Ruth Moore nursery manager at Bobbins Day Nursery in Staveley near Kendal and colleague Julie Sykes, are celebrating this week after qualifying for a bursary from Cumbria Sure Start to study for a Forest Schools Practitioners Award.
The unique course, developed from Scandinavian concept, is accredited by the Open College Network. Its philosophy is to encourage and inspire children from three years old to develop their understanding of the world and their environment through mastering tasks within a woodland environment. The cost of the course is being met by Cumbria Sure Start to encourage more people to undergo further training to deliver early years education and development and other outdoor activities within the forest schools programme.
County councillor, Joan Stocker, cabinet member for education said:
"Evidence shows that children of foundation stage can benefit greatly from attending a forest school programme. Some children who may find it hard to concentrate within a normal classroom environment become more engaged doing activities and learning outdoors. Forest schools have shown to raise children's self esteem, social communication skills and helps children work confidently individually, or within a team and at the same time understanding and appreciating their natural environment. The county council will continue to support further education and training to benefit the needs of the children and young people of this area."
Julie is delighted that her request for a bursary has been approved. She said:
"I am really please that Cumbria Sure Start has agreed to award me a bursary so I can study for the Forest School Practitioners Award. I believe that a network of Forest Schools in Cumbria would help children achieve their full potential and instill a desire for life long learning. I already have a PGCE in primary working with children from ages three to eleven. This course would enable me to further develop my skills and possibly become involved delivering early years education in one of the first forest schools in Cumbria."
Once fully trained, Ruth Moore intends to open the first forest school in the County. She said:
"I am looking forward to starting the course later this month and would like to thank Cumbria Cure Start for giving me the opportunity to further my career. At the moment there aren't any forest schools in Cumbria but steps are being taken to promote this type of practice. I have already secured a piece of woodland and fellside and intend, once I have undergone the training, to implement the forest school programme here in Staveley with three to four year olds who currently attend my nursery."
Angela Murphy, workforce development manager at Cumbria Sure Start said:
"Forest schools have been developing throughout England over the past ten years and have been effective in helping children achieve the early learning goal set in the foundation stage. We would like to support the development of the first network of forest schools in Cumbria, working with local childcare and early education providers, the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, Newton Rigg College and the Forestry Education Initiative."