Mindful Waters Education Alternative Provision

💙 NO CHILD SHOULD BE LABELLED “NAUGHTY” FOR COMMUNICATING NEEDS THAT THE ADULTS AROUND THEM HAVE NOT YET UNDERSTOOD 💙

Too many children are made to feel that they are the problem simply because they experience the world differently.

They may struggle to sit still, regulate their emotions, manage overwhelming environments or communicate what they need. They may be described as disruptive, challenging or naughty—when what they truly need is patience, understanding, connection and a different approach to learning.

This is exactly why we created Mindful Waters Education. 🩵

Andrew, our CEO and Co-Founder, was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia at nine years old. Throughout childhood, he was often labelled the “naughty child.” He later became a teacher and years working as an Assistant Headteacher within Alternative Provision, supporting children who needed to be understood differently—not punished or forced to fit into a system that was not right for them.

At Mindful Waters, we look beyond behaviour and ask:

💙 What is this child communicating?
💙 What do they need to feel safe?
💙 What are their strengths and interests?
💙 How can we help them feel that they belong?

Our nurturing, practical sessions run from 10am–2.30pm mon-fri term time only. Your child can attend up to 3 days a week. Places are booked in four-week blocks, allowing children time to build safe, trusting relationships while still offering families flexibility.

Children can explore our unique learning zones at Mindful Waters, Chicborough Farm & Fisheries Heybridge, Maldon including:

🎣 Our private Mindful Waters learner fishing lake
🌊 Water sports/ Multi sports throughout the year
🌳 Forest School and bushcraft
🔨 Construction, woodwork and practical trades
🎨 Creative arts, design and drama
🌱 Gardening and horticulture
🔥 Campfire cooking and life skills
🦎 Animal and reptile education
💙 Wellbeing, emotional regulation and confidence-building

We do our very best to personalise every child’s timetable around their individual interests, strengths, needs and preferred ways of learning. We know that children engage most successfully when they feel safe, understood and excited about what they are learning.

English, maths, science, communication, teamwork and problem-solving are naturally woven throughout their practical experiences. Depending on their age, individual pathway and readiness, children may also have opportunities to work towards AQA Unit Awards, gain Angling Trust Qualifications and take part in BTEC-style vocational learning and projects.

We also hold special half-termly family celebration events, including Halloween, Christmas, Easter and our summer celebration. Children receive certificates, medals, awards and trophies recognising their individual progress, achievements, courage and personal growth. 🏆✨

Every child deserves to feel proud, valued and genuinely celebrated for who they are.

A formal diagnosis is not required for a child to be welcomed or understood by us. We focus on the child in front of us, not the paperwork attached to them.

If you feel your child may benefit from Mindful Waters, please send us a message to arrange a relaxed visit, meet our team and explore our beautiful setting. Our doors will be officially open on Monday 7th September and we are incredibly lucky to already have 50 wonderful Home Ed familes joining our Mindful Waters Community 🩵

Your child is not naughty.
Your child is communicating.
Your child deserves to belong, believe and achieve. 🩵

Kirsty, Andrew & the Mindful Waters Team # # #

🐟🌿🩵 FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS… THANK YOU 🩵🌿🐟

We are still trying to find the words to describe how we felt after our Open Evening.

Seeing so many home-education families walk through the gates of Mindful Waters—watching children explore the lake, Creative Arts learning Zone, garderning & Construction areas and wandering through the woodlands into our Forest School and begining to imagine themselves belonging here—was incredibly emotional.

Every conversation mattered to us. Every story you shared reminded us why we created Mindful Waters: for children who deserve to feel safe, understood and celebrated for exactly who they are.

To every parent who came, asked questions, shared their child’s journey and trusted us with their hopes for the future—thank you. We know that choosing the right place for your child is not simply a decision. It is an act of love, trust and courage.

We are deeply humbled that nearly 50 families have now enrolled their children to begin their Mindful Waters journey with us in September. 🥹🎣

Nearly Fifty families have placed their trust in us. 🩵

Fifty families have believed in our vision.

Most importantly, nearly 50 children will arrive knowing they do not need to change who they are to belong here. 🩵

They will be welcomed, listened to and encouraged. They will be given the time and space to breathe, build confidence, rediscover the joy of learning and recognise just how capable they truly are.

Mindful Waters began as a dream born from personal and professional experience—a belief that the right environment, the right relationships and the right support can change a child’s story.

Now, because of all of you, that dream is becoming a community. 🌿

✨ COME AND DISCOVER MINDFUL WATERS ✨

We are holding another site tour on:

📅 Saturday 22nd August
⏰ 2:30pm
🐟Chicborough Farm & Fisheries, Maldon
🩵 Ages 5-16

If you and your child would like to explore our beautiful setting, meet some of our team and learn more about enrolling for their educational journey from September, we would love to welcome you.

💌 Spaces must be booked in advance—please message me directly to reserve your family’s place.

We cannot wait to meet more wonderful families and welcome you into our growing Mindful Waters community. 🩵

🌿 This is only the beginning.

