Kinda Education was set up in 2018, with seed funding from the Missing Kind, as a CIC (no 1626237) our Mem and Arts are here. It was established by Mell Harrison with 4 Direction Keepers (Directors), in Kaliwoods, Holton, running 1 day a week, taking in Home Educated children, plus an after school club working with 4 facilitators.
Today, 2025, it operates over 2 sites, Kaliwood and Worlingham, 9 days a week (3 in Kaliwoods and 5 in Worlingham), with over 40 facilitators, working with over 200 children, 20 plus Elders, 40 plus Wood Sisters, and 40 plus Kinda Community Forest School
Kinda Education delivers multi-generational programmes, working alongside people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to rekindle a sense of belonging, co-operation and community. We are a sociocratic, person led organisation which promotes equity and kindness by deepening re-connection to nature for communities that experience persistent and complex barriers to well-being.
Through environmental stewardship, Kinda works to balance the needs of people within nature.
What an amazing place. My 6 year old wasn’t coping with the pressures of full time mainstream school and her life has been turned around by her Wednesdays at kinda forest school. A day to reset, be herself, explore, learn, play and just be 6!The staff are amazing, really supportive and nuture each child to bring out the best in them. From being amazingly attentive when she felt poorly to building self esteem and equipping her with skills she will never learn in the classroom. And one night a week she actually falls asleep at a reasonable time with lower levels of anxiety, rosy cheeks and lungs full of fresh air!
“My boys have loved their time in the woods with you all and I have loved bringing them. Kinda is such an inspiration to me, and although their journey with you all is shorter than I had originally planned we will be back as much as we can and will take all of the experience and memories with us on our journey.” August 2021
“… And now, having researched the positive mental health benefits of drumming I bought X a Cajon for his birthday which he has delightedly danced into the woods with at Kinda Schools Wednesday Tribe and has connected with Blake who has shared his immense skill with him. I cannot tell you how much this has nurtured him. I can see my boy changing in front of me. The feeling of safety and calm, whispering leaves, crackle of fire and kind eyes are part of what is healing him.” August 2021
Kinda Education and the 8 Directions / spokes in the wheel
KE’s strategic plan has eight over-arching delivery areas – spokes in our wheel. Each of the delivery areas represents a step on the path towards realising the vision. It is possible to link each of the eight delivery areas to a specific value and cardinal point.
Kinda Land: The foundation for KE’s work is the management of outdoor spaces to balance the needs of people and wildlife. Environmental stewardship (North East)
Kinda Forest School: The on-going development of Kinda Forest School at Kaliwood and the development of education programmes on a second site, yet to be determined, remain a priority for Kinda education. Child-led facilitation (East)
Kinda School: KE’s long-term vision is a Kinda School offering an alternative curriculum for children of all abilities up to 16, combining Forest School and indoor learning programmes. Social and emotional learning (South East)
Kinda Training: KE is committed to expanding the education sector by delivering professional training in Forest School and outdoor learning for continuous professional development. Quality and sustainability (South)
Kinda Community: KE’s vision of education and personal development grounded in kindness will only thrive if it is rooted in the community. KE’s well-being programmes will encourage positive
Kinda Intergenerational: There is so much for elders to learn from children and for children to learn from elders. KE’s vision for education has intergenerational learning at its heart. Synergy (West)
Kinda Elders: Elders too enjoy the benefits of learning through Forest School principles. Inclusion and social equality (North West)
Kinda Opportunity: KE is open to the unknown and the unforeseeable. This element of the plan focuses on opportunism. Kindness (North)
KALIWOOD
Kaliwoods is a 5 acre Oak nuttery – a wood of planted oak and hazel, with old Hornbeam, Hawthorn, Ash, Elder and Holly. Within Kali Woods is a beautiful wooden cabin, built out of the oak wood from Kaliwood heated by a woodburning stove for winter cosiness and lit with a solar panel on the roof.
Near by is and an oak clad compost toilet. Over time children and young people can share the care and sustainable management of this special place with their families. Kaliwoods is a place for reconnection and reflection. It is both remote and within practical reach of the nearest town, Halesworth.
Kinda Elders in the woods 