Gemma Buttress

Children’s innate curiosity, imagination and desire to learn led me to pursue a career working with children where I would be able to facilitate such awe and wonder every day.

My journey started when I worked supporting children with a range of additional learning needs including Autism, Muscular Dystrophy, Downs Syndrome and attachment disorders. From there I completed my masters accredited PGCE specialising in Early Primary at Cambridge University giving me the theory and practice to understand just how important play is for children’s learning and development. I then spent the next 9 years working as an Early Years Teacher and Early Years Lead across Nursery and Reception in both school and private settings spending most of that time as Outdoor Learning Lead which is synonymous with early years education.

Engaging with nature fosters joy, resilience, and social skills while offering varied physical challenges; the endless opportunities of the ever-changing outdoor environment enables purposeful and meaningful opportunities to embed the curriculum in true child-led playful learning experiences. 

I absolutely love helping schools on a daily basis to improve their outdoor provision where I can use my knowledge and experience of children’s learning and development alongside our inspiring products at Phoenix Play to create environment’s where learning in inevitable; from team sports on MUGA’s, taking teaching outside with our Outdoor Classroom’s to carefully zoned and resourced outdoor areas in Early Years.

In my free time I am still very much a planner and designer; I have a keen interest in interior design as well as exploring new places and recently undertook campervan conversion which we took to the most beautiful spots across Devon and Cornwall over the summer. The outdoors brings a bubbling sense of adventure which shapes memories and I cherish my role in helping to shape children’s stories one playground at a time.