Great and Small Forest Education limited is owned and directed by Victoria Cocken with a fantastic management team of Leanne Thompson (Forest School) and Chelsea Taylor (Kindergarten), two highly qualified and experienced practitioners and early years teachers.
Great and Small Forest School is located on the farmland and woodland of Cottams Farm, just off Whalley Road in Clayton le Moors which is owned and home to Victoria's sister Gaynor and family. Cottams Farm is also home to the fantastically beneficial 'Hydro @ the Barn', a hydrotherapy, aqua exercise and very popular baby and toddler swimming centre. It is this beautiful setting that makes Great and Small such a unique setting for your child's development within a Forest School based facility. The following staff provide childcare at either the forest school or the kindergarten.
Great and Small Kindergarten is located on Rishton Road in Clayton le Moors, directly facing the playground of Mercer Park which we often visit. Since starting Great and Small in 2015 as a 'one woman band', our team has now grown to provide fantastic childcare provision across the two settings.
Great and Small Forest School is located on the farmland and woodland of Cottams Farm, just off Whalley Road in Clayton le Moors which is owned and home to Victoria's sister Gaynor and family. Cottams Farm is also home to the fantastically beneficial 'Hydro @ the Barn', a hydrotherapy, aqua exercise and very popular baby and toddler swimming centre. It is this beautiful setting that makes Great and Small such a unique setting for your child's development within a Forest School based facility. The following staff provide childcare at either the forest school or the kindergarten.
Great and Small Kindergarten is located on Rishton Road in Clayton le Moors, directly facing the playground of Mercer Park which we often visit. Since starting Great and Small in 2015 as a 'one woman band', our team has now grown to provide fantastic childcare provision across the two settings.
Victoria Cocken
"I came across the practice of Forest School during my primary teacher training several years ago and the idea immediately resonated with me. As a child growing up in Great Harwood, I loved nothing more than playing in the woods, fields and parks close to my home, making dens, rose water 'perfume', mixing various concoctions of mud, leaves and flowers, climbing trees and generally playing outdoors, on my own and with friends. After a spell in the classroom, I decided to further my interest in Forest School and undertook my training with the FSE (Forest School Education) and completed my level 3 Forest School Practitioner course so that I could offer this type of so very valuable education and ethos to the young children of the area. I am very fortunate in that my sister and brother in law have the perfect setting and it is taking advantage of our beautiful Lancashire countryside where I aim to deliver a unique, inspirational and beneficial style of education both in the woodland and at our new kindergarten nearby. My vision for Great and Small is to provide fantastic childcare inspired by the forest school ethos lead by well qualified staff and managed by myself. I am now also an associate trainer for Acorn raining based in Milton Keynes whereby I train others to become Forest School Leaders in their own settings therefore spreading the forest school ethos even further to benefit children across the county. At Great and Small, it is at our core of practice that we that help your child to develop holistically in their early years education.
Role: Director, Great and Small Forest Education Limited
Qualifications: Primary Education QTS,
Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training,
Level 3 Forest School Practitioner,
BA (Hons) English Language and Linguistics with Literature.
Forest School and Paediatric First Aid
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Leanne Thompson
Great and Small Forest School is right on my doorstep and my love for Forest School began to grow after visiting the parent and child sessions with my little girl. I am inspired by the special, unique nature of the outdoor classroom and strongly believe that outdoor play is a vital part of young children’s experiences, learning and development.
My passion for the great outdoors grew during my time at University. I am a qualified teacher with Early Years as my specialist subject. I am extremely passionate about Early Years and I firmly believe that every child deserves access to an enriching early years education. During my time at University of Cumbria, I quickly began to recognise the importance of outdoor learning and how it contributes to outstanding quality education. I was fortunate to complete a voluntary placement at Great and Small Forest School and fell madly in love with the setting, their ethos and their shared vision. After completing the placement, I left with a goal firmly in mind that I would undertake Forest School training in the future, with the hope to implement this approach in a primary school setting.
After working in a range of schools, early years settings and private nurseries it became evident that outdoor learning wasn’t a priority in most settings. I began to doubt my career choice and questioned whether I could work in a setting that didn’t share my passion and vision for education. When Vicky announced that she was looking for a new manager, someone as passionate about the holistic development of children and who shared the Forest School ethos, I grasped the opportunity and sent her a message. Fast forward and here I am, Manger of Great and Small Forest School and Forest School Leader. I have never looked back!
