Staff Profile

Name
Ben Horsley

Joined the Nursery
August 2022

Job Title
Senior Nursery Officer / Forest School Leader

Qualifications
CACHE Level Diploma for children and young people’s workforce (QCF)
Safe guarding for senior person
ICT First Level 3 Forest School leader
Outdoor first aider
Paediatric first aid
BND in Forensic Science (applied Science)
ORC Level 3 key skills in ICT
ORC Level 3 key skills in communication

Notes
As a child, I was fascinated by science. The experiments, the equipment and the many uses in which science is used. I went to college to study forensic science and that is when my life went on a very different path. My mother was a site manager at a nursery and told me that there was a dinner time coordinator and site manager assistant role available. I decided to apply for the roles with the thought of raising some money for further education. However, after my first week I realised that I had spent two years studying the wrong subject.

That first week started a love and passion that I never knew I had. To see how I was impacting not only the children’s lives but also the parents was amazing!

I am all about breaking stereotypes, and being a male in a very female heavy sector, it is very rewarding to show people that the early years is not just for females and that we don’t just play. It is so much more.

There are so many paths which you can take in the early years. My current path has taken me on a journey to becoming a level 3 Forest School Practitioner. If I had it my way I would be living in the wild as the world is the best learning resource. I believe that children thrive in the outdoors and can learn so many things such as life skills, building on their self awareness, building relationships and of course make fires!

When I am not with the children, I will most likely be playing with my band on stage. I’ve been playing guitar for 18 years and have been playing in bands for 10 years. I organised, hosted and played a gig in support of mental health with Mental Health UK and raised £900.

As well as playing music, I am also a photographer/videographer and have helped to film music videos for Birmingham and London music artists.

But really most of my time is shared with my family. I have two children and my epic wife. We love exploring and going on little adventures to check out wildlife and the wonders the world has to offer.



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