Full Name:… Francesca Louise Signore
Organisation/Freelance: Branching Out Forest School
I also work as an Outdoor Educator at Wood School, Manchester
(If you are involved with any organisation – please state the name of the organisation and position held).
Sector Experience/Skills (please rate, with X, each from 0 to 3: 0 = no experience, 1 = general background/experience, 2 = Strong relevant experience, 3 = direct relevant experience):
| Sector Experience | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Early Years Forest School | ü | |||
| Primary Years Forest School | ü | |||
| Secondary Years Forest School | ü | |||
| Special Needs Forest School | ü | |||
| Play Sector | ü | |||
| Environmental Organisations involvement with Forest School | ü | |||
| County Council Forest School | ü | |||
| Academic Research for Forest School/Higher Education | ü | |||
| Outdoor learning | ü | |||
| Forest/Woodland management | ü | |||
| Forest School Training | ü | |||
| Other (please specify) | ||||
| Skills | ||||
| Media/Communications including social media | ü | |||
| Business/Marketing | ü | |||
| Fundraising | ü | |||
| Events | ü | |||
| Public Speaking | ü | |||
| Other (please specify) |
Please indicate which role you would like to apply – job descriptions for the Treasurer and Company Secretary are attached.
| Directors
|
|
| Post | I would like to apply for this post on the FSA Board (please tick) |
| Director – Company Secretary | |
| Director – Treasurer | |
| Director – Fundraising | |
| Director – Without Portfolio | ü |
| Portfolio for FSA Recognised FS Provider scheme | |
Please tell us a bit about yourself (max 500 words), including;
Why am I standing?
I value the FSA as our professional body due to the work it does in advocacy, representation and in setting standards. I recognise that this work is only possible due to directors working voluntarily and I am keen to contribute.
Forest School experience
I set up Branching Out Forest School in 2014, selling courses of Forest School to schools and organisations. Over the last 3 years I have worked with nurseries, primary schools, secondary schools, an organisation working with excluded teenagers, and I am currently working with a school for boys with emotional and behavioural disorders.
I started working with Wood School in Manchester on a sessional basis in April 2017 and am now employed by them one day a week.
How can I personally benefit the FSA?
I can personally benefit the FSA because I bring honed skills in written communication and editing. I also like to think of myself as a reflective person and a creative problem-solver, always looking for the ‘win-win’. I am a conscientious team-player, understanding the importance of pulling my weight. Excellent organisational skills and thorough planning are an essential part of running a small business: I believe these skills – along with a high level of self-motivation and careful time management – would enable me to contribute in a meaningful way to the FSA.
I believe the enthusiasm and passion I have for the Forest School that I deliver would ‘spill over’ into the bigger picture of the FSA, helping to drive projects forward.
Special interests or affiliations with other organisations in the Forest School sector including commercial, public sector or voluntary.
None, apart from my ownership of Branching Out Forest School (as above).
