The biggest ever online gathering of Forest School leaders is happening this evening (Wednesday 1st April 2020, 8pm). The FSA is hosting a webinar exploring the types of support that we can offer each other in these COVID days. 52 people are already booked to attend. Register your place at this event
The FSA directors and I have, in the past weeks, been exploring ways in which we can support FSA members and the wider Forest School community at this difficult time. Things are evolving very quickly and we have been trying to keep up.
We have been getting out news of the latest developments to members through social media and direct email. Guidance has been produced for the wider Forest School community. A template risk/benefit assessment has been offered and kept up to date for those of you offering services to the children of key workers and vulnerable people. Advice has been offered to individual members. Direct support through a new project, Wednesday Webinars, has been conceived (see link above). We are reprioritising our work schedule so that remote CPD opportunities are developed sooner. In addition, we are developing another strand of work to develop and signpost to useful resources that may be accessed by the wider Forest School community.
I would like to give thanks to all the staff and volunteers (especially the FSA directors) who have worked so hard to support members at this time. Everyone has gone above and beyond to make this happen.
We can not continue to do what we do without your support. However, we recognise that many of you will no longer be able to work at this time and that your earnings are consequently affected. With that in mind, we sped up the launch of a new membership type for members who are not working. This is called ‘Associate Membership‘. It is £19.99 and is now available for new members and those renewing
Many of us are in a situation where our days and weeks look rather different to how we had anticipated. If you feel like now might be a good opportunity to take stock and reflect on your practice we wanted to let you know that the FSA Recognised FS Provider Scheme is still open and we have extra capacity to process applications. Please visit the FSA Recognised FS provider pages of our website if you are considering applying.
Best wishes to you all and please stay safe.
Gareth Davies
FSA CEO
