Sophie completed her undergraduate degree in International Management and French before she volunteered, teaching in Sri Lanka where she realised her real passion lay in teaching. After completing her PGCE, she taught in London and North Yorkshire for over 10 years. Her real passion lies in motivating and inspiring children in their learning and boosting children’s mental health and wellbeing so that they can realise their own potential. She is now a Forest School practitioner, and she leads the Curious Beasts Team.

As The Artistic Director I’m responsible for the creative direction of the company and the style of our creative output. I am an Improviser, teacher, maker and writer and I trained at the Curious School of Puppetry, Northumbria University and The Danish Institute of Improvisation.

Amanda has been lucky to have had a very varied career.  After graduating she trained and worked in Personnel Management prior to starting a family and completing a PGCE.  Amanda and her family then got the opportunity to move to both the Middle East and Scandinavia for fifteen years. During this time she worked as a primary teacher and leader in highly respected and innovative international schools. This gave her the opportunity to work with children from different cultures from around the world.  Since returning to the UK Amanda has worked in Primary Education in Northumberland and Newcastle.  She has always been interested in a holistic approach to education and nurturing pupils to enable them to achieve their full potential.

“The best thing about working for NEW is giving confidence and resilience to boost children and young people’s wellbeing.”

Contact Amanda on amandshewitt66@gmail.com

Jenny Dockett has a degree in Environmental Microbiology and is currently working on a Masters. She has worked as a Special Needs Teaching Assistant, Education Officer at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh and Public Engagement Manager at the Centre for Life. She now works freelance for science festivals and heritage projects when she is not doing Wilderness Schools.

Jenny loves to see children getting hands on with practical learning. She loves it when children show her something they have found or observed for the first time. She loves to see their confidence grow each week.

“The most magical part of Wilderness Schools is when a teacher takes you to one side and tells you ‘they wouldn’t normally engage in the classroom’.”

Jenna has worked with children in schools for many years as a Research Associate delivering and analysing behaviour and language assessments for research projects at Newcastle University, as well as writing reports for a variety of organisations including Public Health England, Education Endowment Foundation, Early Intervention Foundation, Nuffield and Department for Education. She is experienced in leading and managing complex applied social research programmes from bid stage to data analysis and presentation, and lectures in Research Methods at Newcastle University.

Jenna is the writer of NEW’s Curious Beasts programme which uses innovative approaches to measuring and providing intervention for social emotional and mental health difficulties. Jenna oversees the evidence-base for all NEW programmes as well as carrying out commissioned research for outside organisations looking to capture the impact of their own programmes.

“The best part about being a part of NEW is having the opportunity to really make a difference to children’s development, wellbeing, and educational progression within a team of like-minded people who are all passionate about the wellbeing of children.”

I am Life and Limb’s Company manager, responsible for the day to day running of the companies finances and logistics.  I am also Life and Limb’s head puppeteer, taking workshops and sessions to all manner of groups and organisations.

After 10 years as a high school English teacher, Clara is following her passion for outdoor education full time. She has been part of the WS team for several years.

Clara is a warm, enthusiastic practitioner who believes that children bloom in the outdoors. She loves the process of WS and the magic of children developing their self belief, self esteem & understanding of curricular concept. She loves an outdoor fire and the simplicity of being outdoors together. She has recently joined our Curious Beasts & is excited to develop her mental health skills. She lives in the Derwent Valley with her family & cat.

Rachael completed a degree in law and a year in industry before realising that she couldn’t work at a desk. She completed her PGCE in Primary education with High Force Education in Barnard Castle in 2007 and MA in Education in 2012. She is experienced in delivering nurture work with children and supporting children to see their potential.

Kieran began his journey in education working as a Behaviour Mentor with children who had disengaged from learning due to social, emotional, and mental health issues. After completing a SCITT in Primary Teaching, Kieran then taught for six years in Gateshead and now works as an Interventions Teacher for children who are not accessing education due to their physical and mental health needs.