OUR NEW FOREST SCHOOL LEADER
A huge part of our ethos is cultivated from the importance and value of the natural world in educating our children. Being based in a city we have many families that have limited experience of 'the forest’ and ‘the wildness’. We are very pleased to be able to offer these kinds of holistic, child-led experiences daily to all of our children.
This year we have stepped it up a notch and gained our very own Level 3 Forest School Leader, Caitlin. Caitlin is an absolute joy and joined our team full time to enable all of our children, from our babies to our pre-school to experience all the outdoors has to offer under the experienced eye of a specialist forest school leader.
Caitlin’s words on why she loves the outdoors and what inspired her to train as a Forest School Leader.
“Playing in mud, climbing trees and making fires started my passion for the outdoors. Since a young age I spent hours outside making mud pies, finding different magical lands and making dens in my garden.
Throughout primary and high school I enjoyed a more hands on approach. Working within the natural environment and using the natural objects around me helped me to understand maths, literacy and much more.
After completing high school I worked at an outdoor after school care and holiday care, with children ages 1 -16 years. This started my love for looking after children. Since then I have had 6 years experience working within different schools, nurseries, and being a nanny. All of these were mainly based outdoors.
Back in 2019 I started my forest school qualification where I learnt about the ethos, background, and how to set up a forest school provision. I chose to do this course because in the area that I live and the surrounding areas there wasn’t much forest school opportunities for the local children.
This course has given me confidence to deliver forest school sessions for children and help them to show care and concern for the natural environment around them. I have taught forest school sessions for children ages 8 months - 14 years helping them to develop skills they can use throughout their lives,
There are many reasons why I love forest school. I believe it is one of the best teaching spaces for children to learn. The forest school environment encourages children to develop holistically, helps them to understand the natural world, builds friendships and so much more. Forest school allows children to explore the outdoor environment in a safe and controlled space, this gives them opportunities which they may not get at home. ”
Some photos of our children enjoying our wilderness garden
