Who are we?

Twiglets assistant, Home Ed Assistant and Alternative Provision assistant

I am 53, have two grown up daughters and have always loved spending time outdoors!

For thirteen years I worked as a Teaching Assistant in an Infant School in Kent, teaching French alongside my supporting role in the classroom. In 2016 the school set up a Forest School and I jumped at the chance to train to be a Level 2 Forest School Assistant. Through the course of my training, I became a complete convert to the ethos that is central to Forest School, encouraging children to gain confidence and independence, acquire new skills and play whilst forging a lifelong relationship with and love of the natural world. Since moving to Cambridgeshire, I have been keen to stay with the Forest School movement and am delighted to have joined the Fireflies team soon after they opened in 2019.

Level 2 Forest School Assistant

Basic Safeguarding Training 

Level 2 Food Hygiene

Twiglets assistant and Alternative Provision assistant

I used to work in London managing high-value relationships for large charities. I loved my job but remember looking longingly out of the office window and yearning to be outside! 

Being a parent made me realise that I would love to work with children and help nurture these amazing tiny beings. I am so delighted to be part of the Fireflies Team! 

I love being part of the children’s adventures in the woods, even as a baby my daughter would be soothed by fresh air and watching trees sway in the breeze. Young children’s lives can be so structured, with high expectations, that we almost forget the importance of play. 

Allowing curiosity and freedom (and running round in the woods!) is not only fun, but also builds confidence and independence. My daughter is now 6 and loves coming to the sessions in the holidays. She spends time outdoors immersed in nature, mixing with children of different ages and making friends, whilst learning skills and enjoying new experiences. She’s so joyful after each session and has built great relationships with the different Fireflies team leaders. 

We both feel very lucky to have found this forest school. 

Currently completing Level 3 Forest School Leader training.

Basic Safeguarding Training 

Level 2 Food Hygiene

Outdoor and Paedriatric First Aid 

Monday Twiglets and Alternative Provision Tutor

I qualified as a teacher nearly 20 years ago and have spent most of my career teaching in South London. I have worked as an Early Years Lead and as a SENCO and taught various age groups. More recently I have also worked 1:1 with older students delivering an individualised alternative to mainstream education.

I gained the Level 3 Forest School qualification back in 2013 and was completely taken with the concept.

  I feel passionate about the opportunities and benefits nature provides for everyone! 

When I moved to Cambridgeshire, I began looking for Forest School activities for my own two boys and was thrilled to find Fireflies. Now, it is just wonderful to be part of a group that provides such fantastic experiences. 

Basic Safeguarding Training 

Outdoor and Paedriatric First Aid 

Qualified Primary Teacher

Qualified SENCO

Alternative Provision Outdoor Tutor

I am a married 51 year old, with 2 grown up daughters. For the last 20 years I have worked in education supporting children with Autism. 

I pride myself in working with children of all ages and feel passionate  that the ethos that forest school offers is so important in supporting children to develop into confident, resilient and curious young adults, who are connected to the environment and nature surrounding them.

Outdoor and Paedriatric First Aid

Basic Safeguarding Training 

Currently training to be a Level 3 Forest School Leader 

Alternative Provision Tutor

My background is in health care, including community mental health and residential children’s services. I have trained as a solution focused hypnotherapist and have recently completed CPD for supporting young people’s mental wellbeing. 

I have two children aged 5 and 10, and we spend most of our free time outdoors as we find nature and animals positive and grounding. I love seeing children’s confidence blossom through child lead exploration and play and I am excited to be a part of the wonderful alternative provision that is Fireflies Forest School. 

Level 4 Solution Focused Hypnotherapist 

Basic safeguarding training 

CPD - Children and Young Adults with Challenging Behaviour 

Twiglets, Baby Acorns, Alternative Provision Tutor, Home Ed Hawks Assistant,  School Trips Support

I am an industrial engineer who became an educator!

 I am interested in alternative modes of education, especially approaches such as LEGO education and Forest Schooling, where boundaries between playing and learning fade away. 

During my studies in engineering , I trained and workED as a LEGO educator and then a Forest School practitioner in Iran. 

In 2021, I moved to the UK and completed a Master’s in ‘International Education and Globalisation’ at the University of Bath. After graduation, I first became a Forest School practitioner at a preschool, and soon after that, joined the amazing team of Fireflies Forest School!

After exploring different alternative modes of education, I now confidently believe that outdoor educationin general, and forest schools in particular, provide the most effective environments for children and young adults to develop curiosity, resilience, collaboration, risk management and many skills that are key to their success in their future personal and social lives. 

