Sienna has thoroughly enjoyed her sessions with Escape Education. During the 10-week programme, her self-esteem has improved and she has learned how to approach unfamiliar tasks with a positive mental attitude. The completion of set tasks has given Sienna a much-improved confidence in her own ability. The weekly feedback and photos from John have helped all the adults supporting Sienna to see what she enjoys and how to channel some of the same strategies in school.

Headteacher - Catherine Mallard

As a school our pupils wellbeing is of the highest priority. We have been lucky to form a highly successful partnership with Escape Education for the last three years. John and his team have made a significant, positive contribution to a great many of our pupils. The Escape Education team are wonderful communicators and really value collaboration, working with professionals, parents and most importantly children. The Escape Education team have helped create fabulous learning experiences for our children. They have equipped our children with increased resilience, shared strategies to promote self-worth and recognising how to regulate emotions. There is a palpable sense of excitement and joy in school whenever John and his team visit. School is a calmer, happier and more peaceful place to be and we look forward to continuing our work with Escape Education.

Daniel Lucey - Headteacher
Derwent Vale Primary and Nursery School

Escape Education has been part of the family of Beckermet Primary School now for 3 years.

Staff and children alongside Mr Lee have been given the opportunity to flourish and develop their skills through a variety of finely tailored, inclusive activities within the realms of nature.

The laughter, smiles, resilience, determination, creativity,.......the list is endless that is observed throughout the sessions is beyond priceless.

My children say,

"It's calming".

"It makes me wonder".

"I learn about the wonders of nature".

"It's out of this world".

We love our forestry sessions and would not be without them.  Every week is different, every year is different.  Simply the best!

Claire Birkett - Headteacher

John Lee, at Escape Education, provides bespoke 121 sessions for a child, from our school, who has complex social and emotional needs. Forest School has been an incredibly positive experience for the child. This is because the sessions are specifically tailored to meet the child’s needs as John has a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by children who struggle to access a mainstream education. John is passionate, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to the child’s development. The forest school sessions are thoughtfully designed, with hands-on activities that foster creativity, curiosity, and a deep connection with nature. The immersive outdoor environment has provided a perfect setting for the child’s learning and personal growth. John has created a safe and supportive atmosphere where the child is encouraged to explore, take risks, and learn from their experiences.

Overall, it has been incredibly rewarding experience, and I would wholeheartedly recommend the forest school sessions to any school seeking an enriching and therapeutic experience for their pupils. 

Mrs Wilkinson + Mrs Pritchard
Co-headteachers

It has been fantastic to work with Escape Education as part of our Future Pathways programme. The work that John and team have done supports our aim of growing confidence and developing essential skills in young people, in a safe environment. The activities worked on team building, resilience and problem solving and the feedback was fantastic. Thank you for a very interactive, engaging and fun session!

Gemma Harrison - Future Pathways leader @ Morgan Sindall

We recently attended several taster session at Escape Education, with groups of childcare and education students and it was an incredible experience that I’d highly recommend to anyone looking to connect with nature or explore outdoor learning.

Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly by John who emphasised a philosophy of child-led exploration and hands-on learning.
The setting itself was enchanting. Nestled in a beautiful wooded area, the fresh air and sounds of nature created a perfect backdrop for the day's activities. We were encouraged to explore the base camp and engage with our surroundings, which immediately sparked curiosity and a sense of fun and adventure.

As the session wrapped up, we gathered around a fire pit for some hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows. This cozy ending provided a perfect opportunity to reflect on the session’s experiences. Sharing stories and insights with other students created a lasting sense of connection.

Overall, the forest school taster sessions were a wonderful blend of education, exploration, and fun. It ignited the students appreciation for the outdoors and the value of experiential learning. Whether you’re a parent considering this for your child or a teacher seeking a unique way for your pupils to connect with nature, I highly recommend giving it a try. You’ll leave with a renewed sense of wonder and a deeper understanding of the world around you.

Ruth Armstrong, Fay Boxall and Amanda Coates from Lakes College, West Cumbria

We have used Escape Education for a programme to support a pupil with complex needs associated with autism. This pupil found it very difficult to access a mainstream setting and we felt that a structured outdoor programme of support and learnjng would be beneficial to their development and progress. We approached John to see if he could help and thank goodness he said yes!
John’s sessions have been expertly and carefully planned to provide a bespoke programme of support and our pupil absolutely loved them, making great progress both emotionally and socially along the way. John’s feedback to us at school on the content of and engagement with the sessions was excellent. Coming on the same day that the sessions took place it meant that as leaders back in school we knew exactly what was happening and were also immediately aware if there were any concerns to follow up on.
We would definitely recommend Escape Education and have already booked up a programme for the Autumn Term so that another pupil with complex needs can also access this support.
Sue Frost
Headteacher
Ashfield Junior School

After my son , Jensen  had some really difficult times, and moments in the first two years of secondary school at West Lakes Academy, when we got told he had the opportunity to go to escape education once a week for a couple of hours it was definitely something we were willing to try as it would get him outdoors and out of the room. He was spending so much time in

From Jensen turning up, the first one or two times and not wanting to get involved and not even wanting to walk through the door to even try to attending escape education there was a clear change in Jensen ‘s approach and attitude towards attending escape education from the 3rd session! John himself is incredibly knowledgeable about the outdoors and the techniques he is teaching the children it came to Jensen actually getting excited about going to escape education and learning new things. Sometimes our son would talk to us about what he learned, and sometimes he wouldn’t, but he was always happy with himself, and what he had achieved.

