Meet the Mentor - Penny

Penny has a degree in Psychology and Sociology, is a qualified teacher and a Level 3 Forest School Leader. Over the last eighteen years, Penny has worked with children and families of all ages through services including Children’s Social Care, the Youth Offending Team, mainstream schools and Pupil Referral Units. She has managed Early Help Family Support Workers and Children’s Centres, been an Acting SENCo, and a Residential Social Worker. Penny worked overseas for some years, managing Early Years Health and Wellbeing Partnership projects, coordinating pilot projects, improving cross-sector processes and communication, and working on a city-wide strategic plan for Early Years on Australia’s Gold Coast. Penny has delivered several parenting programmes and developed training for cross-sector delivery of a child development evaluation tool. Penny’s remit at Bristol City Council as an Early Years Inclusion Officer is increasing the uptake of the Free Early Education Entitlement by 2 year olds, working alongside early years providers to maximise participation by Bristol families. Penny also runs her own freelance forest school leadership business, providing weekly sessions in local schools. Penny likes scuba diving, camping and walking, and Formula 1.​