority (NLWA) also shared insights at the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) national conference, with sector experts providing advice which helped to further refine the approach.
This includes the education team being upskilled in Makaton, a sign and symbol language, to enable effective communication.
Councillor Clyde Loakes, Chair of NLWA, said: “This newly enhanced offer reaffirms our commitment to ensuring all learning experiences are accessible, inclusive, and reflective of all learners’ needs.
“We know that we take the behaviours and habits we learn in childhood into our adult lives, which is why it is so important that we engage as many pupils as possible in the importance of sustainable consumption.
“We’re really proud of the educational outcomes and social value we are providing at EcoPark House, with all sessions able to be adapted to meet the specific needs of individual schools.”
School visits at the state-of-the-art EcoPark House in Edmonton launched in January 2025, and have been awarded the LOtC Quality Badge.
A range of educational sessions are available, including Beyond the Bin which looks at the journey of rubbish and recycling, and Rethinking Rubbish which focuses on reusing and redesigning items to reduce waste.
For more information or to book, visit www.nlwa.gov.uk/EPH.