From Teacher to Founder: Why I Built the School I Wanted for My Son

Words by Tara Royle for Mother+

Motherhood has a way of sharpening the questions we ask about the systems around us — from the workplace to education.

For teacher-turned-founder Tara Royle, returning to the classroom after maternity leave made her realise she couldn’t accept the way things were.

So she set out to build something different: a school where well-being, curiosity, and nature come first.

The Moment I Knew Things Had to Change

It was September, and the old Victorian classroom was stifling. The last time I’d taught these children, they were in Reception — a time of play, fun, and freedom. Now, in Year 3, they sat frozen in their chairs, wide-eyed with horror at the prospect of hours of stillness.

I felt it in my bones: this was all wrong.

I’d just returned from maternity leave, eager to be back in the state school I loved, this time with the challenge of teaching older children. But as I cycled home that day, a new truth rose up in me. I couldn’t go back.

The next morning, I handed in my notice. I cited childcare issues — partly true — but the deeper reason was harder to explain: I felt called to build something different. A school where children could move, explore, and be outdoors. A school I would be happy to send my own son to.

My Teaching Journey

I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. At two years old I was already corralling classmates in kindergarten, eager to "teach" them. My early years in state schools were joyful — this was before Michael Gove reshaped the curriculum, when teachers still had freedom in their classrooms.

But over the next decade, I moved in and out of the profession. I left to volunteer in Ghana, to teach children’s yoga, and later to have my son. Each time, I returned out of love for teaching, yet found myself restricted by a system that left little space for joy or creativity.

Alongside all this, a vision of a “dream school” began forming in my mind: one with daily mindfulness, outdoor play, child-led projects, and teachers who loved their work.

Becoming a Mother Changed Everything

Motherhood was the catalyst. My son, Otis, was endlessly active, just like so many children I’d seen — bursting with creativity outside, yet constrained and misunderstood in a classroom. When Otis turned one, my husband, Sam, and I visited a local Forest School nursery. We asked if they had plans for a primary school. “No,” they said, “nothing like this exists locally.”

On the walk home, Sam turned to me: “That’s it. This is the gap in the market — a nature-based primary school.” And that was the moment Wildwood began to take root.

Building the Ethos

I completed my Forest School training in 2021, which helped crystallise what I wanted to create. The ethos of Wildwood grew out of so many strands of my own life:

• Respect for natural child development and emotional well-being (shaped by my Master’s in developmental psychology)

• A trauma-informed approach, drawn from my own experience and volunteering with Kids Company

• Calm and mindfulness from years of yoga practice and teaching

• Play, risk-taking, and child-led learning as essential to curiosity and growth

• Community and connection, using restorative justice and nonviolent communication instead of punishments or rewards

• Deep respect for nature, and the belief that time outdoors heals and strengthens children

These became the foundations of Wildwood. And if I wanted Otis to attend, I had to act quickly.

The Power of Partnership

I reached out to the founders of Into the Woods nursery, initially for advice. To my surprise, Steve Tromans and Emma Shaw not only believed in the idea — they offered to partner with me. I don’t think I’ve ever said “yes” so quickly.

We spent two years shaping the school: finding premises, getting planning permission, writing policies, navigating Ofsted registration, setting up as a charity, recruiting teachers, and building a community.

And on 11 September 2023, Wildwood Nature School opened its doors to its first 16 children.

Wildwood Today

Two years on, the journey has been anything but smooth. Our first year was a leap into the unknown, with teachers building the plane as they flew it. I also fell seriously ill just after opening, and later became pregnant with my daughter, Uma, who’s now ten months old.

Balancing recovery, parenting, and co-founding a school has been exhausting — but also deeply rewarding.

Otis is thriving at Wildwood. What surprises me most is how well he’s doing academically, despite (or perhaps because of) the slower, child-led pace. He learns because he’s curious, not because he’s forced.

Many of our children came to Wildwood after struggling in mainstream schools, and watching them blossom has been remarkable. For some, that looks like recording a story aloud instead of writing it; for others, it’s finding the courage to climb a tree with new confidence, taking quiet time when they feel overwhelmed, or even leading a session to share a skill with their peers. With our small ratios and needs-led approach, every child is truly seen for who they are.

Rethinking Education

When Steve, Emma and I first wrote our mission, we said:

“A radically different education for a radically better world. We will nurture the development of happy, grounded, free-thinking children who belong to and care for this Earth.”

It’s telling that placing well-being at the heart of education still feels radical. Too often, mainstream schools prioritise targets, inspections, and ministerial demands over the actual children sitting in their classrooms.

At Wildwood, every decision comes back to a single question: How does this support the well-being of our children and teachers?

As parents, we all want our children to be happy at school. Not competing for “Star of the Week.” Not fearing the shame of being put on “Red.” Simply feeling valued, curious, and joyful.

That’s the education we are working to build.

Tara Royle is a teacher, mother of two, and founder of Wildwood Nature School in London.

Want to Find Out More?

If Wildwood resonates with you, they are holding an Open Morning on Tuesday 21 October 2025, for families considering September 2026 admissions. It’s a chance to tour our space, meet the founders, and ask any questions you may have.

Sign up at wildwoodnatureschool.org.uk or contact Tara at tara@wildwoodnatureschool.org.uk.