Environmental
Both School Grounds and Forest Schools fall under my environmental work. Whether that may be getting children out into nature or creating an eco action plan for your school, planting trees or redesigning your outdoor space to allow children to learn through play. Being aware of the environment around you and how your students interact with it is crucial to not only their development but the eco-system of your organisation. Acknowledging your environmental impact and how to adapt is as vital today as it has ever been, with climate change affecting you in and outside of the classroom, it is not only important that your school or organisation adapts but that the people using, it whether that may be children or the public, understand their part to play in having a safe and sustainable future.
School Grounds
I have been involved with school grounds development since university and became an accredited trainer and facilitator with the national school grounds charity Learning Through Landscapes in 2004. I work with children, teaching staff, parents, governors and the wider community to develop ideas and designs for school grounds improvement. I can help schools procure resources and implement plans with an emphasis on low cost, sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.
I can also provide training to staff and governors on school grounds development generally or by focussing in on specific issues. If a school wishes to host a training session for its own staff, a cluster or multi-academy trust, I am happy to provide a custom made programme.
Forest Schools
Forest School sessions ideally take place with small groups of children over extended seasons. They would regularly use sharp tools and fire. Whilst I am able to do this, I recognise that in the current financial climate most schools cannot justify this. I am experienced with working with large classes on activities that allow them to explore, discover, and imagine. I use stories and creativity to engage them and encourage independent learning. Using the natural environment to identify plants and creatures inspires children to take responsibility for the world around them and to ask questions.
I ask that, for safety, additional staff are always involved in these sessions. This can also act as a type of CPD as teachers are able to take a step back from leading and engage with children in different ways. Staff are often surprised by the positive behaviour of some children who may be more challenging indoors.
