 |  |  |
Our Alternative Education programmes – BEING ME as we like to call them – are delivered by our team of Therapeutic Forest School Leaders, Certified Outdoor Mental Health Practitioners and 1:1 Learning Mentors who use the outdoors, a learner-centred Forest School ethos, bushcraft and connection in nature to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.
We work therapeutically with children and young people who would benefit from an outdoor therapeutic approach including:
- Emotionally-based school avoidance (EBSA)
- Neurodivergent young people
- Receiving CAMHS support
- Educated at home for part of the school week
- Accessing a reduced timetable
- Accessing an EOTIS programme via their Local Authority
WHY BEING OUTDOORS CIC
Our Alternative Education Programmes are overseen by Rach – a certified Outdoor Mental Health Practitioner & Therapeutic Forest School Leader. A member of the Therapy Adventure Outdoor Therapy Clinical Supervision Group – Rach has access to a therapeutic multi-disciplinary team, including Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, Counsellors, and Outdoor Mental Health Practitioners, enabling opportunities to draw on for support, insights and reflection.
We provide bespoke nature-based outdoor education programmes which are trauma-informed, use inclusive communication and that adopt an autism-informed approach.
OUR ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION TEAM
WHAT WE OFFER
At BEING Outdoors CIC we are passionate about our unique therapeutic support and outdoor education opportunities we offer young people. We prioritise the development of emotional regulation, independence, self-esteem, resilience and social skills using our learner-centred Forest School ethos to maximise opportunities for the positive development of wellbeing.
Our Therapeutic sessions are framed around the following approach with time and space to lead your own learning at its heart.
- Facilitate learner-led opportunities & projects – supporting intrinsic motivation for long-term positive growth
- Nurture growth of the whole child – building confidence, raising self-esteem
- Support better mental and physical health and well-being
- Develop transferrable life skills – resilience, self-regulation, collaboration, conflict resolution
- Encourage stewards for our planet
We want young people to be able to celebrate their success in our sessions and so we offer a range of experiential, hands-on schemes to support the interests and learning of our young people and celebrate their achievements.
OUTDOOR WELLBEING AWARD
Young people have the opportunity to gain The Outdoor Wellbeing Award to recognise and celebrate their success.
This programme recognises young people’s new knowledge and skills in supporting their own mental health and wellbeing in the outdoors.
CERTIFICATE IN BEGINNERS NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
This programme is designed to be accessible for young people with SEND, introducing young people to noticing nature and the small things around us and how to frame photographs successfully.
CERTIFICATE IN MINDFUL BUSHCRAFT
Activities like whittling a spoon out of wood, learning how to use natural tinder to light a fire or constructing a shelter to keep you dry support self-confidence, self-esteem and emotional regulation.
CERTIFICATE IN BEGINNERS FORAGING
Our child-centred sessions introduce young people to Outdoor Foraging. Activities like foraging edible snacks and making herbal leaf teas support positive connections in nature and introduce sustainable foraging.
CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT WILD COOKING
We support the development of cooking on a fire, including snacks, through to desserts and then building skills towards cooking a meal.
Young people will plan, prepare and cook food such as dandelion fritters, pizzas in our pizza oven and fruit crumble to name but a few!
SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
As part of our Alternative Education Provision, our team delivers a programme of Mental Health and Wellbeing Support incorporating:
- Outdoor and adventurous skills-based activities as a stimulus for growth
- Introduce young people to evidence based coping skills to support their wellbeing outside of sessions
- Build in opportunities to develop social skills through collaborative games or shared skills-based learning opportunities
All our programmes are trauma-informed and we have access to regular CPD support and advice from a Clinical Psychology Team as a member of the Therapy Adventure Outdoor Therapy Clinical Supervision Group.
SUPPORTING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
SEND
- Autism-informed practice supporting neurodivergent young people
- Provide a safe space and time where young people are supported in developing coping skills and regulation strategies for positive mental health
- Use inclusive communication such as visuals, sign and videos to support our sessions.
SCHOOLS / FAMILIES
We value the importance of supporting schools and families to maximise outcomes beyond the programme longer term by offering:
- regular feedback to families and schools on progress
- support to schools and families to incorporate the strategies outside the sessions
WHERE WE RUN OUR PROGRAMMES
- At our base-camp in Shield Tree Wood or;
- At your own outdoor learning space in school
BEING Outdoors CIC 