This spring (2026), 21 nursery settings within Childbase Partnership achieved Modeshift STARS accreditation – marking a major milestone in their commitment to improving everyday journeys for children, families and staff.
Lisa Manston, Health, Safety & Environment Advisor at Childbase Partnership, has led the coordination of STARS across the organisation’s nurseries.
With a clear target in place, Lisa explains:
‘We wanted all of our sites to be accredited by 2026 and we’ve achieved that ahead of schedule.’
This spring’s success contributes to some impressive figures including:
- 19 nurseries achieving Good accreditation
- 24 achieving Approved status
- A further 12 sites submitting for Good accreditation in the latest round of quality assurance.
For Childbase Partnership, improving everyday journeys sits naturally alongside their wider environmental commitments – helping families and staff make healthier travel choices while reducing their impact on the environment.
The Experience
The decision to become a STARS licence holder was originally made by the organisation’s previous Health & Safety Director, recognising the value of embedding a consistent approach across multiple sites.
Managing accreditation at scale was made easier through central oversight:
‘Having a master login means I can track where each nursery is in the process. If a team needs support, I can see exactly what stage they’re at and what they need.’
Lisa also recommends grouping sites when managing large numbers of settings to monitor progress effectively and provide targeted support where needed.
At individual settings, the impact has been visible and engaging. For example, children at the Windmill Hill nursery enthusiastically took part in a sponsored bike ride – building confidence, encouraging healthy habits and bringing families together around everyday journeys.
The Results
The response from nursery teams has been extremely positive.
‘The teams have really got behind the accreditation. I wasn’t expecting so many nurseries to go for Good so quickly – it’s been fantastic to see that enthusiasm.’
By focusing on everyday journeys, Childbase Partnership is helping families build healthier habits while reinforcing environmental awareness from an early age – embedding positive behaviours within their nursery communities.
In summary
Reflecting on the experience, Lisa is clear:
‘We would absolutely recommend Modeshift STARS. The team are very helpful and always quick to answer any questions we’ve had.’
Childbase Partnership’s achievement demonstrates how a large, multi-site organisation can successfully embed improvements to everyday journeys at scale – particularly when aligned with strong environmental values and clear organisational leadership.
