Forest School Teacher - Emma Dean

Introduce yourself and how you'd describe your job.

Hi, I am Emma Dean and I am a qualified Teacher with over ten years of teaching experience. I am currently working as a Forest-Beach School Leader at an International School. 

As a Forest-Beach School leader I am responsible for ensuring safety of all children in an outdoor setting. I plan sessions that teach children about the natural world, spark curiosity and facilitate free play along side risk taking and problem solving. 

Explain your line of work for someone who might not know much about it.

My main goal is to give children the opportunity to fall in love with nature, to explore, to ask questions, to wonder, to problem solve and to ask why? I do this outside of a usual school setting, with my classroom being the forest or the beach.  It is a misconception to think that a Forest-Beach School is teaching the core subjects (Maths, English, Science, History) outside. This is not the case. 

Forest-Beach School is a holistic approach that seeks to develop the whole child, encouraging child led learning, supporting managed risks and problem solving.  This allows children to develop self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills, empathy and self motivation and resilience. Skills that can be transferred back into the classroom and in every aspect of their life. 

Who do you normally work with?

I currently work with class group sizes between 15 and 24. I teach pre-nursery classes, Kindergarten 1 and Kindergarten 2 classes. 

I also work closely with senior management, 15 class teachers, 15 teaching assistants and over 260 parents/caregivers - who attend my sessions along side their child. 

Describe a normal work week for yourself

Where I am in the week will depend on the time of year. In the cooler months you might find me in the forest, hiking or making fire. While when the hot weather arrives you will find me on the beach usually instigating some water splashing! 

What do you love about your work?

I love being present for children's 'firsts' - their first time at the beach, their first time hiking, their first time holding a crab or even their first time holding a snake. I also love the unknown of what we will find in nature but also all the things the children teach me, as they have a wonderful way of looking at the world differently. It is a real privilege and the smiles and laughter are the greatest job satisfaction. 

What are some of the negative aspects of your work?

Working outside has it's challenges from mosquito bites to sun burn and being soaking wet all day. The weather can be unpredictable, so making sure I make the right decision when the weather changes to ensure safety of the children is a number one priority. 

What training or experience do you need to get into this type of work?

I am a qualified Teacher with a PGCE  - I believe having a teaching background has given me the skills to manage a large number of children and adults. I use my skills of planning lessons to help create hands on and creative learning opportunities. 

I also have a Level 3 Forest School Qualification and am also Beach School qualified. The qualifications helped me to understand risk analysis in this setting and to ensure I am able to do the correct risk assessments while also making sure procedures are in place to safeguard the children in my care. 

What advice do you have for people looking to start a career on this line of work?

If you are a teacher find a school that is in line with your values and ethos. Don't waste your time in an environment where the culture and ethos do not align with yours. In the right environment you will gain support and trust and be able to connect children to nature. 

Don't wait for opportunities to come to you - seek out opportunities and go for it!