Little Forest Folk Morden

Sarah grew up not too far from Morden and is very happy to be enjoying the local forest area in one of the best ways possible. Sarah has experience working on placements in hospitals and children’s wards, as well as schools, both mainstream and schools focused on additional needs, both educational and physical. She has also spent time in Borneo playing with, and teaching, the local children while enjoying the beautiful outdoors.

Sarah loves bringing music into the forest with songs, rhymes and instruments and enjoys making up songs with the children. She is inspired by the development of the children while in outdoor play and is very proud to be a member of the Little Forest Folk team.

Growing up in the vibrant surroundings of Delhi, Sunarika always had a deep love for learning and exploring the world around her. This passion for education and discovery led her to pursue a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Delhi, followed by a Master's in Early Childhood Education from the University of Hertfordshire.

Sunarika began her career as a Primary Teacher at Krims Lotus Veda, where she taught various subjects, including maths, language arts, science, and social studies, to young learners. Her early experiences in the classroom fuelled her dedication to fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment for children. Over the years, she has taken on diverse roles, including teaching English at St. Xavier's Senior Secondary School and serving as a French teacher at 21K School. These experiences have deepened her understanding of the importance of adapting teaching methods to meet the unique needs of each child.

Sunarika is a strong advocate for the benefits of forest nurseries. She believes that immersing children in nature from a young age fosters resilience, creativity, and a deep sense of curiosity about the world. Exposure to the natural environment encourages children to explore, take risks, and develop a connection to the earth, all vital for their overall development. In her view, forest nurseries provide children with invaluable experiences that cannot be replicated in traditional classroom settings, making them an essential part of early childhood education. Sunarika is passionate about creating these enriching experiences for young learners, ensuring they have the best possible start in life.

Growing up near Epping Forest, Mignon loved playing in between the trees with friends, foraging blackberries and going for bike rides and picnics with her family in the woods. After graduating from the University of Sussex in 2012, she started working on the Brighton and Hove City Council Playbus as a Play Worker, doing outreach work across the city.

More recently, Mignon has been a member of the Woodland Tribe crew, where she has been involved in lots of exciting adventure playground building projects, including the build in the Tate Modern’s turbine hall and at the Brighton Fringe Festival.

In 2020, she completed her primary PGCE with Goldsmiths University of London with a specialism in Children’s Literature and has had a great time working in different schools across South West London and Surrey as a Primary School Supply Teacher. Having seen the benefits of attending LFF in her own son, Mignon believes that all children have the right to play and that access to nature and the outdoors in the early years gives children the best start in life.