The weekly updates from John were definitely helpful and some of the most amazing emails, I have read for a very long time. The most powerful moment for me was when Jensen did blind archery and open up about me, living with vision loss, then for Jensen to complete the final navigation walk to St Bees in such a happy positive attitude really showed me that he has got a great future. Thanks to john and escape education. 

Darren Blanks
Parent

John allows a child who is in crisis to connect with nature in whatever way they need that day, from a hammock, cooking, to being able to engage in activities. Children feel free, supported and able to be themselves however they are feeling. A child who I took to attend these sessions said - John will cheer me up when I'm sad, John will cheer me up without knowing I needed to be. John won't break a promise of what we will do in the next session or forget. The smallest of things make the largest of impact!

Miss Hodgson
Westfield primary school

Thank you so much for having Imogen and giving her the opportunity to learn new skills. I can assure you she has loved every session and I've seen her change in so many ways, she’s no longer scared of creepy crawls like she used to and loves anything to do with the outside world! She is already planning on where she’s going to plant her forget me not seeds and the little butterfly gift has taken prized position in her room.. she said It’s one of the most beautiful gifts she has ever received and I know she will treasure it always. I hope you enjoyed the sessions half as much as she did and the very best of luck for the future, once again thank you from the bottom of our hearts to you John

Imogen's Mam

“We have been working with Escape Education for a couple of years now and the feedback from the children has been fantastic - whether it is taking part in forest school sessions, more in-depth eco-escape sessions or drawing and talking sessions, the children love every minute and the impact that it has on them is clear for all to see.

We would like to thank Escape Education for coming into our school regularly and making such a difference to the children you work with. It is without doubt the highlight of their school week. The positivity that John and Sarah bring with them is infectious and we are very proud of our working partnership and hope to continue it long into the future!

 Mrs Robson
Derwent Vale primary school

My daughter has been attending the BURN group at Escape Education. She thoroughly enjoys every session, actively participating in the range of activities and embracing new challenges. The group provides a safe environment for her to talk about things she would typically keep to herself, and allows her to develop trusting relationships with others… This is all while having fun, spending time in the outdoors and having opportunities and adventure she would be unlikely to experience otherwise. She feels a sense of ‘freedom’ while she is there. John and his team’s input has been invaluable, increasing my daughter’s confidence and self belief. She genuinely looks forward from one BURN group to the next.

Ms Kane

My son has attended sessions with Escape Education for over a year, initially in group sessions and more recently as a 1:1 bespoke provision. John has really taken the time to understand my son’s needs and get to know him, and as a result has developed a trusting relationship which few others have managed. He loves coming to the sessions, foraging for things in the woods, crafting with his finds and bringing his creations home to show us! We are constantly amazed by the things that he makes at Forest School and the new skills he has learnt. The setting is amazing and the opportunities for different activities are many and varied. The relaxed atmosphere has enabled my son to open up about some of his worries and early life trauma during sand tray work. John has the patience and understanding to bring out the best in my son and engage him in a way that allows him to follow his passions and try to overcome some of the challenges he faces.

Mrs Maher

I know that our pupil has really enjoyed his sessions at escape education and they have helped him greatly! Many thanks for all your work with him and we will definitely be using the service again!

Mrs Thornthwaite
St Joseph's

I started working with Escape Education when I was at primary school and have continued attending 121 and small group sessions. I love the forest school activities and how being outdoors and surrounded by nature helps me to relax, be calm and have fun. I have made new friends, learned new skills and my confidence has grown. I love art and being creative. Being outside surrounded by nature helps me to experiment with new ideas, colours and textures. While I'm doing my work it gives me chance to think about any problems or worries I have and work a way through them.

Gracie - attendee

What a fantastic way for our student to connect with nature! It’s been really amazing to see his confidence and enjoyment grow through his weekly sessions, John has supported our student in a calm and respectful manner and allowed him to use the Forrest as a place for positive emotional regulation.

John's ability to adapt on the day to support his student’s needs is truly amazing, any child starting Escape Education, will have a positive learning experience catered to them.

Abbie Caine
Nudge Education - Welfare Practitioner

The most important criteria for me was that the teacher understood neurodiversity and the benefits of 1:1 support for the child. John excels in this area, he ‘gets’ my son and consequently my son has developed a bond with John, in fact he has stated that he hopes John ‘never goes away’.
My son’s ability to learn is dependent on a calm and non-judgmental attitude towards him, respect for his interests and awareness of the need to proceed slowly with each activity, whether it be a familiar one or not. John senses when he may be close to his limits and responds accordingly, he works to provide him with a rich learning environment whilst ensuring it is an enjoyable experience. I can honestly say that John is the first teacher who has had major success in gaining my son’s trust. This couldn’t be done without the 1:1 environment as he requires this dedication to his special needs. The session is filled with fun and learning, from identifying objects in the natural world to harvesting them and making meals over the campfire. John’s knowledge is I believe unparalleled, both of nature and children.

Miss Fox

Escape education at westlakes science park cumbria. Is absolutely amazing. My Autistic 14 year old son received a place back in February. Until July. He has came on leaps and bounds. Full of more confidence and social skills. Every session was tailored to his needs and capability. And my son went on to excel above and surprised himself what he thought he didn't think he could do. John was very patient and knew what he could achieve.

My daughters confidence and ability to deal with difficult situations has improved so much since starting the sessions. The mixture of drawing, cooking and talking whilst being outside has been amazing. The facilities are fantastic and we know she is safe and looked after She looks forward to going every week and we can see the progress she is making after each session. We couldn't recommend this enough, it has made such a difference.

Mrs Hewitson