Forest School Training

forest school training

Forest School Training

Continuous Professional Development in Forest Schools

The knowledge that was passed on was great. Immersed in the woods, we really took on the Forest School atmosphere, the ethos and learned lots from the trainers.
Becca Walsh
Beacon C of E Primary School in Liverpool

Our Education team has been running Forest School training courses since 2013. Our experienced and trained Forest School practitioners, who are DBS checked and each hold a certificate in outdoor first aid, regularly plan and deliver programmes to nurseries, pre-schools, home education groups and KS1-4.

The content covered in the courses is based upon our trainers’ many years of experience, as well as contemporary research and best practise surrounding pedagogy, nature connection and woodland management.

We run accredited Level 2 Forest School Assistant and Level 3 Forest School Leader training courses at Brockholes Nature Reserve in Preston, Mere Sands Wood in Rufford and The Hive at Moss Bank Park in Bolton.

Discover a teacher’s Forest School journey as Becca shares her experience of training as a Forest School Leader with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust.

As a child, I loved playing outside and now, thanks to Forest School, I’ve come to love the outdoors again. I find it so rewarding seeing the impact Forest School has on children and their ability to take risks.
Chris Bowcock, Teacher
Our Lady Immacuate Primary School in Liverpool
Forest School trainee lighting a fire

AIM Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders (RQF)

AIM Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders (RQF)

Cost: £875

Level 3 Forest School Leader Training will equip you with the skills and knowledge to become a Forest School Leader, allowing you to set up and run Forest School sessions on your own site, supporting children and young people to regularly engage with the natural environment.

Over five consecutive days, you will learn how to use the outdoor environment to encourage and inspire children to grow in confidence, independence and self-esteem through the mastery of small, achievable tasks. The course will equip you with a range of practical outdoor skills and knowledge. You will:

  • Develop an understanding of the Forest School ethos and its principles.
  • Gain an understanding of child learning and development theories and their relation to Forest School.
  • Learn practical skills that will enrich your Forest School programmes including safe fire-lighting and siting, outdoor cooking, tool use and maintenance, games and wildlife identification.
  • Learn knowledge and skills to sustainably manage your Forest School site.
  • Learn how to plan, deliver and evaluate a Forest School programme.

As part of your training, you will need to attend three additional practical skill assessment days, to ensure confidence and competence when facilitating sessions using tools and fire. During these three days, trainees will also be required to deliver a 'team teach' to their peers on a topic related to Forest School theory. Each trainee will be provided with access to an online learning portal to support them during their training journey

You will need to plan and run an 'Introduction to Forest School programme', consisting of no less than six sessions, with the same group of participants. You will need access to a suitable outdoor space as well as a client group to work with. We strongly advise that a site and group to work with are secured prior to undertaking the training course.

Our Trainers will be on hand to offer advice and support via email and face-to-face at study days.

Students on the leadership course will need to complete a two-day Outdoor First Aid course in order to obtain the qualification, which is not included in our course. We can assist you in accessing an appropriate Outdoor First Aid course should you need help.

forest school cooking

Oropendola Productions

Upcoming Courses

 

AIM Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders (RQF) - FULLY BOOKED

Location: Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston New Road, Samlesbury, PR5 0AG

Initial Training Week: Monday 5th - Friday 9th February 2024 (9.30am - 4.30pm)

Practical Skill Assessment: Wednesday 6th - Friday 8th March 2024 (9.30am - 4.30pm)

AIM Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders (RQF) - FULLY BOOKED

Location: This course is spilt over two locations - The Hive at Moss Bank Park, Bolton, BL1 7NJ, and Bolton Environmental Resource Centre, 499/511 Bury Road, Bolton, BL2 6DH.

Initial Training Week: Monday 26th February – Friday 1st March 2024 (9.30am - 4.30pm)

Practical Skill Assessment: Monday 25th – Wednesday 27th March 2024 (9.30am - 4.30pm)

Please see the leaflet below for further details of the dates for each site:

AIM Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders (RQF)

Location:  Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve, Holmeswood Rd, Rufford, L40 1TG

Initial Training Week: Monday 18th - Friday 22nd March 2024 (9.30am - 4.30pm)

Practical Skill Assessment: Tuesday 23rd  - Thursday 25th April  2024 (9.30am - 4.30pm)

Forest School training in action

Forest School training in action

AIM Level 2 Award for Forest School Assistants (RQF)

AIM Level 2 Award for Forest School Assistants (RQF)

Cost: £450

Forest School Level 2 will enable you to work as a Forest School Assistant alongside a Level 3 Practitioner, helping with the setting up and running of Forest School; supporting both the Leader and participants during programmes. 

The Level 2 Award for Forest School Assistants training course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to encourage and inspire children to grow in confidence, independence and self-esteem through the mastery of small, achievable tasks. You will:

  • Develop an understanding of the Forest School ethos and its principles.
  • Learn practical skills that will allow you to assist the Forest School Leader to enrich Forest School programmes including safe fire-lighting and siting, tool use and maintenance, games and wildlife identification.
  • Develop an understanding of sustainable woodland management.
  • Learn knowledge and skills to support the Forest School Leader in planning, delivering and evaluating a Forest School session.

As part of your training, you will need to attend a practical skill assessment day and complete a portfolio of evidence. You will also need to support a Forest School Leader at three Forest School sessions with the same group of participants over three consecutive weeks. You will be expected to help plan and evaluate these sessions.

Trainers are available to offer advice and support via email.

forest school trainee making a fire in a kelly kettle

Upcoming Courses

AIM Level 2 Award for Forest School Assistants (RQF)

Future courses will be announced shortly.

Forest School trainees doing woodland crafts around the fire circle

Forest School Taster Day/Half Day Course for Adults

Looking for a Forest School experience for your staff?

We offer bespoke experience days for adults wanting to gain an understanding of the Forest School ethos and approach. We share knowledge and skills related to outdoor learning and conservation that you can apply in your own setting.

We run our taster experiences at our beautiful wetland nature reserve at Brockholes in Preston or, depending on site suitability, we can come to you (mileage costs will apply).

Our taster sessions are ideal for those looking for additional training as a Forest School Leader or Assistant, Continuous Professional Development, a staff reward day, a team building day opportunity or an option for an inset day.

Our enthusiastic and experienced team can deliver sessions on request for groups of up to 20 adults with 2 of our practitioners. Full day and half day courses are available. Please get in touch to arrange your preferred dates.

Forest school trainees with kazoos

You will find out how Forest School supports children and adults of all abilities to learn in the great outdoors. You will experience specifically designed practical hands-on activities and discover ways to incorporate them into your own setting, ranging from:

  • Safe fire building and campfire cooking 
  • Bushcraft skills using hand tools
  • Making shelters and woodland games
  • Learning about woodland plants and animals
  • Making environment art from clay and other natural materials

Please bring along:

  • A packed lunch
  • Sturdy footwear (walking boots or wellies)
  • Clothes appropriate for the weather - be prepared to spend the whole day in the woods
  •  A pen, notebook and a camera
A fun and engaging session. It's given me lots of ideas and the confidence to carry them out in lessons.
Taster day participant
Hyndburn Park Primary School, Accrington

Get in touch

To make a booking or for more information about our forest school sessions, training and our other services, please contact us via email or telephone:

T: 01772 872017
E: eduadmin@lancswt.org.uk