Nursery World - My working life ... Forest school leader

Like those working indoors, forest school practitioners must juggle
play, learning and development, along with health and safety in an
environment that can pose greater hazards.

Sarah Gilding is a forest school leader and early years practitioner at Strawberry Patch Nursery in Norfolk.

'I'm an early years practitioner four days a week, but two mornings I run forest school sessions at the nursery,' she says. 'I began working in the early years after my children were born. Nine years ago, I was offered the chance to go on a Level 1 forest school course. I didn't know what it was - forest school was new to the area. But I've always been an outdoor girl who loved Girlguiding, camping and playing outside, so I said yes.

'The course was just a short introduction where we learned some outdoor activities. I decided to go straight on to study a Level 3 qualification to become a forest school leader.

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