Bamble

Bamble is hugely inspired by democratic schools — of which there are many hundreds around the world. Sally is feeling super excited to speak with a founder of Zena Democratic School this afternoon to pick their brains on a few things.

Check out this beautiful video from Zena exploring the question: “What happens when a school gives students nothing to do?”

Zena Democratic School 16 likes. "What happens when a school gives students nothing to do?"

All too often, childcare settings equate 'safety' with 'control'. At Bamble, our approach to safety is rooted in developing children's competence and capability. We actively support children to take managed risks, because this is how real learning happens.

Children can work towards “licences”, which enable them to safely use tools or take part in activities that require additional responsibility. The goal is to help them develop sound judgement, confidence, and a practical understanding of risk through guided experience, and adapting our approach to each child, with increasing freedoms granted as they demonstrate readiness and responsible behaviours.

Examples of licences that children can train for at Bamble include:

Playground Licence: visiting the playground across the road independently in small groups
Microwave Licence: using the microwave to heat lunches
Glue Gun Licence: independent use of a glue gun in the craft room
Crash Mats Licence: using crash mats and our “jumping platform” for physical play

Bamble is part of a wider network of democratic schools, including Sudbury schools and other self-directed learning communities around the world. In these settings, children are trusted and supported to take on increasing responsibility, learning how to navigate challenge and risk safely and thoughtfully.

We take our duty of care extremely seriously, and all activities at Bamble are carefully risk-assessed. During our most recent Ofsted inspection, the inspector was very complimentary about the service we offer, praising our dedicated care to balance freedom with responsibility and ensuring everyone's safety and holistic development.

We’re proud of our approach at Bamble, and of the confident, capable young people it helps to nurture.

What’s your approach to safety with your children? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

We’ve kicked off our epic treehouse project with our brilliant carpenter facilitator Ed 🌿🛠️

The group headed into the village to collect wood generously donated by a local business, hauled it back up to Bamble, and got started by setting the first posts in the ground—ready for the next stage.

Great news — we’ve opened up a few more places! We now have four spaces available for 10–13 year olds (and new members can stay with us until 16+). We have a waiting list for younger children (under 10's) 🚀

At Bamble, young people shape how they spend their time. We have a shared budget for activities, classes, and workshops — so their ideas can truly come to life.

This half term’s pre-organised workshops - arranged by the children - include:
🛹 Skateboarding
🎲 Dungeons & Dragons
📣 Cheerleading
🪵 Woodwork & treehouse building
🚲 Bicycle mechanics
⚔️ Foam sword fighting
🎨 Crafts (including pottery)
🍵 Japanese tea ceremony
🌈 A visit from the Norfolk LGBT+ Project

We’ll also be heading out on trips to Redwings Horse Sanctuary, Eve’s Hill Farm, Aylsham Care Trust, the local skatepark & charity shops — plus plenty of rambling and local bike rides. And as always, lots more will emerge that we haven’t even dreamed up yet ✨

Young people at Bamble also lead their own sessions, including:
🧶 Crochet club
🎨 Art club
👻 Paranormal club
🍦 Ice cream appreciation club
🏃 Running club
🚴 Building a BMX pump track

We love working with freelance tutors too — in the past we’ve explored science, geography, history, and languages. We’re currently working towards becoming an Arts Award centre and setting up AQA Unit Awards, giving older members the chance to build portfolios and even gain UCAS points if they choose to prepare for further study.

We’re planning to expand our group size over the next few months, and we’re looking for older members to help steer the group and get stuck in 💪🔥

Opportunities to take responsibility within the community include:
• 🪑 Chairing democratic meetings
• 🗂️ Running organising committees
• 🕊️ Becoming a Peacemaker — supporting peers and younger children with conflict resolution
• 💰 Helping manage and allocate budgets

Our older members are especially keen for more workshops — and more peers to help create them. Come and be part of it!

Email us ([email protected]) to book on to our next visiting morning, taking place on Friday 1st May. We currently have just two spaces available for children aged 10-13, and otherwise a waiting list for younger members. Do come and have a look, all welcome! ☀️💫

Discussing and voting on activities for next term. Although of course, much of life at Bamble is spontaneous and shaped in the moment!

