Great outdoors can be the classroom for North Devon’s home schooled kids

A North Devon teacher has launched a new initiative for home-schooled children to build confidence and learn using the great outdoors.

Wild Tutoring is the brainchild of primary school teacher Sophie Brookes and offers outdoor tutoring sessions for children aged five to 11-years-old at easy-to-reach local outdoor locations such as Rock Park in Barnstaple.

The sessions are created for small groups of up to six children and combine literacy, maths and confidence-building with nature-based learning outdoors, aiming to support children’s wellbeing and encourage their engagement with learning.

Sophie is a teacher of 13 years and launched her new venture in February this year. She said: “I have taught in various primary schools across North Devon and North Somerset.

“During that time, I noticed that many children, particularly those who are neurodivergent or struggling with school anxiety, truly flourish when their learning moves outside.

“As someone who is AuDHD myself, I have always preferred being in nature. There is a wealth of evidence showing that the outdoors naturally lowers cortisol and improves emotional regulation, which in turn raises academic attainment in core subjects such as reading, writing and maths."

Above: Teacher and forest school practitioner Sophie Brookes of Wild Tutoring.

Sophie continued: “After completing my Level 3 Forest School Practitioner qualification two years ago, I realised there was a gap in North Devon's tutoring provision.

“We have access to incredible beaches, parks, and woodlands, yet no one was utilising these as a primary learning environment for rigorous academic support.”

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As well as the small group sessions, Sophie also provides one-to-one tuition tailored to suit individual children.

The summer terms sessions will be held at Rock Park in Barnstaple, providing an easily-accessible location for families who home educate their children who are looking for more structured support.

Above and below: Children can learn at the park and at the beach during structured teaching lessons for home educated youngsters created by new venture Wild Tutoring.

It also offers the opportunity for parents looking to improve their child’s academic progress without the more high-pressure environment of a school classroom, as well as SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) leaners who benefit more from movement and outdoor regulation.

The autumn term sessions will be held on a local North Devon beach.

Sophie said: “My long-term goal is to expand these sessions to various beautiful locations across North Devon throughout the week.

“My ethos for teaching follows the words of Confucius: ‘I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand’. At Wild Tutoring, we make learning tangible. When children are outside, the pressure drops and their curiosity takes over.

“We are so lucky in North Devon to have these incredible natural classrooms on our doorstep. By moving the desk into the wild, we aren't just teaching a subject; we are supporting the whole child’s wellbeing while hitting those vital academic milestones.”

You can find out more about Wild Tutoring at https://linktr.ee/wildtutoring or https://wildtutoring.co.uk or the Wild Tutoring Facebook page.

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