Slide 1

Birth of a new professional body

Gareth Wyn DaviesFSA Development Officer

Questions I will try to answer in no particular orderWhy 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, cohesionandquality forest school for allBack 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? Well get to thatPrinciples 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 UKIn 1995 Bridgewater College offered the first FS qualification in the UK (BTech)By 2000 trainers were popping up all across England and WalesIn 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 conferencea 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 FSIt was recognised that, with the huge growth in FS, there was increasing variation in standards and qualityThe FS Trainers NetworksIn 2005 the FS Trainers Network was set up in Wales with support from the FCIn 2010 Forest School Wales was set up as a practitioners support networkAlso in 2010 the GB FS Trainers Network was set up with 25 trainers from across Great BritainDuring this period FEI coordinators and groups across the nations have been instrumental in supporting grassroots FS ... And then ... 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 convergenceOf the 10 committee members only 4 were trainersAt second AGM the SIG passed a motion to explore setting up a National Governing BodyApril 2010 (talks between the GB trainers network and the SIG)

Institute of Outdoor Learning FS Special Interest GroupOn-line consultation with FS community 900 responses and 88% in favour for exploring professional organisation to represent and support practitionersSummer 2010 - Funding bid was successful for development and business plan12 months period of development and consultation. Principles and criteria of FS were reviewed and formally agreed by SIG members at AGM.

From inception to realitySIG 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) 7th 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

ObjectivesCommunicate 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 farAugust 2012 became a registered company limited by guarantee Nov 2012 Development officer appointedMy priories WebsiteMembership and servicesFundraisingDeveloped internal systems communications with Working Groups, Executive and Directors Logo and marketing materialsWebsite built and launched

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

What we will be doing this yearDeveloping systems for registering FS practitioners according to agreed criteriaDeveloping systems for endorsing FS Trainers according to agreed criteriaEncouraging awarding bodies to clone all elements of the new FS qualifications- currently only with OCNWMRMembership 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 includeSee flyerWe 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/ForestSchoolAssociation

Twitter: /FSAssociation

.... endExecutive Directors:Jon Cree, Chairman of FSA Board of Trustees, and training coordinator at Bishops Wood, Worcestershire County CouncilSussannah Podmore, Deputy Chairman of FSA Board of Trustees, was FEI coordinator England, now an independent practitioner in ShropshireSara Knight, principal lecturer from Anglia Ruskin University, writer and Forest School practitioner, Deputy Chairman of FSA Board of TrusteesSarah Blackwell, Archimedes Training Company, Treasurer of FSA Board of TrusteesClair Hobson, EarthCraft UK, in Canterbury, Forest School trainer and delivery and starting a FS group in KentAline Hill, working as a trainer in Scotland for the FS Training Company, and freelance FS practitionerLouise Ambrose, Norfolk Co-ordinator, and Forest School Training Company Trainer

Other Directors:Chris MillettIOL representativePenny Martin, FEI FS coordinator Scotland, post hosted by Living Classrooms, charitable arm of Mindstretchers Ltd based in ScotlandJane 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 SchoolsVicki Stewart, freelance Forest School Leader & outdoor development trainerGeoff Mason, Wood Learn Forest School Ltd on the Isle of Wight, doing Forest School, Beach School and BushcraftAnn Newman, Ernest Cook Trust, running outdoor education programmes including Forest School (also funding body)John Blaney, Bridgewater CollegeMelanie Pilcher, Training Officer Pre-School Learning AllianceBeth Gardner, Chief Executive, Council for Learning Outside the ClassroomAwi Frances, Chair of Forest School Wales and FS practitioner/trainer at Bishops Wood Centre, SwanseaSusan Edwards,SurreyWildlife TrustLeszek Iwaskow, HMI Ofsted inspector and National Advisor for Geography, adviser to Board of Trustees