Hopes and Dreams Montessori Nursery School Tackles Air Pollution with the Clean Air Fairies

7th September 2017

Words from Radic8…

Hopes and Dreams Nursery School in Islington, North London, have teamed up with the Clean Air Fairies from Radic8 to limit their children’s exposure to the toxins and pollutants that are ubiquitous in central London.

802 schools, nurseries, and colleges in London are in areas where NO2 levels are beyond EU legal limits – exposing children and babies to this pollutant can have a serious impact on health, both in childhood and later in life. Air pollution is now considered the biggest health threat in cities, affecting 92% of the population and causing 2/3 of all diseases. Hopes and Dreams were informed of the air pollution problems in their area, but were not provided with any further information or solutions.

Hopes and Dreams liaised with Greenpeace initially to support the TFL Air Quality Consultation – a consultation into bringing forward the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone to April 2019, opened by London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Hopes and Dreams Nursery School reached out to seek a more immediate solution to help safeguard the children’s health in their care.

Hopes and Dreams are the first Nursery School in the UK to use this air filtration technology, which is already used extensively in other countries. The Radic8 technology is 99.5% efficient at removing NO2 from the air – in addition to filtration, the system uses its patented technology to sterilise air. This means that it removes indoor pollutants (such as formaldehyde) and stops the spread of viruses and bacteria to keep the children safe and healthy even during the cold and flu season.

Susan Bingham, owner of Hopes and Dreams, stated, “Our duty of care meant that we had to find an immediate solution to the air quality problems in London, rather than waiting for new targets or regulations to come in. We subsequently identified that the system presented by Radic8 was a perfect solution, especially since it will help stop the spread of germs and viruses as well as helping our children and staff who suffer with asthma. We’re looking forward to introducing our children and parents to the Clean Air Fairies to help them understand the importance of clean air.”

“We wanted to do our part to help children and parents make better decisions for the air and world around them, which is why we are using this as an opportunity to introduce them to living a cleaner and healthier lifestyle too.”

Once the Radic8 technology is installed, the Clean Air Fairies will teach children about clean air, where to find it, and how to reduce their impact on the world around them. Tips include using cars less, planting trees, and covering coughs and sneezes to avoid spreading infection.

Radic8 are exhibiting at Childcare Expo Midlands on 29th & 30th September. Visit them on stand C31 to find out more.