Birth of a new professional body Gareth Wyn

Birth of a new professional body Gareth Wyn Davies FSA Development Officer

Questions I will try to answer – in no particular order • • • Why is the FSA needed? What does the FSA intend to do? Where does it intend to do it? When will it be doing things? How will it go about doing things? Who is the Forest School Association?

We claim to be. . . The Forest School Association is the professional body and UK wide voice for Forest School, promoting best practice, cohesion and ’quality forest school for all‘

Back to basics - What is Forest School? • It is all very new so who is to say? Right? • A set of agreed FS Principles does exist • Agreed by who? We’ll get to that

Principles of Forest School • FS is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than a one-off or infrequent visits; the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session. • FS takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world. • FS uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for development and learning. • FS aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners. • FS offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves. • FS is run by qualified Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.

Where do the Principles come from? A short history of FS in the UK • In 1995 Bridgewater College offered the first FS qualification in the UK (BTech) • By 2000 trainers were popping up all across England Wales • In 2002/3 the Forestry Commission in Wales supported a group of Welsh and English trainers to develop the Open College Network qualification

Also in 2002. . . • The first national FS conference was held at Bishops Wood - Supported by FC Wales and FEI England • A set of FS principles were formulated and published from that conference • a UK definition of Forest School was formulated: ‘An inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults regular opportunities to achieve, develop confidence and self esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a local woodland environment. ’

• Discussions started then around the need to set up an independent organisation for practitioners and a body to set the standards for practice and to maintain the ethos of FS • It was recognised that, with the huge growth in FS, there was increasing variation in standards and quality

The FS Trainers Networks • In 2005 the FS Trainers Network was set up in Wales with support from the FC • In 2010 Forest School Wales was set up as a practitioners support network • Also in 2010 the GB FS Trainers Network was set up with 25 trainers from across Great Britain • During this period FEI coordinators and groups across the nations have been instrumental in supporting grassroots FS. . . And then. . .

Institute of Outdoor Learning FS Special Interest Group • In 2008 an IOL, FS Special Interest Group was set up with about 200 members representing a broad base of trainers, coordinators, practitioners and academics – convergence • Of the 10 committee members only 4 were trainers • At second AGM the SIG passed a motion to explore setting up a National Governing Body • April 2010 (talks between the GB trainers network and the SIG)

• On-line consultation with FS community – 900 responses and 88% in favour for exploring professional organisation to represent and support practitioners • Summer 2010 - Funding bid was successful for development and business plan • 12 months period of development and consultation. • Principles and criteria of FS were reviewed and formally agreed by SIG members at AGM.

From inception to reality • SIG group organised launch of FSA with IOL support • May 2012 – board member positions were advertised widely in as many relevant sectors as possible early years, primary school, secondary school, special needs, HE, each of the nations, outdoor learning, local FS coordinators, trainer, independent practitioners, NGO – wildlife trusts, play sector (space), forestry sector (space) • 7 th July 2012 Launch event – 21 directors and 7 Exec members voted on by attendees of the event + through a postal vote. The core objectives and articles of association were also agreed

Objectives • Communicate a strong, clear vision of what Forest School is. • Develop and maintain the curriculum content for approved Forest School Qualifications. • Work together to increase opportunities for people to experience quality Forest School in the UK. • Provide a central point for collecting, storing and sharing information about Forest School and good practice in Forest School – this includes notes on good practice, advice on choosing leaders, and advice on choosing trainers. • Stimulate, store and share practitioner and academic research and learn from it. • Work collaboratively with other organisations with similar goals and in related areas.

What have we done do far • August 2012 became a registered company limited by guarantee • Nov 2012 – Development officer appointed • My priories – Website – Membership and services – Fundraising

• Developed internal systems – communications with Working Groups, Executive and Directors • Logo and marketing materials • Website built and launched

• Developed FS Qualifications for the National Qualifications Framework in partnership with the GB trainers network

What we will be doing this year • Developing systems for registering FS practitioners according to agreed criteria • Developing systems for endorsing FS Trainers according to agreed criteria • Encouraging awarding bodies to clone all elements of the new FS qualifications- currently only with OCNWMR

Membership • We are open to all levels of Forest School professional and all those interested in providing and growing opportunities for people to experience quality Forest School within our UK nations. • There is one level of membership for all, and each member has an equal vote.

Member benefits include • See flyer • We believe that active involvement with the professional body will support continuous professional development and help promote quality Forest School in the UK.

www. forestschoolassociation. org www. facebook. com/Forest. School. Association Twitter: /FSAssociation . . end

Executive Directors: • Jon Cree, Chairman of FSA Board of Trustees, and training coordinator at Bishops Wood, Worcestershire County Council • Sussannah Podmore, Deputy Chairman of FSA Board of Trustees, was FEI coordinator England, now an independent practitioner in Shropshire • Sara Knight, principal lecturer from Anglia Ruskin University, writer and Forest School practitioner, Deputy Chairman of FSA Board of Trustees • Sarah Blackwell, Archimedes Training Company, Treasurer of FSA Board of Trustees • Clair Hobson, Earth. Craft UK, in Canterbury, Forest School trainer and delivery and starting a FS group in Kent • Aline Hill, working as a trainer in Scotland for the FS Training Company, and freelance FS practitioner • Louise Ambrose, Norfolk Co-ordinator, and Forest School Training Company Trainer

Other Directors: • • • • Chris Millett IOL representative Penny Martin, FEI FS coordinator Scotland, post hosted by Living Classrooms, charitable arm of Mindstretchers Ltd based in Scotland Jane Acton, working for a Social Enterprise in Cornwall, Forest School training and delivery plus other environmental work. Vincent Reynolds, Camphill School in Northern Ireland, working with special needs to do “reverse inclusion” by inviting children from mainstream schools into their Forest Schools Vicki Stewart, freelance Forest School Leader & outdoor development trainer Geoff Mason, Wood Learn Forest School Ltd on the Isle of Wight, doing Forest School, Beach School and Bushcraft Ann Newman, Ernest Cook Trust, running outdoor education programmes including Forest School (also funding body) John Blaney, Bridgewater College Melanie Pilcher, Training Officer Pre-School Learning Alliance Beth Gardner, Chief Executive, Council for Learning Outside the Classroom Awi Frances, Chair of Forest School Wales and FS practitioner/trainer at Bishops Wood Centre, Swansea Susan Edwards, Surrey Wildlife Trust Leszek Iwaskow, HMI Ofsted inspector and National Advisor for Geography, adviser to Board of Trustees