Hello! I’m Mary. I’m a freelance therapeutic teacher and forest school leader based in Macclesfield, Cheshire.

I specialise in holistic, therapeutic teaching that takes into account a child’s individual needs, interests and strengths. First and foremost, my priority is to build a safe, trusting relationship with each child or young person. From there, we can begin to explore learning together, with the goal of helping them thrive in their own unique way. I believe it is important to have high expectations of every child, whatever their starting point, while understanding that everyone learns and develops at their own pace. As Fred Rogers said,

‘There's a world of difference between insisting on someone's doing something, and establishing an atmosphere in which that person can grow into wanting to do it.’

What do I offer?

I work with children who are in need of extra support with their learning and development due to emotional reasons. Perhaps they have been through a difficult life event, or are struggling with low self-esteem due to learning differences, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed (e.g. dyslexia, autism, speech and language, ADHD, etc.) They might be experiencing stress or burnout, or have had their natural learning instinct bruised by developmentally inappropriate expectations. I work with children regardless of whether they attend school, have a reduced timetable, are registered with alternative provision, or are home educated.

As a freelance educator, I am available to work in schools, early years settings, forest schools or with home educated children. I have a warm and welcoming private teaching space at my home in Macclesfield, Cheshire and can also travel up to 15 miles from here. I am keen to use my skills and experience in a way that suits the needs of each setting and individual learner. I am flexible as to how I structure my sessions, and can work either one-to-one or with small groups. However, due to the sensitive nature of my therapeutic work, I do require a calm space where we will not be interrupted. For Forest School sessions, I need access to a safe and stimulating natural environment.

I welcome all learning styles and neurotypes, whether or not a child has a specific diagnosis. Together we will create some clear boundaries so that everyone feels safe, and adapt these as needed. Confidentiality is respected unless there are safeguarding concerns, and I try to involve parents and other caregivers as much as possible without compromising a child’s privacy. I am always looking for opportunities for continuing professional development (CPD) and regularly update my training in Safeguarding for Children and Young People, Paediatric and Outdoor First Aid and Food Hygiene and Safety. I am fully DBS checked and on the update system and can show all relevant documents on request. For a list of CPD, see my ‘About Me’ page.

What do my sessions involve?

Sessions will vary as I seek to respond to your child’s needs and interests. Some days they might feel ready to try new things, while on others they may need more co-regulation and consolidation of previous learning. My work usually incorporates my three main passions of creativity, literature and nature. I believe that each of these offers an open-ended space in which we can explore and deeply engage with the self and the wider world, enabling growth and a greater feeling of wellbeing.

My work is grounded in the child-led ethos of Forest School, and informed by both person-centred and psychodynamic psychotherapy. It is therefore very much relationship-based and most effective over a minimum of 10-12 sessions, or one school term. During this time, I aim to help your child gain confidence in themselves as a learner, develop strategies to help them in the areas they find challenging, and improve their emotional resilience and wellbeing.

Want to find out more?

To make an enquiry, please email me at maryedwardseducation@gmail.com and provide your phone number, ideal contact times and a brief explanation of your child’s current challenges. We can then arrange a telephone call to further discuss their needs and assess whether we think I will be able to help.