Jess Walton - Owner and Forest School Leader

Meet Jess , founder and lead teacher at Fresh Air Learning. Jess qualified as a primary school teacher in 2008 and has worked with children of all ages from Nursery through to Year 9. With a particular interest in supporting holistic learning with close links to the outdoors, Jess undertook her Level 3 Forest School training in September 2016 and became a qualified Forest School practitioner a year later.
Undertaking her Beach Leader training in 2018, she has also gained certificates in Pediatric and Outdoor First Aid and is the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Jess has a passion and natural flair for working with children. She is knowledgeable and keen to engage all ages with the world around us with a particular focus on the coastal and forest environments.

As the team has grown, Jess now acts in an advisory role for Fresh Air Learning, supporting the team.

Jess developed and led the coastal curriculum at a local independent school, spent time in China delivering Forest School to children there and has worked alongside fellow forest school leaders in Malta. Since establishing Fresh Air Learning in 2019, she has grown the offer to include specialist alternative provision as well as Forest School and after school clubs.

Helen B - Forest School Leader

This is Helen. She is a Level 3 Forest School Leader. Helen has been involved in education for many years and discovered Forest School through a love of the outdoors. She used to lead the gardening club at a local school and is passionate about growing things, especially food to eat!

Helen joined Fresh Air Learning as a trainee Forest School Leader with a view to developing her skills as she completed the training course. Now fully qualified, she leads her own sessions at a local Primary School as well as running after school clubs. She has an amazing knowledge of the plants in the woodland so don't forget to ask her about how to spot the difference between an oak and sycamore tree.

Katie - EYFs specialist & Forest school leader trainee

Katie is our qualified play leader and Early Years specialist (EYFS). Katie delivers high quality outdoor play experiences with our younger children. Often working alongside a qualified Forest School leader, she supports children to develop their play interests and get the maximum benefit for the sessions they attend. Katie has made the decision to train as a Forest School leader and hopes to complete the course in 2026.

Katie brings a life time of EYFS experience to the team and also has a wonderful knowledge of British wild birds and is a keen gardener.

jO - qualified teacher and 1:1 specialist

Jo has worked within primary schools for over 20 years. She is a qualified primary teacher with a passion for developing children's understanding and application of their knowledge! Jo delivers a specialised 1:1 education to children who are unable to attend a school full time. Working with the child's interests, she tailors each session to be engaging and supportive, allowing the child to learn at their own pace and begin to recognise their successes independently.

Jo supports the team with her knowledge of the National Curriculum, making links between the home tutoring sessions and our forest school work, coaching the team to ensure we deliver the highest standard of education.

claire - teacher and outdoor practitioner

Claire is qualified primary teacher with a career of experience to bring to FAL! She uses her knowledge of the National Curriculum to deliver specialised learning opportunities to children who are unable to attend a school full time. Working with the seasons, Claire creates a bespoke curriculum to ensure enjoyment of learning and valid progression of knowledge and skills.

Often working with children who are transitioning between mainstream school and specialist provision, Claire works alongside the child's needs and abilities to provide opportunities for them to develop their skills at a pace that is right for them. A bespoke education using nature and the outdoors as inspiration.

Alex - Forest school leader

Alex decided to retrain as a forest school leader following her previous career in the military. She joined FAL in 2024 as a trainee forest school leader and works with children in schools delivering a forest school programme. Alex has a deep understanding of trauma in childhood and specialises in working with children who have experienced this themselves. She spends her weekends walking at the beach or in local woodland, a favourite for her is the New Forest. Alex brings a wealth of project management skills to Fresh Air Learning and has been developing her practice alongside qualified forest school leaders within the team. Alex qualified as a Forest School Leader in Autumn 2025.

Helen P - Forest school leader traineE & primary teacher

Helen joined FAL in 2024 as a trainee forest school leader. She is a qualified primary teacher with many years of experience working with children. Helen has a passion for the outdoors and often spends her weekends walking with her husband in local woodland. Helen hopes to complete her training in 2025 and currently delivers forest school provision and 1:1 tutoring with children who find the regular classroom environment a challenge.

Bev - Primary Teacher & forest assistant

Bev joined the team in September 2025 having decided to leave mainstream school delivery in the classroom. She joins the team with a wealth of experience teaching primary aged children at a variety of local schools. She understands what children need to succeed in their learning and has a creative approach to supporting individuals. Bev has spent time shadowing our Forest School Leaders to bring her professional practice up to speed and the unique methods we use at Fresh Air Learning to ensure engagement and development of individuals.

Izzy - 1:1 practitioner and farm educator

Izzy has a keen interest in learning outdoors. She has raised her child with an outdoor focus and loves her home animals, spending time at the beach and working on a small farm holding. She holds a CEVAS qualification, sharing knowledge of farming with children. She works alongside children on a 1:1 basis supporting their needs with our alternative provision along with an after school club at a local school and leads our Tiddlers in the Trees sessions in Gosport.

Izzy spends her spare time having fun with her family outdoors!