We are a small Staffordshire based company, able to plan and deliver bespoke Forest School and Outdoor Learning sessions to suit you setting's needs.
We are passionate about Outdoor Learning and the positive benefits this has on all children.
Sessions are led by Amy MacKinnon, a qualified Primary School Teacher, with over 10 years teaching experience across all age ranges, including pupils with a range of SEN and ESBD. Amy is Forest School Leader level 3 qualified and has held this qualification since August 2015. Amy is also a Personal and Specialism Tutor, and Geography Lead for Keele and North Teacher Education SCITT (School Centred Initial Teacher Training).
Forest School sessions at schools, nurseries or similar settings
Development of the basic Forest School skills towards more independent and advanced skills for KS2 and beyond.
Sessions for whole classes, small groups or 1-2-1
Child initiated creative learning.
Sessions tailored to your pupils needs including EYFS, Key Stage 1 & 2, pupil premium groups, pupils with social, emotional or behavioural needs.More details.
Inspiration for writing sessions delivered outdoors.
Story focused outdoor learning
Real Outdoor Science - Fire and how it can change materials, how fire can heat water, how fire can be used to cook with.
Gifted and talented group sessions.
One-off or regular Outdoor Learning sessions.More details
Natural art outdoors sessions.
Outdoor flora and fauna identification sessions (now included in the new 2014 Science Curriculum).
Other group sessions avaliable on request
We are a small company able to tailor sessions to the needs of your children- we don't work from text books, and believe that there is no 'one size fits all' when it comes to teaching.
We believe in a holistic, child-centred approach, where the children's needs come first. We aim to create a caring, nurturing environment within our sessions, where each child feels welcomed, valued and included.
Our Forest School leader has trained with a very experienced and knowledgeable trainer who was trained by one of the teachers who originally introduced Forest School to the UK. The majority of the training was undertaken 1-2-1 whilst working alongside the trainer, observing and working with a wide range of children of different ages, abilities and backgrounds. As far as we know this is the only forest school trainer in the UK to offer such training - in the learning environment with children, rather than just among a group of other adult trainees.
Consequently we are confident that we deliver 'real' child-led Forest School which includes lots of free play and child led discovery, rather than a set of forest school 'lessons'.
We love to be creative with learning! Our sessions are imaginative, delivered at a pace to suit the children, and above all....fun!
We are flexible with our content during sessions and throughly understand the need to follow children's interests and curiosities, after all, that is how the best learning develops. Some children may never have seen a frog in 'real life' so if the opportunity arises to track 'Mr Frog' to his habitat in the school grounds then we must take the opportunity. After all, he may not be there next session!
Safety is of utmost importance. To ensure children are safe at all times, Muddy Mondays' session leader holds:
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Primary Graduate Teacher Programme)
Level 3 Forest School Qualified
CRB/DBS enhanced disclosure check
BA (Hons) in Geography and Business
Masters module "Reflective Practice in Education"
First Aid certified
Food Hygiene level 2 certified
Manual Handling certified
Safeguarding trained staff
Public Liability Insurance to £5 million underwritten by Birnbeck
Comprehensive risk assessments are undertaken and avaliable for each activity and the site used.
Appropriate Personal Protective equipment is provided for pupils and assisting adults.
For Forest School sessions, an inital letter, consent form and kit list is provided to parents to ensure pupils are correctly dressed for the session. Kit list available here
Our Forest School Handbook is reguarly updated and reviewed
Our Policies are updated regularly and are avaliable on request Muddy Mondays Policies