Belong. Believe. Achieve.

With love,
Kirsty, Andrew and the Mindful Waters team x

🌿 Last Few Spaces Remaining for Our September Intake! 🎣

We now have just a few spaces left for Thursday and Friday at Mindful Waters Education.

As we are currently on holiday until 12th August, our next site tour will take place on Sat August 22nd at 2:30pm.

If you'd like to join us, please send us a message to reserve your space.

This won't be another open evening, as all of our equipment has now been safely packed away ready for our September launch. However, you will still have the opportunity to meet Andrew and me, explore our private Mindful Waters learners only fishing lake, Forest School, and both our indoor and outdoor learning spaces, while finding out more about everything we offer.

Once you've visited, if you feel Mindful Waters Education is the right fit for your child, we'll send you our referral and registration forms to secure your childs place.

💙 From the bottom of our hearts... thank you.

When we first dreamed of creating Mindful Waters, we never imagined just how many incredible families we would meet along the way. Over the past few weeks, hearing your stories, listening to your journeys, and seeing the home education community come together has been truly overwhelming.

Many of you have shared your hopes, your worries, and the reasons you've chosen a different path for your children. The trust you've placed in us is something we will never take for granted. We genuinely feel honoured that so many of you have chosen to become part of the Mindful Waters family.

🩵 For Andrew, this journey runs even deeper.

Diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 9, mainstream education was a difficult place for him. Too often, he left school believing he was naughty, that he wasn't good enough, and that he had somehow failed. Looking back, he knows he simply needed adults who understood him and recognised his strengths.

Those experiences shaped the teacher he became. After years working in education and alternative provision, supporting children with additional needs, behaviour, trauma and anxiety, his dream has always been to create a place where no child ever leaves education feeling the way he once did.

Together, we have poured our hearts into creating somewhere children feel safe, accepted and valued—a place where differences are celebrated, confidence is rebuilt, friendships flourish, and every child knows they belong.

At Mindful Waters, we don't measure children by what they can't do. We celebrate who they are, nurture their individual strengths, and help them believe in themselves again.

This isn't just the opening of a new provision. It's the beginning of a community where families support one another, children grow together, and memories are made that will last a lifetime.

We honestly cannot wait to welcome every one of you this September and begin this journey together.

Thank you for believing in us, believing in our vision, and becoming part of the Mindful Waters family. 💙

📩 Message us to reserve your place for our private site tour on 17th August at 2:00pm.

🌿🎣 LAST THURSDAY & FRIDAY HOME EDUCATION SPACES AVAILABLE! 🎣🌿

💙 MINDFUL WATERS EDUCATION – SEPTEMBER 2026 💙
📍 Chigborough Farm & Fisheries, Maldon, Essex

We are so excited to share that our Home Education community has grown beyond anything we could have imagined. 🥹💙

We now have just a small number of Thursday and Friday spaces remaining for September!

🌟 ENROL BEFORE SEPTEMBER TO RECEIVE OUR OPENING OFFERS! 🌟

If you're considering Mindful Waters for your child, message us to arrange a private site tour. Come and explore our beautiful setting, meet our team and discover the different learning zones your child could experience.

🌿 OUR LEARNING ZONES INCLUDE:

🎣 Fishing & Angling – practical angling skills, patience, confidence and emotional regulation.

🌲 Forest School & Bushcraft – fire lighting, shelter building, woodland skills, problem-solving and outdoor adventures.

🔥 Campfire Cooking & Life Skills – preparing food, teamwork, independence and practical life skills.

🎨 Creative Arts & Design – painting, crafts, design, woodwork and creative projects.

🔨 Construction & Trades – tool skills, measuring, building and hands-on vocational projects.

🌱 Gardening & Growing – planting, growing, caring for our environment and learning where our food comes from.

🦎 Reptile & Animal Education – hands-on opportunities to learn about animals, habitats and responsible care.

🛶 Water Sports & Outdoor Adventure – opportunities for paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing and building confidence on the water.

💙 Wellbeing & Regulation – calm spaces, trusted adults, emotional regulation, confidence building and opportunities to reset.

📚 English, Maths & Science are naturally embedded throughout our practical activities, helping children understand the purpose of learning beyond a traditional classroom.

🏆 QUALIFICATIONS, AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENT

Our learners will have opportunities to work towards:

⭐ AQA Unit Awards
🎣 Angling Trust Awards
🛠️ BTEC-style vocational awards and achievements
📜 Certificates recognising individual skills, progress and personal development

But at Mindful Waters, success is about so much more than a piece of paper. 💙

🎉 CELEBRATING EVERY CHILD'S SUCCESS

Throughout the year, we'll hold special celebration events where families can come together and proudly watch their children receive medals, certificates and trophies recognising their achievements, progress, perseverance and personal successes. 🏆🥇📜

Imagine watching a child who once lacked confidence stand proudly in front of their family and friends to receive an award for something they have worked incredibly hard to achieve. 🥹💙

And there will be plenty of opportunities to make you proud in other ways too...

