Mindstretchers Academy

What Mindstretchers Academy does

Mindstretchers Academy is a UK-based, privately-held early years education training and resources company headquartered in Crieff, Scotland. Founded by Dr Claire Warden around 1989, the company sells proprietary child-led, inquiry-based methodology training, certifications, books, and physical products to early years practitioners, leaders, and settings globally, with reported adoption across the UK, Australia, the USA, and 30+ countries and a community of 12,000+ educators.

The company's core product is The Floorbook Approach — a methodology in which children and practitioners co-create learning records on large A2 Floorbooks placed on the floor, supported by adjacent proprietary frameworks (Talking Tubs, Leadership Floorbooks, Nature Pedagogy). The technology stack is a Shopify-hosted e-commerce storefront delivering 66+ online CPD-certified courses, advanced certification pathways, a 26+ book publication catalogue, and physical Floorbooks (A2 and Flexi). Auchlone Nature Kindergarten, founded in 2008 as Scotland's first outdoor nature kindergarten, operates as the flagship demonstration site where children spend over 80% of their time outdoors.

Mindstretchers Academy operates a hybrid revenue model: (1) Academy Membership recurring subscriptions at £1,200/year or £120/month for team-wide access to the full training library; (2) one-time online course purchases ($68-$265) and webinar Training Talks; (3) advanced certification pathways ($475) such as the Child-Led Inquiry Advanced Certificate; (4) one-time book and physical product sales ($17-$48 books; $25-$31 Floorbooks). Distribution is direct-to-consumer e-commerce globally with USD/GBP/EUR/AUD pricing. The company is supported by a network of partnerships including the Care Inspectorate (regulatory recommendation), ACECQA (Australian curriculum integration), the International Association of Nature Pedagogy, and Living Classrooms CIC (a 2016 Community Interest Company structurally separated but founder-aligned).

Name

Mindstretchers Academy

Legal name

Mindstretchers Academy

Website

https://mindstretchers.academy

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mindstretchers Academy is a UK-based early years education training company founded by Dr Claire Warden that sells proprietary Floorbook Approach and Nature Pedagogy training courses, advanced certifications, books, and physical products to practitioners and settings across 30+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Years Education Training

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Assessment, Observation & Documentation Training (Portfolios, DRDP/CLASS/ECERS) (EDACAIAK)

Keywords

• Early years education training
• Child-led inquiry methodology
• Professional development courses
• Nature-based learning resources
• Educator CPD certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Crieff

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Online Training Courses: Individual CPD-certified training courses and webinars sold on a one-time purchase basis. Includes Training Talks (recorded webinars) and Training Courses with varying access periods.
2. Academy Membership: Subscription-based access to full CPD training library with unlimited access for entire teams. Includes Advanced Certification Pathways at no extra cost. Offered as annual (yearly) or monthly subscriptions.
3. Books & Publications: Sale of physical and digital books authored by Dr Claire Warden covering Floorbook Approach, Nature Pedagogy, and early years education. Includes individual books, book sets, and educational cards.
4. Physical Products: Sale of Floorbooks (A2 format, standard and Flexi versions), PLOD Cards, and other physical educational resources and kits.
5. Advanced Certification Pathways: Structured learning pathways with multiple courses leading to recognised Advanced CPD Certificates. Includes the Child-Led Inquiry Pathway and Nature Pedagogy Pathway.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mindstretchers Academy is an educational training platform that develops and sells CPD-certified online courses, advanced certification pathways, webinars, and books built around The Floorbook Approach — a child-led, inquiry-based methodology for early years documentation and planning developed by Dr Claire Warden. It also offers a subscription Academy Membership for entire early years settings and physical products including A2 Floorbooks, Flexi Floorbooks, and PLOD Cards.