Role: Great and Small Forest School Manager
Qualifications: Primary QTS with Early Years Specialism
Level 3 Forest School trainee
Paediatric First Aid
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Lisa Heys
and Assistant
As Vicky has already mentioned, our childhoods were lived mostly in the great outdoors, come rain or shine, and I am truly grateful for that. It allowed our imagination and creativity to flourish by flying our rocket ships to worlds unknown (riding our bikes to different parts of the park) or by making cakes for the fairies (sculpting weird and wonderful dishes using sticks, leaves, mud and whatever else we could find). Playing out with our large group of friends helped us to develop a good social skillset and learn how to share and work in a team (working collectively to find leaves, sticks, etc. for our fairy cakes). It was also the greatest classroom in which to encourage curiosity and to learn about the world around us: As you have probably guessed, I am a strong advocate of outdoor play in childhood and I spend a lot of time outside with my two boys going on nature walks, exploring the natural world around us. I hadn’t really heard much about the Forest School approach until Vicky began to float the idea of opening one at Cottams Farm. But I was intrigued by the concept and upon doing some research and joining Vicky for some of her taster sessions, I was hooked! The woodland setting of the forest school is beautiful and full of opportunities for children to explore and gain new skills. When Vicky announced that she was opening a Kindergarten to operate alongside the forest school, I jumped at the chance to be involved! The goal for the kindergarten is to bring the ethos of Forest School indoors. Inside, there is an abundance of natural and authentic resources to stimulate children’s learning in all areas of the early years curriculum. We also have an amazing garden in which we will be supporting the children to grow their own food and then prepare it, ready for cooking on the campfire. We are also developing a woodworking area where children can undertake projects to build…..well, whatever they would like! I am so excited to see what the children will design and create
Role: Forest School leader and Assistant Manager, Great and Small Forest School
Qualifications: BA (First Class Hons) Early Childhood Studies
Level 3 Forest School Practitioner.
First Aid
Designated Safeguarding Lead
As Vicky has already mentioned, our childhoods were lived mostly in the great outdoors, come rain or shine, and I am truly grateful for that. It allowed our imagination and creativity to flourish by flying our rocket ships to worlds unknown (riding our bikes to different parts of the park) or by making cakes for the fairies (sculpting weird and wonderful dishes using sticks, leaves, mud and whatever else we could find). Playing out with our large group of friends helped us to develop a good social skillset and learn how to share and work in a team (working collectively to find leaves, sticks, etc. for our fairy cakes). It was also the greatest classroom in which to encourage curiosity and to learn about the world around us: As you have probably guessed, I am a strong advocate of outdoor play in childhood and I spend a lot of time outside with my two boys going on nature walks, exploring the natural world around us. I hadn’t really heard much about the Forest School approach until Vicky began to float the idea of opening one at Cottams Farm. But I was intrigued by the concept and upon doing some research and joining Vicky for some of her taster sessions, I was hooked! The woodland setting of the forest school is beautiful and full of opportunities for children to explore and gain new skills. When Vicky announced that she was opening a Kindergarten to operate alongside the forest school, I jumped at the chance to be involved! The goal for the kindergarten is to bring the ethos of Forest School indoors. Inside, there is an abundance of natural and authentic resources to stimulate children’s learning in all areas of the early years curriculum. We also have an amazing garden in which we will be supporting the children to grow their own food and then prepare it, ready for cooking on the campfire. We are also developing a woodworking area where children can undertake projects to build…..well, whatever they would like! I am so excited to see what the children will design and create
Role: Forest School leader and Assistant Manager, Great and Small Forest School
Qualifications: BA (First Class Hons) Early Childhood Studies
Level 3 Forest School Practitioner.
First Aid
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Matty Ravenscroft
Matty is our wonderful woodland guru and Forest School leader who runs the parent and child sessions and works alongside Leanne, Lisa and Vicky on the preschool+ and home ed sessions. Matty has a wonderful, caring nature and always has a lovely connection with children which he uses to scaffold the children in their learning and wellbeing journeys. Matty is also our expert forager and bushcrafter, skills which he teaches the children which does so much to boost their connection to nature as well as their own self esteem, confidence, resilience and risk management. Forest School trainees also benefit from Matty's expertise in practical skills and woodland knowledge.
