My name is Michelle Fraser and I am an experienced Primary Teacher, Forest School Leader and Therapeutic Forest Approved Provider.
Child development and Human Interaction have always been of great interest to me and led me to study Psychology (MA Hons) and Primary Education (PGDE). After my studies and time teaching in Asia, I worked for 13 years as a Primary Teacher across the Scottish Borders, during which time I trained as a Forest School Leader. My experience of leading Outdoor Learning and Forest School sessions allowed me to see first-hand the benefits to children’s emotional wellbeing, the increase in resilience and confidence levels and the improvements to social skills and engagement in learning, that came as a direct result of providing an autonomous and outdoor learning environment. It was through these experiences that the idea of Branching Upwards grew. I became extremely passionate about the importance of play opportunities at all ages and of ensuring a person-centred approach to learning. I recognise the rich sensory and health benefits that the natural environment provides as well as the importance of providing a supportive and nurturing environment to help individuals to thrive.
In 2018, I took a ‘leap of faith’ and after stepping away from my role as class teacher, began my outdoor journey by supporting several local schools in Tweeddale in their delivery of Outdoor Learning. The aim of this support being the provision an alternative learning environment that supported pupil well-being, self-regulation and readiness for learning. I also delivered several outdoor learning training sessions for teaching and early years practitioners.
Alongside this work in the education sector, I also set up ‘Wild Seedlings’, an extremely popular and well attended after school activity and holiday club which offers children aged 5-12 years the opportunity to engage in woodland games, crafts and bushcraft activities. In collaboration with Lucy Husband of Swift Trails, we also introduced ‘Wheeled Wildlings’ sessions, which combines mountain bike tuition with some woodland fun.
I am really excited about this new venture and have been overwhelmed with the support I have had along the way.