Product overview

Mindstretchers Academy is an educational platform offering a comprehensive portfolio of early years training and resources centered around The Floorbook Approach methodology. The core offering consists of online CPD-certified training courses, advanced certification pathways, and membership subscriptions for early years settings. Key products include Leadership Floorbooks (a collaborative leadership documentation framework), The Floorbook Approach (child-led inquiry methodology), Talking Tubs (object-based discussion tools), and Nature Pedagogy (outdoor learning philosophy). The Academy provides physical products including A2 Floorbooks, Flexi Floorbooks, and various books by Dr Claire Warden. Training delivery includes individual courses, webinar Training Talks, and structured programmes like the Achieve Excellence with Leadership Floorbooks programme. The ecosystem is supported by free downloadable resources and operates Auchlone Nature Kindergarten as a flagship demonstration site.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nature Pedagogy: An educational framework devised by Dr Claire Warden in her PhD thesis that recognises nature as a powerful educational innovator, focusing on learning that happens inside, outside, and beyond the classroom
• The Floorbook Approach
• International Association of Nature Pedagogy (IANP)
• Auchlone Nature Kindergarten

Products and services

• Online Training Courses CPD-certified online training courses covering The Floorbook Approach, Talking Tubs, Nature Pedagogy, and related early years methodologies. Includes self-paced courses, webinars, and advanced certification pathways for early years practitioners.
• Leadership Floorbooks (Framework) A framework for early years leaders to make quality improvement visible, create meaningful documentation, and build collaborative team cultures through shared visual records of decisions, reflections, and progress. Targeted at nursery leaders and managers.
• Academy Membership Annual (£1,200/year) or monthly (£120/month) subscription providing unlimited access to the full CPD training library for entire early years settings, including Advanced Certification Pathways for the whole team.
• Achieve Excellence with Leadership Floorbooks Programme A four-session online programme led by Dr Claire Warden taking early years leaders from understanding Leadership Floorbooks to embedding them in their settings, with live guidance and practical application. Available as Programme Only or Programme + Book Bundle ($265).
• Child-led Inquiry With the Floorbook Approach (Advanced Certificate) A structured pathway of seven in-depth modules taking practitioners from understanding The Floorbook Approach to fully embedding it in their setting, earning a recognized Advanced CPD Certificate upon completion. Complete pathway at $475.
• Nature-Based Pathway (Advanced Certification) Advanced certification pathway developing expertise in nature-based learning and supporting children's holistic development in outdoor environments. Part of the broader Advanced Certification Pathways product.
• Leadership Floorbooks Book The definitive guide titled 'Collaborative Strategies for Educational Excellence' covering 17 chapters of theory, practice, case studies, and reflective prompts for implementing Leadership Floorbooks. Physical book at $48.
• Planning With and for Children (UK Edition) A practical guide by Dr Claire Warden to co-creating learning that flows from children's interests, aligns with inspection frameworks, and supports child-led inquiry through Floorbooks. UK Edition book at $42.
• Talking and Thinking Floorbooks Book The foundational book clarifying strategies for practitioners to implement child-centred planning using the Talking and Thinking Floorbooks methodology. Available as physical book from $17 or E-Book. ISBN: 978-1906116460. Over 89,000 copies sold worldwide.
• The Potential of a Puddle (Book) A book celebrating excellent outdoor play practice in Scotland, defining factors that create exciting dynamic play areas through child consultation.
• Nurture Through Nature (Book) A book exploring the connection very young children have to nature and practical considerations for supporting children under three in outdoor environments.
• Learning with Nature: Embedding Outdoor Practice (Book) A guide on embedding outdoor practice focusing on how children can learn and develop in natural environments. 1st Edition book.
• Reimagining the Role of Teachers in Nature-Based Learning (Book) Co-authored book offering practical tools for early childhood educators to integrate nature pedagogy through 11 core educator roles.
• Mindstretchers Floorbook (A2) Blank A2-sized floorbooks (42 x 59.4 cm, 30 pages) with heavy-duty 270gsm paper and spiral binding, designed for multiple children to document learning simultaneously indoors and outdoors. Priced at $31.
• Flexi Floorbook (A2) Ring-bound A2 floorbook allowing adults to add and remove paper inserts, enabling flexible documentation length and separation for working with different groups. 20 pages with 270gsm paper at $25.
• Introduction to Floorbooks Kit Kit containing 2 A2 Floorbooks, 1 Flexi Floorbook, and the Talking and Thinking Floorbooks 3rd Edition book for educators implementing the Floorbook Approach.
• PLOD Cards – The Collection (Boxed) Possible Lines of Development Cards covering Animals, Houses & Homes, Ourselves, People who Help Us, Plants, and Transport, with 30 A5 cards for various activity areas.
• Training Talks / Webinars Recorded webinar sessions covering topics including Leadership Floorbooks, Child-Led Learning, Nature Pedagogy, Mud Kitchens, Adult Role, and various nature-based learning subjects. CPD accredited content with replay access periods.

