LAUREN CHURCH
EARLY YEARS PRACTITIONER & FOREST SCHOOL PLANNER IN THE BURROW
Hello, I’m Lauren and I am a qualified nursery nurse with a Level 3 Childcare and Education Certificate working in the Burrow. I first joined Free Rangers in September 2011 as a student, and was consequently offered a job in the following March. During my college course I spent some time working with babies, school age children and children with special educational needs. During this time I learnt a lot about all different types of learning and none of them were as good as the Free Rangers ethos!
What I love most about Free Rangers is being able to spend time with children and helping them learn, not through a book but through our surroundings and natural materials. When I was a child I would spend hours in my local orchard, and these invaluable experiences taught me many important life lessons. If I slipped from a tree and hurt myself, I knew not to do it again!
I used to walk my dog along the cycle track when the nursery was just an old barn, it is amazing to now see what progress it has made and how happy it makes our children!
Favourite tree: Elm
Favourite forest animal: Hedgehog
Favourite season: Spring
Our Story
Welton Manor Farm has been in our family for three generations. Our Grandad, George Knowles used to farm the land...
The Site
Surrounded by rolling countryside Free Rangers is located on a former working farm site and has exclusive access to 20 acres.
Forest School
Forest School is a key approach to learning which underpins the Free Rangers ethos and lies at the heart of what we do.