John Diamond

It was a very simple ceremony.  Family and friends had gathered outside the local church beside a rose-bush that was being planted, and then one by one they buried the ashes of their mother/grand-mother/sister/friend.  There were some embraces.  There were some tears.  The little children played, watched, and engaged from time to time like butterflies.  … Read more

Artistic techniques in the field of social pedagogy Introduction The personality developmental effects of art, when used to create opportunities and to tackle disadvantages, play an intermediary role between the disciplines and practices of psychology and pedagogy[1]. It provides a good opportunity for children to develop self-awareness, self-regulation, a feeling of self-efficiency and social competence, … Read more

 With the Mulberry Bush now reaching its 70th year, it’s time to tell the story of The Mulberry Bush. As a former Mulberry Bush child, its hard to look back at my time there, I am affected by many memories both good and bad, and some far to painful to even consider. I arrived at … Read more

I first came across the life and work of Barbara Dockar-Drysdale while I was researching residential child care at Edinburgh University from 1969 to 1973. Some of what I gleaned was through her own writings, but also from the work of Richard Balbernie and others who admired her pioneering initiatives. This period was seminal in … Read more

This is the second previously unpublished paper about Barbara Dockar-Drysdale from the 2012 Mulberry Bush AGM. Richard Rollinson was a former Director of The Mulberry Bush School, and is currently Chair of Trustees. Barbara Dockar-Drysdale, “Mrs. D”: The Woman and her writings: A Personal Appreciation By the time Lesley [then my girlfriend and now my … Read more

Here is a previously unpublished paper given by Christopher (Robin) Reeves to the Mulberry Bush Organisation AGM, October 2012. This was the centenary year of the birth of  BDD. Robin Reeves was formerly therapeutic consultant to the Mulberry Bush School, before becoming Director from 1980-1991. Barbara Dockar-Drysdale I’m grateful for the invitation to say a … Read more

There can be little doubt that the internet and social networking are transforming our lives individually and collectively.  As individuals there are opportunities to decide and revise our “identities”, and socially we are all potentially globally-connected.  It will be for future historians to assess what effects this is having, how profound and how lasting they … Read more

This article was originally published in British Association of Play Therapists journal ‘Play Therapy Issue 89 Spring 2017, p.14-16. Published here with permission from BAPT and the author It’s Friday 8am and the ‘educadoras’ are gathering for a workshop on ‘ludoterapia’, or play therapy, that I am about to lead. I have spent the week building … Read more

The following essay was an assignment written for our Foundation Degree by Rita Baptista: With reference to relevant literature, in what ways do you consider play, whether formal or informal (or both) important to the development of the children and young people you work with. This article proposes to discuss theories relating to both formal … Read more

The following talk was given by David Lane at the opening of the 70th Anniversary of the International Federation of Educative Communities, held at the Pestalozzi Children’s Village, Trogen, Switzerland in April. As International Centre members will remember , I have been trying to build a UK branch of FICE, and we are holding an … Read more

I wrote down the question that appears at the head of this article some time ago, and left the rest of the page blank.  Then on the very day that I was going to write a first draft I found myself in discussion with someone describing her own grief.  During that spontaneous conversation I shared … Read more

After we had dealt with the dustbins and recycling on a Monday evening, four of us decided to have a friendly game of snooker: two against two.  The youngest member of the group, who is still at junior school chose me as his partner.  Our opponents were both adults.  We knew each other well and … Read more