Nurture Outdoor Kindergarten Team
Nurture Outdoor Kindergarten is Ofsted registered, our practitioners have:
- Early Years Teacher Status (or equivalent)
- First Aid Training
- Minimum two years experience at an Ofsted registered setting
- Strong references
- Forest School qualifications and / or outdoor experience
- Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check
- A passion for outdoor learning in the early years
Kate - Kindergarten Manager
PGCE Primary - Early Years, Bsc Hons Media & FT, Forest school Leader L3
Kate has been teaching in Early Years for 17 years, and before leaving to have her two girls was Head of Early Years in a large primary school. As a trained Forest school leader she has helped set up, develop and run forest schools. Kate has worked hard to improve practice by promoting outdoor education and independent play, as she is passionate about the importance of allowing children to create meaningful experiences and learn at their own pace. She is also inspired by the principles of RIE®, and puts these into practice with her own children. In her spare time, Kate loves exploring new places and meeting new people.
Olivia - Curriculum Lead
Dip Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Studies, BA Hons Working with Children and Families
Olivia has a degree in Working with Children and Families as well as a diploma in Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Studies. She has worked with children aged birth to five years old in nurseries and has experience of working within a Steiner Waldorf kindergarten with children aged four to six years old, which has shown her that each child has a natural impulse to lead their own learning through discovering and experiencing the world around them. Olivia is passionate about working with children and believes that the wonder of nature can bring many learning experiences for each child, to be creative and imaginative in their own individual way. Olivia enjoys being outside in all seasons, especially amongst the Autumn leaves. In her spare time, she enjoys doing yoga, baking, cooking vegetarian food and walking in the countryside.
Emilia - Pedagogical Lead & Learning Specialist
BA Psychology, MA Psychoanalytic Infant Observational Studies (studying)
Emilia’s interest in early childhood emerged after she had her first child. Emilia says the journey of discovering and understanding what it means to be a child has been one of the most valuable journeys she has been on! She has worked as a childminder and recently graduated from BSc Psychology and is currently studying for a MA in Psychoanalytic Infant Observational Studies. Free outdoor play was a central part of Emilia’s childhood, and, reflecting on these early experiences, Emilia realised this was something she took for granted. Emilia believes that outdoor play is nowadays unavailable for so many children, and yet the most natural form of exploring the world. She feels strongly that children have a natural need to be outdoors and engaging with nature. Emilia loves gardening, particularly growing vegetables. She also enjoys woodland walks, coastal walks and running.
Corrie - Outdoor Early Years Practitioner
BA Early Childhood Studies (Professional Practice)
Corrie has a passion for children’s social and emotional development and well-being. She believes these areas of development are integral in providing a secure foundation from which each unique child can flourish. Corrie is also interested in how engagement with nature and outdoor environments can support children’s sense of emotional well-being and contribute towards positive mental and physical health. She has a degree in Early Childhood Studies (Professional Practice) which enabled her to gain experience working closely with children and families in a variety of early years settings. Corrie loves animals, enjoys arts and crafts and going for long countryside walks with her dog, especially on frosty winter mornings.
Georgia - Trainee Forest School Leader
Trainee Forest School Leader - Level 3, Childcare Learning & Development Level 3
Georgia has been working with children and families for a number of years, and is passionate about the role of the practitioner when working in partnership with families to achieve great outcomes. Georgia has worked with children aged birth through to five years, and has spent time helping to deliver Forest School sessions. She is keen to pursue her Forest School accreditation and is passionate about learning opportunities outdoors. She feels strongly about offering a nature based environment which allows for children to have opportunities to manage their own risk, that in turn nourishes their personal, social and emotional development. She has observed the impacts a holistic outdoor based approach can have on children and the deep connection children can attain with the natural environment. Georgia runs a Rainbows unit as part of Girlguiding, developing young girls confidence and skills to support them to reach their full potential, so they can become the young women that they want to be. She loves spending time outdoors walking and camping; and enjoys cooking Vegan food, and practicing yoga.
Hannah - Outdoor Early Years Assistant
BTEC National Diploma in Early Years; special interest in Respectful Parenting & SEN
Hannah has worked with children aged 3 up to 11 but the early years are, and always have been, her passion. She has vast experience as a classroom based teaching assistant, providing 1:1 support as well as in group work as a learning assistant. She has an interest in SEN and a desire to improve equality and inclusion for pupils with SEN within mainstream settings. Hannah had a 'free range' early childhood in the Kentish countryside and has always felt it important that children be given as many opportunities as possible to explore the freedom of the outdoors, connecting with nature, themselves and others. Since having her own children Hannah has explored respectful parenting along with imparting a love of nature and an aim to live in an eco friendly way. Hannah enjoys walks in the woods with her family, baking, reading and dancing.
Ruth - Early Years Woodwork Lead
EYTS, Woodworking in the Early Years, Bill Hogarth coppice diploma, BA Hons French & Philosophy with Spanish
Ruth comes to early years work from a background primarily in the outdoors - working in woodlands, and also in co-counselling - an international peer-listening project. Both of these inform her approach as she develops her work as a practitioner in the early years. Ruth is particularly interested in supporting children to have a secure sense of connection to themselves, others and the natural world as she believes that with this foundation children's own interests flourish and deep learning follows naturally. She is passionate about supporting these connections through a respectful approach to personal, social and emotional development, and also through children having plenty of opportunity to be outdoors. Ruth loves being in wild places, yoga, rock climbing, hanging out with friends and eating delicious food!
