Natural Learning Educational Consultancy was established in 2015 in Australia by Sue Robertson, Beryl Mort and Niki Buchan. In 2023, after restructuring, Niki returned to Scotland where she and David established Natural Learning Educational Consultancy.
About Niki: CEO, Managing Director and International Educational Consultant With a biomedical background, Niki has lived and worked in South Africa, Scotland and Australia. She has a great love for the outdoors and has been working with both adults and young children in very consultative, naturalistic environments both indoors and outdoors for more than 38 years. She is an award winning author, has vast experience working directly with children and educators. She works internationally as a conference keynote speaker, nature pedagogue, mentor and author and has been invited to work in the UK, USA, Canada, Iceland, Sweden, South Korea, China, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark and South Africa. Niki has developed a reputation as a strong advocate for children’s right to a high-quality childhood with a deep concern about children’s mental health and trauma. She trusts children as being capable and competent and believes children have a right to regular access to nature and to have their voices heard in matters that affect them. She is considered a leading voice in promoting Nature-based practice and is the author of “Children in Wild Nature”, adapted for the UK as “A Practical Approach to Nature-based Practice” translated into Chinese for China. She is also the author of “Adventurous Play” exploring risky play and the co-author of STEM Detectives. In 2024 her latest book "But I want to be good" Understanding and Responding to Challenging Behaviours was published. She also co-authored a series of children's seasonal nature books "Look, Look, Look Again. Niki is the proud mother of four adult children and 5 delightful grandchildren, an adventurer and keen photographer seldom seen without a camera in her hand! About David Director David Buchan is our Accounts Manager and comes from a sales and marketing background in South Africa, Scotland and Australia. He is the person with the Scottish accent you are most likely to speak to when you have any questions about invoices. Facebook Sites Niki Buchan Natural Learning Australian Learning Tracks Bush, Forest and Beach School Education Australia Nature-based Pedagogy International |
OUR PARTNER SERVICES
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Nature Alliance Family Day Care Service
Niki is the Pedagogical Leader for Nature Alliance Family Day Care Service where she supports the senior management team and educators throughout WA with curriculum requirements, regulations, documentation and nature based practice.
Where Children Can Be Children. At Nature Alliance we believe children learn by playing within the natural environment. Educators are encouraged to incorporate the natural elements into their program wherever possible including sand and mud, water, stones, rocks, wood and the wide open spaces. Find out more |
OUR PARTNERS
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Cosy Direct Resource Company
Cosy promotes a natural, engaged and active childhood by supplying sustainable nursery and educational equipment worldwide. As a home of new ideas, they are continually innovating and developing new product range with teacher led research & play in mind. Niki advises the team on specialist products and resources and we are Research and Development Partners.
Cosy are champions of rural and real-life childhoods, where children are encouraged to play and take part in adventurous activities that enable them to learn and develop whilst having fun. Find out more |
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First Door Training Company
First Door provides quality Nationally Recognised Training for Early Childhood career qualifications. The First Doorteam are dedicated to supporting the professional growth of educators and teams, so that they are inspired and equipped to provide exceptional Early Childhood education and care.
Niki’s partnership with First Door was formed through our connection in advocating for children to have a quality and natural childhood, with the right to play and learn outdoors in nature. Our work promotes children to be trusted as capable so they are active learners, with the support of skilled educators. Niki is a contributor to First Door’s online courses for professional learning and Early Childhood qualifications. We also have exciting plans to develop an Outdoor Natural Learning course together, to support educators with purpose and skills to get more children engaged in natural learning outdoors. Find out more |
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Walker Early Life Foundations
Walker Learning is Australia‘s first major play and project-based holistic pedagogy. It is internationally acclaimed and has been implemented for over 20 years across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. It is an intentional teaching and learning approach for children in their early childhood and primary years.
The Walker Learning Approach is not an inquiry model or program that is separated from other curriculum areas. Instead, is a total approach teaching and learning tool that provides a unique balance between the children being active participants in their learning and explicit instruction. Find out more Niki acts as an expert outdoor learning consultant participating in and contributing to relevant online events. Niki Buchan’s Natural Learning Educational Consultancy is now partnered with Early Life Foundations. |