The Hideaway Forest School, Bristol, UK
Forest School Job Vacancies
We are always actively looking for qualified level 3 Forest School practitioners to help extend the services we offer. If you already hold a level 3 Forest School qualification and have experience of working with young children, we would love to hear from you. We enjoy sharing our practise and learning from others so if you are in training or have an interest in Forest School and would like to volunteer at one of our settings then please do use our contact form to tell us a bit about you. We would love to welcome you into The Hideaway.
CURRENT VACANCIES
Forest School 1:1 working with a child with additional needs
We are also interested in self-employed Level 3 Forest School leaders who would be interested in running stay & play sessions on various mornings and in different locations throughout Bristol. Must have an enhanced DBS and paediatric first aid qualification.
Please email hideawayfs@gmail.com to find out more.
Our Staff at Hideaway Forest School
Vicki Paton
Is the founder of The Hideaway. Originally from Fife in Scotland and moved to beautiful Bristol in 2002. She was a teacher in South Bristol for 15 years and in this time taught Year 2 children before becoming deputy head and specialising in early years education. She trained and achieved her level 3 Forest School leader qualification and began to see the benefits it brought to the children who regularly participated. Having been a teacher and having two children of her own, she was all too aware of the pressure we put our young children under within the education system. She wants her children and others to enjoy getting muddy, learn first hand about the seasons and above all learn about themselves and their capabilities in the beautiful outdoors.
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Lisa Tozer
Grew up in Bristol, scurrying around in the woods, climbing trees and building dens. Not much has changed! Over a decade ago, she began working as a youth worker and play worker, until bringing together her passion for children and young people with the great outdoors and training to become a Level 3 Forest School leader. She also gained her Masters in Education with her dissertation focussing on how nature programmes can benefit children and young people. She had her son 3 years ago and now enjoys showing him the natural world when she's not working.
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Helen
Helen has lived in Bristol for 20 years, after moving here for university. She lives with her husband and son. Helen holds a Master's Degree in the Psychology of Education and has worked in a secondary school for deaf children for the past 13 years, but the call of the forest was strong, and last year she completed her Early Years Educator Level 3 Diploma alongside her Forest School Level 3 training, and now joins The Hideaway as a Dedicated Practitioner.
Helen enjoys running, particularly with This Mum Runs, and spending time with friends and family.
Simon
Simon has worked in the field of outdoor education for several years and has taught water-sports, archery and Forest School programs. He is an OCN Level 3 Forest School Leader and holds the Advanced Bushcraft Award NCFE IIQ Level 3 giving him the skills to take full responsibility for setting up, running and evaluating woodland programmes.
As an outdoor instructor he has worked with a diverse range of groups from varied backgrounds, including mainstream education and excluded children.
Each group brings its own challenges and rewards and Simon believes everyone can benefit from the positive experiences to be had at Forest School.
Simon is never happier when out in the woods but does enjoy his creature comforts when at home!
Bryony
My love and interest of nature and the outdoors comes from a childhood growing up in Kenya, where I would spend hours in my garden den making, foraging and climbing trees.
I want to use my love and passion for nature to help encourage the younger generation to reconnect with nature; through play and exploring their natural surroundings, because to me there is nothing more magical then playing under trees in dappled sunlight and exploring the undergrowth for bugs!
I have just completed my level 3 forest school leader qualification and look forward to sharing all I have learned with the children.
Emma
Emma is well known at Henleaze Infant school for supporting the children as a teaching assistant within the classroom. Emma also enjoys working for The Hideaway After school Club and holiday clubs. She says being outside is as good for the staffs well-being as well as the children's.
Emma loves to go for walks in nature with friends and loves developing her knowledge of flora and fauna alongside the children.