Sustainable preschools: A model for change

This article gives a thematic overview of the overall knowledge development from a three-year research and development programme Sustainable Preschools (2021–2024) is presented. The aim of the programme was to strengthen education for sustainability in a large group of Swedish preschools. The programme meets the need for further research on how preschool teachers’, and their principals and management leaders, systematically develop high-quality education for sustainability (EfS). The programme included 300 participants - 200 preschool teachers from different preschools and around 90 principals and management leaders from different layers in the organisation of nine participating municipalities/providers. The thematic overview included six articles and one report from the programme. The findings from these studies showed four key aspects for change, beside a dedicated prioritisation: 1) The Programme Structure and organisation, 2) Promoting a Sustainable Leadership in ECCE, 3) Promoting New Knowledge about EfS, and 4) Communication is Important for Transformative Education. These key aspects supported EfS and the transition in the participating preschools and municipalities towards becoming Sustainable Preschools and could well serve as an implementation model.