Menu
Role: Managing Director, Great and Small Forest Education Limited and Mum to two children, Max and Aubrey
Main Qualifications:
Primary Education QTS,
Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training,
Level 3 Forest School Practitioner,
BA (Hons) English Language and Linguistics with Literature.
Forest School and Paediatric First Aid
Designated Safeguarding Lead
I came across the practice of Forest School during my primary teacher training several years ago and the idea immediately resonated with me. As a child growing up in Great Harwood, I loved nothing more than playing in the woods, fields and parks close to my home, making dens, rose water ‘perfume’, mixing various concoctions of mud, leaves and flowers, climbing trees and generally playing outdoors, on my own and with friends.
After a spell in the classroom, I decided to further my interest in Forest School and completed my level 3 Forest School Practitioner training with the FSE (Forest School Education) so that I could offer this type of so very valuable education and ethos to the young children of the area. We have the most perfect private woodland setting, adjacent to my family’s farm, taking advantage of our beautiful Lancashire countryside where myself and my team aim to deliver a unique, inspirational and beneficial style of education both in the woodland, at our kindergarten nearby and, excitingly, at our new Forest School site at the amazing Waddow Hall estate in Clitheroe, opening in September 2022.
My vision for Great and Small is to provide fantastic childcare inspired by the forest school ethos lead by well qualified staff and overseen by myself. Great and Small is also an associate trainer for Acorn Training based in Milton Keynes whereby we train others to become accredited Forest School Leaders in their own settings therefore spreading the forest school ethos even further to benefit children across the county. At Great and Small, it is at our core of practice that we that help your child to develop holistically in their early years education nurtured by a team of caring, friendly and professional practitioners.
Like Vicky, our childhoods were lived mostly in the great outdoors, come rain or shine, and I am truly grateful for that. It allowed our imagination and creativity to flourish by flying our rocket ships to worlds unknown (riding our bikes to different parts of the park) or by making cakes for the fairies (sculpting weird and wonderful dishes using sticks, leaves, mud and whatever else we could find). Playing out with our large group of friends helped us to develop a good social skillset and learn how to share and work in a team (working collectively to find leaves, sticks, etc. for our fairy cakes). It was also the greatest classroom in which to encourage curiosity and to learn about the world around us: As you have probably guessed, I am a strong advocate of outdoor play in childhood and I spend a lot of time outside with my two boys going on nature walks, exploring the natural world around us. So when I heard about the Forest School ethos, I was hooked so completed my level 3 training and joined the Great and Small team! Our woodland setting is beautiful and full of opportunities for children to explore and gain new skills. Although I am predominantly based in the Clayton le Moors Forest School, I also enjoy being involved at our kindergarten and the new site in Clitheroe. I have also recently undertaken the relevant qualifications to be involved in the training branch to Great and Small and thoroughly enjoy guiding other professionals towards their level 3 qualifications. It’s wonderful to know that we at Great and Small not only enrich the lives and education of the children in our care but also many other children from various other schools and settings.
Matty is our wonderful woodland guru and Forest School leader who runs the home ed parent and child groups and sessions and works alongside Leanne, Lisa and Vicky on the preschool+ and home ed sessions. Matty has a wonderful, caring nature and always has a lovely connection with children which he uses to scaffold the children in their learning and wellbeing journeys. Matty is also our expert forager and bushcrafter, skills which he teaches the children which does so much to boost their connection to nature as well as their own self esteem, confidence, resilience and risk management. Forest School trainees also benefit from Matty’s expertise in practical skills and woodland knowledge. Matty is predominantly based in our Clayton le Moors Forest School however is excited to be involved in the opening of our new site in Clitheroe and developing Forest School activities at our kindergarten too.
Role: Forest School Leader at Great and Small Forest School
Qualifications:
Role: Manager, Level 3 Early Years Practitioner, Great and Small Kindergarten, Clayton le Moors and Mum to Harry
Qualifications:
Level 3 Early Years Practitioner
First Aid
Safeguarding
Shannon started as a level 2 apprentice and has continued on her path through her apprenticeship to now being a fully qualified level 3 practitioner. Shannon is fun and friendly with a lovely caring nature who enjoys playing with the children as much as they enjoy playing with her. Shannon enjoys helping the children have fun and develop in their own ways. Shannon is currently on maternity leave after becoming mummy to little Harry however both she and us all at Great and Small look forward to her return to kindergarten in September 2022.
Role: Deputy Manager, Level 3 Early Years Practitioner and Nurture Facilitator, Great and Small Kindergarten, Clayton le Moors and Mum to Jessica and Jake Grandma to Grace Adam and Emily.
Qualifications:
Level 3 Childcare
First Aid
Designated safeguarding lead
Level 2 Food Hygiene and Allergy Awareness
Sheila joined us in January 2021 after working in the Family Wellbeing Service for several years working with families who needed more support and guidance. Sheila loves working with children and has such a lovely, nurturing and playful manner. Needless to say all of the children love Sheila. In addition to Sheila’s role as a practitioner, she is also our own Nurture Facilitator, a unique role created to encompass Sheila’s knowledge and experience in family wellbeing. Should any of our families want or need support in any area of life, Sheila will talk to the families, either at our setting or in their homes, to offer help and support or to signpost to other organisations that may be able to help. Our aim is to be a hub in the local community not only providing childcare but involving families and offering help and support where needed and Sheila’s friendly and supportive nature is at the core of that vision to ensure the welfare, wellbeing and access to quality early years education for every child.
Role: Early Years Apprentice
Qualifications:
Working towards Level 3 Childcare
Level 2 Safeguarding
Level 2 Food Hygene
Level 2 Allergy Awareness
Nicole left school in 2021and joined us in September as an apprentice on her new journey to become a qualified early years practitioner. Nicole will be working with the team at Great and Small Kindergarten learning from our experience and knowledge of early years education whilst also attending Blackburn College. Nicole is excited to learn about early years education and has already shown that she has a lovely, friendly nature with children who also love being in her company plus being a professional and reliable member of our team who plans to further her qualifications and develop within the Great and Small team.
In 2023, Nicole Excelled in her Level 2 Early Years apprenticeship, qualifying with a distinction. She is now undertaking her level 3 qualification.
Role:Level 3 Early Years Practitioner at Great and Small Kindergarten and mum to Aleaha and Maci
Qualifications:
