Reimagining Education: Leanna Barrett's Journey from The Welsh Valleys to Forest School Founder

In this episode I interview the remarkable Leanna Barrett, founder of Liberty Woodland School, the UK's first fully outdoor school. Leanna shares her inspiring story, from being the first in her family to attend university, to pioneering the forest school movement in the UK, fighting against dissenting voices time and time again to pursue her mission to create a better educational environment for her own children.   We discuss Leanna's business challenges of scaling and selling her nursey business, plus the challenges of founding a school with no prior expeience, as well as diving into Leanna's fascinating approach to education, with a focus on child-led learning, and how we as parents can and must support our children's learning journeys at home.   This episode is truly an eye-opener, and a must-listen for parents, educators, and anyone interested in alternative education models.   Find out more about Liberty Woodland School here Don't forget to join the conversation with me on Instagram here    ----------------------   This episode is supported by my amazing partners The SHE Collective - a women's wellness app, designed to help you feel Strong, Happy and Empowered – SHE As a member of their community I can tell you that their approach works for busy mid-life women. Balancing five core collectives - exercise, nutrition, mindset, nervous system and community – the SHE builds women from the inside out - no more short-term fixes and BS diets, but sustainable wellness, forever. The app features 500 on-demand workouts from 10-30 minutes to do in the comfort and convenience of your own home. Backed by nutritional and mindset advice, and supported by Whatsapp groups to keeo you on track, it's a fantastic way to get on top of your fitness in a way that works for you. Use code WILDER30 for 30% off your first month and join the movement HERE. You won't regret it!    --------------------------   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS    01:33 Meet Leanna Barrett: Pioneer of Forest Schools 02:57 Leanna's Early Life and Career Aspirations 09:13 Challenges and Triumphs in Early Education 10:58 Scaling Up: From Nursery to Primary School 13:04 Overcoming Obstacles and Gaining Recognition 19:07 Expanding the Vision: Opening a Secondary School 27:24 Innovative Education: A Day in the Life at Liberty Woodland School 31:47 High Expectations and Student Achievement 31:55 Relevance of History Education 32:54 Memorization vs. Understanding 34:22 Impact of Global Information Access 35:12 Challenges of Conventional Education 35:46 Breaking the Cycle of Academic Achievement 36:17 Parental Concerns and School Choices 38:26 Developing Emotional Intelligence at Home 39:03 Encouraging Passion and Entrepreneurship 45:11 Four-Day School Week and Its Benefits 49:05 Focus on Wellbeing in Education 53:12 Advice for Parents and Educators 01:01:33 Final Thoughts and Reflections