Qualifications:
Level 3 Forest School Leader
Outdoor and paediatric first aid
Safeguarding
Chelsea Taylor
Great and Small Kindergarten Manager and Qualified Early Years Teacher
Hi! I am Chelsea and I am the manager of Great and Small Kindergarten. I have always worked in childcare since leaving school many moons ago. I am also a qualified Early Years Teacher. Before completing my early years training I worked as a nanny in a ski resort in France and I have also worked in and international school in The Hague in Holland. I love my job and working at the Kindergarten. I have enjoyed learning about the forest school ethos and implementing this into the setting.
Qualifications:
Qualified Early Years teacher
First Aid
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Hi! I am Chelsea and I am the manager of Great and Small Kindergarten. I have always worked in childcare since leaving school many moons ago. I am also a qualified Early Years Teacher. Before completing my early years training I worked as a nanny in a ski resort in France and I have also worked in and international school in The Hague in Holland. I love my job and working at the Kindergarten. I have enjoyed learning about the forest school ethos and implementing this into the setting.
Qualifications:
Qualified Early Years teacher
First Aid
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Sheila Collinge
Level 3 Early Years Practitioner and Nurture Faciliator
Sheila joined us in January 2021 after working in the Family Wellbeing Service for several years working with families who perhaps needed some support. Sheila loves working with children and has such a lovely, nurturing and playful manner. Needless to say all of the children love Sheila. In addition to Sheila's role as a practitioner, she is also our own Nurture Facilitator, a role created to encompass Sheila's knowledge and experience in family wellbeing. Should any of our families want or need support in any area of life, Sheila will talk to the families to offer help and support or to signpost to other organisations that may be able to help. Our aim is to be a hub in the local community not only providing childcare but involving families and offering help and support where needed and Sheila's friendly and supportive nature is at the core of that vision.
Qualifications:
Level 3 childcare
First Aid
Designated safeguarding lead
Shannon Dunne
Level 3 Early Years Practitioner
Shannon started off as a level 2 apprentice and has continued on her path through her apprenticeship to now being a fully qualified level 3 practitioner. Shannon is fun and friendly with a lovely caring nature who enjoys playing with the children as much as they enjoy playing with her. Shannon enjoys helping the children have fun and develop in their own ways.
Qualifications:
Level 3 Early Years Practitioner
First Aid
Safeguarding
Shannon started off as a level 2 apprentice and has continued on her path through her apprenticeship to now being a fully qualified level 3 practitioner. Shannon is fun and friendly with a lovely caring nature who enjoys playing with the children as much as they enjoy playing with her. Shannon enjoys helping the children have fun and develop in their own ways.
Qualifications:
Level 3 Early Years Practitioner
First Aid
Safeguarding
Gail Dickinson
Early Years Practitioner
Hello Everyone! I'm Gail and I have been working in the child care sector for over 12 years. I've always had a mothering nature and the way children learn and develop has always interested me. I am level 3 qualified and have recently graduated with a level 5 BA Hons degree in Early years at a local college along side working at the Kindergarten. I enjoy working as part of a team and encouraging the childrens creative flow is one of my strong points. I'm also mum to my wonderful 5 year old son Jack
Qualifications:
Level 5 Early Years
Level 3 Early Years Practitioner
First Aid
Safeguarding
Hello Everyone! I'm Gail and I have been working in the child care sector for over 12 years. I've always had a mothering nature and the way children learn and develop has always interested me. I am level 3 qualified and have recently graduated with a level 5 BA Hons degree in Early years at a local college along side working at the Kindergarten. I enjoy working as part of a team and encouraging the childrens creative flow is one of my strong points. I'm also mum to my wonderful 5 year old son Jack
Qualifications:
Level 5 Early Years
Level 3 Early Years Practitioner
First Aid
Safeguarding
Nicole Stepney
Nicole is a school leaver who has just recently joined us as an apprentice on her new journey to become a qualified early years practitioner. Nicole will be working with the team at Great and Small Kindergarten learning from our experience and knowledge of early years education whilst also attending Blackburn College. Nicole is excited to learn about early years education and has already shown that she has a lovely, friendly nature with children who also love being in her company. Welcome to the team Nicole!
Qualifications:
Working towards level 2 Early Years Practitioner
Qualifications:
Working towards level 2 Early Years Practitioner