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Air quality management in early childhood settings
The installation aimed to enhance indoor air quality and minimise airborne bacteria and viruses, thereby reducing child absences and staff illness.
Squiggles Day Nursery is a lively and caring early years setting where young children spend their days learning, playing and growing. Like all nurseries, the environment is naturally active, with children moving constantly between activities, staff providing close support, and parents visiting throughout the day.
Because young children are especially sensitive to airborne pollutants, maintaining a clean and healthy indoor atmosphere is essential. Squiggles Day Nursery partnered with We Share Clean Air to assess their indoor air quality and introduce a solution that would support safer breathing conditions for both children and staff.
The Problem
Elevated airborne particles in a busy nursery environment
In December 2025, Squiggles Day Nursery installed two ODEO 1 Air Sterilising units in their main activities area. The installation aimed to enhance indoor air quality and minimise airborne bacteria and viruses, thereby reducing child absences and staff illness.
Air quality assessment was conducted through three monitoring phases: baseline measurements before installation, an interim assessment two weeks post-installation, and a final evaluation in late January 2026. The collected data demonstrates a considerable reduction in airborne particulate matter within the nursery environment.
Particulate matter measuring 0.3 micrometers (μm) and below is particularly significant in healthcare and childcare settings. These fine particles can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and potentially enter the bloodstream. Such particles commonly serve as carriers for airborne bacteria and viruses.
Initial air quality readings substantially exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for indoor childcare environments. Following the installation of the air sterilising units, measurements have improved markedly, now registering slightly above WHO recommended levels—a significant advancement from baseline conditions.
The nursery has observed measurable benefits from the improved air quality, including reduced illness rates among both children and staff. The enhanced environment supports better learning and care delivery. Squiggles Day Nursery actively communicates its commitment to air quality improvement with parents through the "We Share Clean Air" initiative, demonstrating its dedication to providing a healthier childcare environment.
The chart shows the air quality findings across 3 dates:
4th December 2025 (Red)
22nd December 2025 (Yellow)
20th January 2026 (Blue)
The Solution
Installing the ODEO 1 air filter system
The ODEO 1 is designed specifically for shared indoor environments where people gather closely together. It provides continuous, reliable air purification throughout the day — helping reduce airborne pollutants and create a fresher, healthier nursery atmosphere.
Key benefits of the ODEO 1 include:
High-efficiency filtration for fine airborne particles
Reduction of allergens and irritants
Support for healthier shared spaces
Quiet, discreet operation suitable for nursery rooms
Proven performance in high-traffic environments
Our Products
What we did for Squiggles
To help Squiggles tackle their air quality challenges, We Share Clean Air carried out a comprehensive, step-by-step approach designed to understand the environment, identify the root causes of poor air quality, and implement the most effective clean-air solution.
The Results
Cleaner, safer air for young children & staff
The installation of the ODEO 1 Air Purifier resulted in significant reductions across all measured particulate types. These improvements created a noticeably fresher indoor environment, reducing allergens, improving breathing conditions for children and staff.
Ultrafine particles (<0.3 μm) Dropped dramatically from 23,137 to 5,356
This equates to a reduction of up to 76% depending on the time of reading.
0.5 μm particles reduced from 15,189 to 3,170
A substantial decrease, reducing airborne irritants that affect both humans and animals.
1.0 μm particles reduced from 5,006 to 3,543
Indicative of better overall air purity and reduced allergen presence.
Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) reading 172.3 μg/m³ dropped to 37.8 μg/m³
Improved post-filtration, resulting in better comfort, less odour and a cleaner-feeling space.
Contact
We Share Clean Air is proud to support Squiggles in delivering safer, cleaner air for everyone who walks through their doors.
This case study highlights the importance of clean air in early years settings. With children spending so much time indoors during critical developmental stages, improving air quality is a meaningful investment in health, comfort and care.
We Share Clean Air is proud to support Squiggles Day Nursery in creating a safer, fresher environment, where children can learn, play and grow while breathing cleaner air every day.