I feel very lucky to work in such a wonderful environment and learn from my amazing colleagues at Fireflies, as well as wonderful learners every day. 

MA International Education and Globalisation

Preschool Teacher training in Regio Emilia approach

Qualified LEGO Educator

Basic Safeguarding Training 

Forest School and Paedriatric First Aid 

Currently completing Level 3 Forest School Leader training.

Home Ed Hawks Assistant, Alternative Provision Tutor and Holiday Club assistant

In 2021 a change in my personal circumstances meant that I had a rather big career change! I have always loved working with children and had planned to retrain as a TA, but a friend asked if I wanted to volunteer at their forest school, so I turned up on a sunny day in May 2021 and haven't looked back! 

I am in the process of completing my forest school leader qualification and I also work part time at a local pre-school where I facilitate outdoor learning across two different sites. I can honestly say that forest school healed me, the outdoors, the children and the amazing people helped me to discover, accept and love my true self. Having gone through this process I can honestly say that forest school is transformative and now I just want to share it with everyone! I will always be so thankful to be part of this magical community.

I am very passionate about ensuring that all children have access to nature and I believe that nature is not only wonderful but essential for emotional regulation. The work I do with Fireflies Alternative Provision changes children and families lives, which is just the best job in the world!

Baby Acorns, Alternative Provision, Wednesday and Friday Twiglets and Holiday Club Assistant 

I have been working as an Early Years Educator ever since leaving my own education way back in 2004 (!) Starting my career at as a Nursery Nurse before becoming a Preschool Manager and then, in 2014,  becoming the co-director of my own childcare setting, providing childcare for children from birth to thirteen years. 

After stepping away from my business at the end of 2022, I enjoyed spending time with my family; my husband, whose career is based in the British Army and our two young boys, being at home, enjoying being able to do the school runs and finding a slower pace of life.

It was during a school holiday that I discovered Fireflies and after taking my boys along to a holiday club session, we just didn’t want to come away…I knew that we had found a special place! Soon after, I spent time volunteering at some of the Twiglet sessions each week and since September 2023 have been leading one of the Twiglet sessions and the Baby Acorns session as well as assisting in some of the other Fireflies groups. I am looking to complete my Forest School training early next year. 

The Forest School ethos and that of Fireflies strongly supports my belief in child-led play and giving children the opportunity to play outside in all weathers so they can explore nature, learn in their own way and develop their own curiosity, imagination and creative thinking. The natural environment not only helps develop an understanding and respect for the natural world around us but provides so many benefits to our health, especially our emotional health, our mental health and well-being, which is precious in today's busy and complex world.

Qualified Early Years Educator (Level 3)

Paediatric First Aid

Basic Safeguarding Training 

Level 2 Food Hygiene

Forest Schools and Under 2s

Home Ed Hawks Assistant, AP Assistant

I have been working in Childcare since leaving school over 25 years ago. Originally NNEB qualified, I spent time as an early years educator before finding a passion for the holistic approach of Playwork and gaining qualifications in this field.

 I believe in the power of unstructured play, where children can follow their instincts and engage in self-directed activities. This seamlessly blends with the forest school principles, and when the local council offered Forest school training, I jumped at the chance to learn more! Which in turn led me to fireflies! 

I am lucky to love my job and to have an invite every day to watch children play, grow, and embrace childhood.

Alternative Provision

I am a level 3 Forest school leader with an early years teaching qualification and I also have training in Autism.. What I love most about working in AP is finding a way to connect with a young person in a way that that feel listened to and with a mutual connection. I have two wonderful children of my own but working with children with all their individual needs and wants and finding ways to fulfil them is extremely rewarding. The powers of nature is just such a perfect medium for supporting children who need an alternative apporach, and I feel very lucky to support all these amazing children.

Level 3 Forest School Leader

Early Years QT S

Outdoor First Aid

Alternative Provision Tutor

I have been a Forest school leader for 8 years now. I feel so lucky to be able to work with children in an outdoor environment. Child led learning is something I am really passionate about and feel that  children should be able to guide their learning in line with their interests.  I have been involved with Fireflies for the past six years and I am privileged to work with some truly fantastic people.

I am a level 3 Forest school leader with an early years teaching qualification too. I have training in autism and feel passionate about forest school being inclusive of all children, no matter their needs.

 What I love most , is working within the Fireflies Alternaitve Provision , finding a way to connect with a young person in a way that that helps to reduces the childs anxiety whilst  highlighting their strenghts and what makes them special is just so important.  I have two wonderful children of my own too!

Level 3 Forest School Leader

Baisc Safegaurding and PRevent Trained

Outdoor First Aid trained

Level 2 Food hygiene

QTS Early Years Education