Supporting children from the roots up through Therapeutic Forest School
Taking tailored support for children to your school or setting across Norfolk, UK.
Sophie and Catherine visit children at your school or setting to provide on-site alternative provision or additional support through Therapeutic Forest School.
Sessions run for 2 hours during term times for groups of up to 8 children within your grounds.
What is Forest School?
Forest School is an ethos based on a fundamental respect for children and young people and their capacity to investigate, test and maintain curiosity in the world around them.
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Forest School practitioners provide guidance and facilitate time in nature to enhance wellbeing.
Forest School believes in children’s:
right to play
right to access the outdoors
right to access risk and the vibrant reality of the natural world
right to experience a healthy range of emotions
Forest school is based more on the process of learning than it is on the content. Children and young people are given encouragement to direct their own learning in the natural world.
What is Therapeutic Forest School?
As Therapeutic Forest School practitioners we are qualified Forest School Leaders who have received training on therapeutic skills in the outdoor environment.
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Our sessions are designed to include children who present with a wide range of needs. Sessions are child led, but nurture a sense of community within the group, with every voice valued.
Through the bespoke sessions Sophie and Catherine will introduce activities to support each child’s individual needs.
Ongoing support is provided to us from a range of different disciplines including clinical psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, play therapists and more.
What are our aims?
Our aim during Grounded Forest sessions is to build and develop children’s resilience, self confidence, risk taking and independence.
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For children to have the opportunity to apply learnt skills and language in a practical environment and to gain new knowledge and vocabulary. The skills gained within the sessions will support children to access their learning within the classroom.
Testimonials
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I would like to say how much I have appreciated all the effort you have gone to, to make this experience a success for C. You have adapted to him, listened to him and us as a provision and really taken into account his profile and barriers. We couldn't ask for more and on behalf of myself and the team and C - we are very grateful.
Head of SRB
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Thank you so much for your amazing forest school sessions. They have been the highlight of our week! The children have enjoyed them so much and it’s fantastic to see the difference it makes to them and what a great impact the sessions have on them.
TA - Primary School
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To Sophie and Catherine Thank you for everything in the whole forest school at … primary school.
Year 1 child
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It is always a pleasure to see Sophie and Catherine with our children and even in the relatively short period of time they have been in school, we can see a real difference in the children’s engagement and attitude across the whole week. We look forward to continuing to work with them and also seeing them grow, as they support children across Norfolk.
Head of School
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We chose to employ the services of the Grounded Forest, initially to meet the needs of one specific pupil... Mornings and getting this pupil to school have always been tricky. However, after only one session the parent reported that this child had been up and ready and in the car to come to school without any prompting for their second Forest School session. That’s powerful stuff!
Executive Deputy for SEND - Nebula
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To Sophie and Catherine Thank you for everything you do and thank you in the whole forest school it is lovely time at forest school with you.
Year 1 child
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Sophie and Catherine are exactly the right people to support any of your children who find school tricky or need that outdoor learning in their lives. They are both so patient and kind that the children quickly respond positively and start joining in with the sessions instantly.
Executive Deputy for SEND
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Thank you for the update. It all sounds brilliant and so positive for the group of children who are accessing the provision. I think they will all benefit from the consistency of your work and the continued focus on working together, building relationships and their individual confidence. Many thanks for all you do. It is clearly having a positive impact.
Deputy Head
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N has shown improvement in his English Language since participating with The Grounded Forest. He is also showing signs of independence and improvement in team building exercises within class.
Year 4 Class Teacher
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I can honestly say, as a teacher of 30 years’ experience, I have rarely seen an intervention or provision have such a profoundly positive impact so quickly. I recommend Ground Forest unreservedly to any school and age range – although, I’d rather they were exclusive to us, I know there are many other children out there who could benefit so much from having Sophie and Catherine in their lives
Executive Deputy for SEND
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The success achieved by Grounded Forest is swift and hugely positive for those children, so much so that we asked them to work with another 2 of our schools. They have a relatively large group at one junior school for some children who need to work more cooperatively and who also have issues with self-esteem. Children who find it difficult to tolerate each other in the classroom have no difficulty working well together at Forest School sessions.
Executive Deputy for SEND
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Since working with The Grounded Forest, Z has grown in confidence and is no longer shy within class . She is also more resilient and less emotional.
Year 4 Class Teacher
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I wish I could teleport with you to your next school for more forest schools.
Year 5 child
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Fantastic FS facilitators! Sophie and Cat are brilliant, their sessions were my sons favourite part of the week, being outside, building and exploring in a self-led way really helps him to flourish. I hope he can continue to go in future.
Parent Yr 2 child
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The Grounded Forest have been working with our school for a couple of years. They attend on a weekly basis and the students absolutely love their Forest School time. Sophie and Cat both have such a great sense of fun and enthusiasm, along with showing care and support in a totally natural, warm manner.
Safeguarding Lead Specialist Provider
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Amazing how this experience has helped. My child had both learnt and grown themselves. His favourite part of the school week which he always looks forward too.
Parent Year 3 child
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Such a special experience to witness- Sophie and Cat creative a safe space for children to grow in so many ways. Children are allowed to explore and be completely inquisitive through The Grounded Forest- with resilience, self confidence and independence at the heart. It was amazing to see the difference it makes to children's engagement and excitement to the outside world and learning to build, make and explore so many diverse avenues.
Teaching Assistant SRB
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Sophie and Cat at The Grounded Forest were an absolute pleasure to work with. They are both incredibly friendly and professional, and their passion for what they do truly shines through. They build great relationships with pupils, creating a safe, supportive, and engaging environment where children feel comfortable and excited to learn. Their planning was thorough, with detailed paperwork that showed real care, organisation, and attention to every aspect of the programme.
Primary school SENCo
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The Grounded Forest staff are wonderful and do an amazing job with all the children. The excitement on Grounded Forest day is so wonderful to witness. My daughter has gained so many skills. She has grown in confidence, spirit and assertiveness. Truly grateful for her to be given the opportunity to be part of The Grounded Forest school
Parent of Year 4 child
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The pupil reports written by Sophie and Cat at the end of the programme were absolutely lovely, thoughtful, personal, and really meaningful for both pupils and staff. Most importantly, the pupils loved the experience and gained so much from it. We would highly recommend Sophie and Cat at The Grounded Forest to any school or organisation looking for a high-quality, enriching, and well-run programme.
Sendco - Primary School
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The students respond really well and the growth in their self esteem and confidence is clearly evident. There is regular communication and reports at the end of term, which highlight the journey of exploration and the new skills gained throughout the sessions for each student. We are delighted to have the Grounded Forest working with our school.
Safeguarding lead - Specialist provider
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The Grounded Forest has been an incredible support for my son. The team creates a calm, nurturing environment where children feel safe and understood, with a strong focus on social and emotional development. Since attending, my son has grown in confidence, communication, and resilience. The staff are compassionate and attentive, and the balance of nature-based learning and emotional support is excellent. I’m truly grateful for the positive impact it’s had and would highly recommend it to other families.
Parent - Year 5 child
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Today is his last session and we have seen how much L has benefitted from the support that Cat and Sophie have given him. We are so grateful for the positive, can do, curious approach they took right at the beginning. We knew they were going to be amazing when they arrived for the first session with a special watering can for L to engage him in play as they had listened to how much he loves water. L is very special and it has been a joy to see him flourish through these sessions. Thankyou continuing to strive for the very best for L.
Deputy Head - Primary School
Grounded - down-to-earth, having one’s feet on the ground.
©️Collins