🎭 Our children will have opportunities to take part in seasonal drama performances and celebrations throughout the year, building confidence, friendships, communication and self-belief.

Christmas performances, seasonal celebrations, awards, achievements and those wonderful moments where you get to sit back and think...

“Look how far they've come.” 💙

We want every child at Mindful Waters to experience that feeling of being noticed, valued and celebrated.

🌟 Not just for academic success.
🌟 For catching their first fish.
🌟 For trying something that frightened them.
🌟 For making a new friend.
🌟 For learning a new skill.
🌟 For showing kindness.
🌟 For persevering when something was difficult.
🌟 For growing in confidence.
🌟 For simply taking that next step.

Because progress looks different for every child — and every step forward deserves to be celebrated. 💙

Finally, we want to say the biggest THANK YOU to our incredible Home Education families.

Thank you for your messages, your kind words, your reviews and recommendations, for sharing Mindful Waters with other families and, most importantly, for trusting us with your children.

Seeing so many children already enrolled and becoming part of the Mindful Waters family means more to Andrew and me than we can put into words.

We can't wait for September. 🌿🎣

We can't wait to watch friendships form, confidence grow and children discover things they never realised they could do.

And we can't wait to stand alongside you as proud parents and carers, celebrating just how far your children have come. 🥹💙

✨ BELONG. BELIEVE. ACHIEVE. ✨

📩 Message us now to enquire about our final Thursday and Friday Home Education spaces or to book your site tour.

🌿 Enrol before September to receive our opening offers.

🌿💙 A Huge Thank You from the Mindful Waters Team 💙🌿

To every amazing home educating family and all of the wonderful children who attended our Mindful Waters Open Evening on Friday, and to those who have visited us over the last two days... thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 🥹💙

Myself, Andrew, and every single member of the Mindful Waters team cannot thank you enough for the incredible support you have shown us. The kind words, beautiful reviews, messages, and encouragement we have received have completely blown us away. It was so unexpected, and we are honestly so grateful. 💙

Seeing so many smiling faces exploring the woodland, enjoying the lake, meeting our amazing reptiles, getting creative with arts and crafts, and embracing everything Mindful Waters has to offer has made all of the hard work worthwhile. 🌳🎣🦎🎨🔥

We are beyond excited to welcome your children this September and cannot wait to begin this magical learning journey together. We truly believe something very special is growing here, and we feel incredibly lucky that your families are choosing to be part of it. ✨🌿

The Mindful Waters team has been very busy over the last few days welcoming even more families to visit us, so if you're waiting for your referral form, please don't worry. They will all be emailed out over the next two days. 📧😊

Once again, on behalf of all of us at Mindful Waters... thank you for believing in our vision, supporting our dream, and trusting us with your amazing children. We can't wait to make unforgettable memories together. 💙

With love,

Kirsty, Andrew & the Mindful Waters Team 🌿💙🐟🦎

We cant wait to share our beautiful lake with all our Mindful Waters Anglers in the making 🩵🐟

Who is excited for Friday!!! 🌿🪵🎨🩵🐟🤚

🌿✨ It's all go, go, go at Mindful Waters Education today! ✨🌿

Who says a 5 and 7-year-old can't help dig out the campfire area? 💪🔥 They're certainly getting stuck in and doing an amazing job!

Every day we are working hard to create a magical learning environment where children can learn, explore, build confidence, develop new skills and make memories that will last a lifetime.

🎣🐟 And... take a look at our brand-new Learner Fishing Lake sign! 🐟🎣

We hope our little anglers in the making are going to love having their very own dedicated fishing lake. 💚

This special space has been created just for our learners – a place where they can learn how to fish, discover the amazing wildlife around them, build confidence, develop patience and resilience, make new friendships, and experience the calming benefits of spending time in nature.

For many children, fishing is about so much more than catching fish. It teaches perseverance, problem-solving, teamwork, respect for nature, and gives children the chance to slow down, regulate their emotions, and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the outdoors.

Alongside fishing, our learners will also enjoy Forest School, creative arts, gardening and horticulture, construction and woodwork, reptile education, campfire cooking, wellbeing activities, and so much more – with English, maths and science naturally embedded throughout their learning.

We are so proud of everything that's coming together and we honestly can't wait to welcome our very first learners.

Who's ready to start learning at Mindful Waters Education? 💚

Roll on Friday for our Open Evening... and then it's full steam ahead for our September start! We can't wait to welcome all of our wonderful families and begin this exciting new adventure together.

The countdown is officially on! 🌿🎣🔥✨

💜I wanted to give a little shout-out to a wonderful local business, Spark & Settle.

Supporting children's emotional wellbeing has never been more important, and this programme has been created with so much passion, understanding and lived experience.

Helping children understand their emotions, build confidence and develop lifelong coping strategies is such an incredible gift. If you're looking for support for your child, I highly recommend taking a look at what Spark & Settle has to offer.

Small businesses supporting children deserve to be celebrated. Wishing you every success on your journey! 💜✨

Please pop over to her page, give it a like and share if you can – let's support local businesses making a real difference in children's lives. 🌟