At Bamble, nothing has to happen — and anything can.

Nothing has to happen.
No one is made to do anything they don’t want to do (aside from matters of safety and wellbeing). We make decisions together, taking everyone’s feelings seriously, and we trust children to know what they need.

Anything can happen!
If a child is curious about something or wants to try something new, we can explore it together — through books, trips, videos, conversations, or by sharing knowledge within the group. Each morning, we gather for a short circle to share plans for the day, make decisions, and solve problems as a community.

✨ We have a couple of spaces available for older members (aged 10–13). If you’re interested in your child joining Bamble, please get in touch — we’d love to hear from you.

Last term, a group of our children took part in the F1 STEM Racing competition in Norwich — and we’re so proud to share that they won the Judge’s Choice Award! 🏆

In the lead-up to the event, they worked hard designing and preparing their mini racing cars, as well as creating a brilliantly comedic presentation for the judges, sharing their process and team journey. It was such a joy to be there on the day, competing alongside other primary school teams and celebrating everyone’s creativity and effort. We’re already looking forward to going again next year!

Inspired by the experience, the children have been eager to take on more challenges. They’ve signed up for a few more upcoming events, including the Community Sports Foundation Run Norwich Junior this September. Training is already underway, with Wednesday laps of the field becoming a regular routine!

One of our wonderful grandparents brought a digger on site this weekend to help us clear our side field — what an incredible gift!

Together, we removed most of the brambles and opened up a beautiful new space, full of possibilities. We all have lots of ideas for what we might create there.

One of the biggest child-led projects in the works is a bike track — we can’t wait to see it take shape! We’ve also added a rope swing, and plans are underway for a treehouse, yurt, compost loo, campfire circle, a pond, and hammocks and slacklines in the trees. Children have been sowing some vegetable seeds this week in the raised beds. Oooh and we dream of a pizza oven!

Such a great example of what can happen when community, creativity and children’s ideas come together 🌿

✨ We have a couple of spaces available for older members (aged 10–13). If you’re interested in your child joining Bamble, please do get in touch – we’d love to hear from you.

Each half term at Bamble, children and staff come together to plan our activities, trips and visiting workshop providers – and this half term is full of plans 🙌

We’ve got:
🔨 Woodwork & handiwork with carpenter Ed
🛹 Skateboarding sessions with ABC Skateboarding
📣 Cheerleading sessions with Precision Coaching
🎲 Dungeons & Dragons role play sessions with youth worker Dom

Plus our lovely weekly visits from local crafter Carol (pictured), and Sally who joins us with baby Robin and doggy Stella 🐶

The children have also been busy discussing trips – including Aylsham Skatepark, helping out at Aylsham Care Trust social activities, and plenty of rambling around our the local fields 🌿

📣 Cheerleading Workshops – Open to Non-Members!
On 2nd & 16th March, we’re inviting non-Bamble members aged 9–13 to join our cheerleading sessions with Precision Coaching.

This was an idea from the children themselves – to give older applicants a glimpse of what it’s like here and to build an even bigger cheerleading team! 💙

👉 See the link in our previous post to sign up.

✨ We have a couple of spaces available for older members (aged 10–13).
If you’re interested in your child joining Bamble, please do get in touch – we’d love to hear from you.

Get a unique glimpse into Bamble daily life, and learn gymnastics and teamwork skills with our favourite cheerleading coach, Courtney. This is a session for older children only (age 9-12 years). If it’s popular, we’ll schedule some more dates after Easter too!

Info:
- Two dates options: Monday 2nd March, Monday 16th March (feel free to book both or just one)
- Time: 1:45pm - 3:15pm
- With Courtney from Precision Coaching: https://www.instagram.com/precisioncoachingnorfolk/
- Ages: 9-12 years
- Location: Bamble, Norfolk Youth and Lifelong Learning Centre, Marsham, NR10 5AE
- £3 per session (payment details provided upon booking)
- Drop off session
- Booking link:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSgwmjuUUy8BjwBnSS2mZu1sx9JbASUeyNqpBPdV8Sqb-2oQ/viewform?usp=header

Bamble is a drop off learning community for unschooling families. You can find out more at our website: www.bamble.org