Kinda Education (KE) began in 2017 when Mell Harrison met with Mandy and Hugh of ‘The Missing Kind’ to discuss plans to develop a Democratic School. Since that day The Missing Kind have supported Kinda Education to build and develop a successful Forest School and Training Centre.
Kinda Education CIC (Reg No 11626237 registered in 2018) promotes equity and kindness by deepening reconnection to nature for communities that experience persistent and complex barriers to well-being and socialising.
Through careful environmental stewardship, Kinda Education works to balance the needs of people and wildlife. KE have been Quality Assured since 2020 by Suffolk County Council and since 2023 by Norfolk County Council. Kinda Education are Ofsted Registered ( since 2020), a National Forest School Association (FSA) Accredited Provider and a FSA Endorsed Training Provider.
‘It takes a village to raise a child- and a child to raise a village’
Kinda Education delivers multi-generational programmes, working with people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to rekindle a sense of belonging, co-operation and community.
Kinda Education Currently (2024) work within two different woodlands in Suffolk.
Kinda Education has a vision to develop a democratic nature based school within a multi-generational setting.
Kinda Education’s Eight Directions -eight over-arching delivery areas –based on the eight cardinal directions. Each of the delivery areas represents a step on the path towards realising the bigger vision.
- 1. Kinda Land: The foundation for KE’s work is the management of spaces to balance the needs of people and wildlife. Environmental stewardship. (North East)
- 2. Kinda Forest School: The on-going development of Kinda Forest School at both Kaliwood and Worlingham Woods. Working within alternative Provision, the home education community, elders, women and families.(East)
- 3. Kinda Democratic School: KE’s long-term vision is a Kinda School offering an alternative curriculum for children of all abilities up to 16, combining Forest School and indoor learning programmes. The development of a small school (on a third site, yet to be determined) remains a priority for Kinda education. (South East)
- 4. Kinda Training Centre: KE is committed to expanding the education sector by delivering professional training in Forest School and outdoor learning for continuous professional development.Kinda are a registered training centre with the awarding body ITC First and deliver high quality tutoring for adults to train and gain qualifications. We also offer a consultancy to schools and individuals across the UK. (South)
- 5. Kinda Community: KE’s vision of education and personal development grounded in kindness will only thrive if it is rooted in the community. KE’s sociocratic governance structure and well-being focus encourage sustainable social change both for those who work within and those we work alongside. (South West)
- 6. Kinda Multi generational: There is so much for us to learn from each other. To deeply listen and understand the wisdom and opinions of all ages non-judgmentally. KE’s vision for community education has Multi-generational learning at its heart. ( West)
- 7. Kinda Elders: KE works alongside elders to hear their stories and learn from their experience and wisdom. By meeting within nature, around a fire we support Inclusion and social equality (North West)
- 8. Kinda Opportunity: KE is open to the unknown and the unforeseeable opportunities. This element of the plan focuses on the dynamic nature of our work and the need for kindness in all areas (North)