Our play…
…is child led and driven by active learning, going wherever the childrens’ imagination and curiosity takes them. Popular woodland activities might involve cooking up a storm in the mud kitchen, creating potions, hunting for minibeasts, large scale painting and mark making using paints we’ve made ourselves, making and taking part in woodland obstacle courses, den building, story making and yoga sessions.
At Filthy Squirrels…
…we want to challenge traditional education ideals. Learning to write doesn’t (and in our opinion, shoudn’t!) have to be done sat at a table.
Anything that can be done inside, can be done outside…. if it’s not covered in mud, it’s probably not that great anyway.
Meet The Team
Hilly
Ever since I was little, I had always wanted to be a teacher. In 2007, I qualified as a teacher specialising in Early Years. I worked in the classroom for 11 years, completing my Level 3 Forest School Leader training along the way. It was during my Forest School training that I realised how important being outdoors and immersed in nature is for both children and adults, and a year later, I left the confines of the classroom to set up Filthy Squirrels on a lovely little farm. Several years later, Filthy Squirrels has grown and grown, with more people seeing the wonderful opportunities an outdoor education has to offer.
IMOGEN
Imogen is our resident SENCO and one of our Designated Safeguarding Leads. Graduating in 2008 with a BSc (hons) in Early Childhood, her passion is for Developmental Psychology making her the perfect fit at Filthy Squirrels, where we place a strong emphasis on mindfulness & wellbeing. Imogen achieved Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) in 2012 and qualified in Forest School Leadership in 2015.
Izzy
Izzy, known by her fellow big squirrels as “Lord of the Flame”, can often be found in the fire circle. She is passionate about outdoor education and two of her four children are Filthy Squirrels alumni. Izzy is a creative soul and has her own lino print business, Blackbird & Bear.
Melissa
Melissa is a Level 3 Childcare Practitioner, Designated Safeguard Lead, and Makaton expert! Melissa loves being outside, particularly with her menagerie of animals including her two goats July and Steve. She is a keen sportsperson and can often be found with a hockey stick in her mits. She’s always keen to get stuck in and loves nothing more than flinging a bit of mud about.
Joe
Our Forest School trainee! Joe is currently studying for his Forest School Leader qualification.
The Threshing Barn, Unit 8,
Fifield Bavant,
Wiltshire, SP5 5HT