Quantifiable outcome

• Recommended by The Care Inspectorate as best practice
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Living Classrooms CICcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Living Classrooms is a Community Interest Company actively supported by Mindstretchers Ltd. Claire Warden actively supports Living Classrooms both through her own company and through direct support. Living Classrooms undertakes projects including the International Association of Nature Pedagogy.
• International Association of Nature Pedagogy (IANP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA professional organisation founded by Dr Claire Warden in Scotland to promote and support all forms of nature-based education for children aged 0-8 years throughout the world. Board includes Richard Louv, David Sobel, Wendy Lee, and Sara Knight.
• Scottish GovernmentminorOthersPartner of Living Classrooms in promoting nature-based education initiatives.
• Scottish Wildlife TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation supporting nature-based education and environmental initiatives through Living Classrooms.
• International School Grounds AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational alliance focused on school grounds and outdoor learning environments, partnered through Living Classrooms.
• World Forum FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Claire Warden is part of the leadership group of consultants in the World Nature Collaborative, a working party of the World Forum Foundation developing experiential learning in outdoor spaces.
• Children and Nature NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network promoting connection between children and nature, partnered through Living Classrooms.
• Scottish National TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation in nature conservation and outdoor education through Living Classrooms.
• Forestry CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in woodland learning programmes and primary school woodland learning initiatives. Previously supported Forest Education Initiative - Forest School Co-ordinator post.
• Care InspectoratecoreOthersRegulatory body that recommends The Floorbook Approach as best practice for early years settings in Scotland. Training providers listed on the Care Inspectorate hub.
• Australian Government / ACECQAcoreOthersThe Floorbook Approach is embedded in the national curriculum framework in Australia as documented in EYLF 2022 V2.0 published by Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Lovevery: Lovevery provides stage-based educational play products and The Educator subscription for early childhood professionals. Comparable in serving the early years market with research-backed methodology and direct-to-practitioner subscription offerings.

Direct peers

• Montessori Foundation: Montessori Foundation promotes Montessori education through training, publications, and school network support globally. Comparable as a methodology-led early childhood education training organization with practitioner CPD focus and proprietary approach.
• Famly: Famly is a childcare management platform offering parent communication, billing, and learning documentation for nurseries and early years settings. Comparable in serving the same UK and international early years market with software-enabled practitioner workflows.
• Childcare.co.uk: Childcare.co.uk is a UK-based community and resource platform for childcare providers and parents, offering training, forums, and resources. Comparable in building an early years community and offering practitioner training in the UK market.
• TeachKloud: TeachKloud provides childcare management and training software for early years educators, including observation, planning, and CPD tools. Direct competitor in the early years practitioner software and training market.
• Forest School Association: The Forest School Association is the UK professional body for Forest School pedagogy, offering training, accreditation, and resources. Direct overlap with Mindstretchers' Nature Pedagogy positioning in nature-based and outdoor learning methodology for early years.
• Tapestry Online Learning Journal: Tapestry is an online learning journal used by early years practitioners in the UK and globally for documenting children's learning. Direct competitor in the early years documentation and observation space, serving similar childcare and nursery settings with similar CPD-adjacent positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Busy Bees Childcare: Busy Bees is one of the largest UK nursery chains operating hundreds of settings and offering internal staff training programs. Comparable as a UK early years operator with training infrastructure, though primarily a provider rather than training methodology licensor.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Bright Horizons is a global provider of high-quality early education and childcare with proprietary curricula and staff training. Comparable as a large-scale incumbent in early years education with practitioner training capabilities, though primarily a service operator.

Others

• Nursery World: Nursery World is a leading UK trade publication and resource hub for the early years sector, offering CPD-accredited training and events. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant serving the same practitioner audience with training content and community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Mindstretchersacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mindstretchers
• Xx.com/Mindstretchers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mindstretchers Academy