Pure joy in discovery: Unlocking potential through the outdoors

Can you tell us a bit about your background and what inspired you to become a teacher?

I’ve always known that I wanted to work with children, and I naturally gravitated towards being a teacher through the influence of my mother, who worked in a primary school for a total of 32 years. I had a particular interest in children with Additional Learning Needs and during the completion of my Psychology Degree, I supported children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the delivery of their Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Therapy. From this moment, everything that I did throughout my early career was to enable me to become the best Primary School Teacher I could be. This included working as a phone counsellor for ChildLine, Volunteering in local Learning Support Centres and taking part in several night classes. Once I secured my first Teaching role, my experience with Additional Learning Needs led me to train to become an Additional Learning Needs Coordinator (ALNCO). I’ve been an ALNCO for 11 years and I feel it is one of the most rewarding roles within a school.  

I have always had a passion for the outdoors which is something that has been engrained in me since I was a very small child. This led me to see the importance of outdoor education and using the outdoors as a way of getting the best out of children. I’m a strong believer that the more time children spend outside, the better they will learn about not only the natural world, but about themselves. It is amazing to watch the children challenge and push themselves in ways that they would never do inside of the classroom. Therefore, I feel as if I have the dream job at my current school being a Nursery Teacher, ALNCO and Forest School Leader. I’ve been able to combine all the elements of teaching that I love the most into one role. It really is a dream come true for me.

What do you love most about your role in education?

I love spending time with the children at our forest school area and watching the pure joy on their faces as they try something new such as climbing a little bit further, swinging a little bit higher or using a tool with success for the first time. These precious moments where their faces light up and they are beaming with confidence are priceless and is what it is all about for me. This is particularly powerful for children who may struggle with a standard curriculum due to Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (SEBD). Having access to this type of provision, is a game changer and opens their eyes to things that they not only learn about but can master and develop a passion for.

Another aspect of my role that I feel is incredibly important is building relationships with the pupils and families from the moment they start attending the parent and toddler sessions. This positive relationship only benefits their experience of school, when they eventually start. The children and families are more than familiar with the setting, the support staff and myself so those anxieties about starting school for the first time are non-existent. This is particularly important as the ALNCO as it is key that the parents feel they can come to me for support when they need it.

What do you consider your greatest achievement as a teacher?

For me, teaching in the school where I spent most of my childhood, is just a dream come true. I strongly feel that I can give back what I took out of Catwg Primary as a child. The day that I was offered the job as Nursery Teacher was a huge moment for me and since that day, it’s been an incredible journey to where I am now. I had dreams of using the grounds of Catwg to create this outdoor learning haven for children and slowly but surely, those dreams have come true. It’s a real ‘pinch me moment’.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering a career in teaching?

My advice would be to get as much experience as possible working in schools. Schools can differ so much and it’s always a good idea to get a good understanding of how the education system works before entering a career as a teacher. I worked as a Teaching Assistant for a year before I did my PGCE and learned so much from this. I’d definitely recommend that to anyone considering teaching.

What qualities and skills do you think are essential for success in the education sector?

I think you have to have a real passion for it. It’s more of a way of life than a ‘job’. My husband is also a teacher, and we have to make a conscious effort to ‘switch off’ and not ‘talk shop’ because it’s very easy to slip into the habit of constantly talking about school. I think you have to have a good sense of humour, be fun-loving and be willing to continually learn yourself. Teaching is constantly changing and it's important to be able to adapt to the class that is in front of you, as there are no two classes the same.  

What are your future goals as an educator?

Well, firstly I’ve got big plans for the outdoor provision at my school. These in include restoring the old pond, which was once used for pond dipping, getting a chicken coop for the children to harvest eggs and supporting the children to create their very own allotment and set up a village fruit and vegetable shop run from the school grounds.

I’d like to continue to develop ‘Mrs T’s Woodland Wonders’ and potentially run ‘Lads and Dads’ days where fathers can come along and spend time with their sons, using tools and taking part in woodcraft. There’s really not much out there specifically for fathers and sons.

As for myself, I don’t really have any major goals, other than to carry on with what I’m doing. I love the job I have at the moment and the thought of moving away from that just doesn’t appeal to me. I’d miss the children too much!