FAQs

Wild Embers is a community interest company, providing outdoor programmes designed to support children and young people, particularly those facing challenges such as trauma, SEND (special educational needs and disabilities), or mental health difficulties.

We work with schools, local authorities, community organisations, and families to create safe, supportive outdoor spaces. Our programmes are especially designed for vulnerable children and young people, but we also run community events open to everyone.

Our sessions run from 10am - 3pm.

Our sessions are inspired by the Forest School Ethos, but our provision goes beyond that. We combine outdoor learning with therapeutic approaches, making our programmes particularly suited to those who need extra emotional and social support.

Our team is made up of trained, experienced practitioners with backgrounds in education, social care, and outdoor learning. Our team is continually learning and embarking on training courses, to support the work we do with children and young people. Each of our staff members have completed the Statutory SEND training required by Devon County Council.

Children can be referred through schools, social workers, or local authority services. Parents and carers can also get in touch directly to explore available options.

Our work is funded through a mix of school/commissioned placements, grants, and donations. We also welcome privately funded placements..

Yes - we provide a wholesome cooked meal at the start of our sessions - a ‘second’ breakfast! Cooking on our open fire is a big part of Wild Embers sessions. We encourage children to collect wood, light the fire and to maintain it. They will be actively involved in preparing and cooking their food. We do ask that healthy snacks and a packed lunch are provided to support the child’s preferences.

We’re located in South Devon, with sites in Dartington and near Halwell. Please get in touch with us directly for our exact locations.

No, a school we are not! We are an outdoor alternative provision for children with SEND and SEMH challenges. We run a bespoke programme: the Transitional Support Programme which is designed to help learners that are currently unable to access mainstream education to re-engage by enhancing their mental health, self-confidence, resilience, and self-esteem.

Primarily we support children from age 5, through 12 years, however, we do welcome referrals for young people 12+ also.

Our sessions are nature-based and hands-on, including bushcraft, fire-lighting, cooking storytelling, woodcraft, arts & crafts, wildlife exploration, and reflective activities. Our sessions are very much child led and everything we do is designed to build confidence, resilience, and connection.

Safety is our number one rule at Wild Embers, it’s so important, it’s also our second rule too! We carry out thorough risk assessments for every activity and site. Ratios are kept low so every child gets the right level of support. Safety is always balanced with opportunities for children to take supported risks and build confidence. Strong Safeguarding: Each of our Transitional Support Programme Leads hold a Level 3 Safeguarding qualification. Our on-site Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), together with the whole team, ensure that every concern is taken seriously, logged, and acted upon. Safeguarding is woven into every aspect of our practice. Individual Care: Our primary role is to care for each child as an individual. We make sure staff are fully trained and equipped to meet a wide range of needs, adapting support to help every child feel safe, understood, and included. Safe Environments: All of our sites and community spaces are risk assessed and adapted so they are fit for purpose, enabling us to provide safe, inspiring, outdoor experiences. Accountability and Standards: We are audited by relevant local authorities and have recently completed Devon County Council’s Alternative Provision audit. These checks help us stay at the forefront of safe, effective outdoor provision.

No, our programmes are inclusive, however we specialise in supporting SEND and vulnerable children, but welcome anyone who would benefit from outdoor, therapeutic provision if privately funded.

Transport is usually arranged via your local authority - however, please contact us directly to discuss transport needs if this is not available and we’ll see if we can help.

You bet we do! There’s no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing! However, we do have a warm and dry cabin with a log burner that we’ll use for breaks in extreme cold weather.