WildNet - Tom Marshall
Forest School & Outdoor Learning Training
Forest School Training
Forest school is a learner-led process with regular sessions throughout the year in a woodland or other natural environment. It gives rein to children’s innate desire to discover and to take (appropriate) risks; the role of the qualified leader is to facilitate the holistic development of the child by providing resources and teaching new skills as required by the child.
Our Level 2 Award for Forest School Assistants and Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders qualifications are accredited by AIM Qualifications.
Level 2 Award for Forest School Assistants qualification
Price: £540 (£100 deposit)
Gain your Level 2 Award for Forest School Assistant qualification, accredited by AIM Qualifications.
This four day course enables the learner to become a qualified Forest School Assistant and take a pro-active role in helping a Forest School Leader plan and deliver a Forest School programme. The course is run from 9.30am to 4.30pm daily.
This four day course covers the following:
- Risk assessment, background to Forest Schools.
- Assisting with the planning and delivery of three Forest School sessions.
- Practical skills and woodland management including fire lighting, tool use, games, identification and use of woodland resources.
- Completion of a portfolio of evidence which should be completed within 6 months of the start of the course.
- Optional mentoring days - a regular face to face opportunity to ask questions and receive advice on your portfolio work.
Entry requirements:
Participants should be over 18 years old and have some experience of working with young people or adults, for example youth workers, teachers or teaching assistants. All participants must be DBS checked. Completion is expected within 6 months.
Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders qualification
Price: £1150 (£200 deposit)
Our Level 3 course is for those who wish to lead their own Forest School programme and gain a nationally recognised qualification accredited by AIM Qualifications.
The course includes six tutor-led days and two further skills days and assessment. The course is designed for the learner to become a qualified Forest School Leader, able to set up and run a Forest School programme. You will learn how to facilitate groups in a learner-centred way and how to manage a Forest School site sustainably. It also covers the practical skills required of a Forest School practitioner. You do not need a Level 2 in order to complete a Level 3 qualification. The course is run from 9.30am to 4.00pm daily.
The course will cover:
- Planning and running your Forest School; policies and procedures, risk assessment, session planning.
- Theories of learning and development and background to Forest Schools
- Practical skills and woodland management including fire lighting, tool use, games, identification and use of woodland resources.
- An on site observation and feedback of one of the 6 Forest School sessions planned and delivered by you.
- Coursework portfolio to be completed within 12 months of the start of the course.
- Ongoing portfolio advice and assessment.
- Two skills assessment days, assessing and consolidating ideas to include campfire cooking and refreshing knots, tarps.
- Mentoring days - held monthly, an opportunity to ask questions and receive advice on your portfolio work. We strongly recommend you attend at least one of our mentoring sessions either face to face on online.
Entry requirements:
Participants should be over 21 years of age and have significant experience of working with young people and adults, for example youth workers, teachers or teaching assistants. Participants must be DBS checked. Completion is expected within 12 months.
All participants must hold a First Aid qualification by the end of the course. We recommend a 16 hour (2 day) Outdoor First Aid or a 3 day First Aid at Work certificate. You do not need a first aid qualification to start the course, but you will need to be qualified before running your forest school programme.
Outdoor Learning Training
Outdoor learning is usually curriculum-linked and adult-led, with clear learning objectives and the same structured approach as classroom-based lessons. Taking learning outdoors offers different resources, higher pupil engagement, and the many benefits of fresh air and open space on the physical and mental well being of your students.
Accredited by AIM Qualifications, this Level 2 course is designed to enable primary school staff and other educators to deliver curriculum-linked activities outdoors.
Leading Outdoor Learning (Level 2)
This accredited 2 day course will give you the skills and confidence to take your learning into nature, using your school grounds or local greenspaces as your classroom. Find out about the benefits of learning outdoors, what your grounds and natural spaces offer for delivering the primary curriculum, risk-benefit assessment and looking after your site. We will also visit a nearby school grounds to look at how they use their grounds in teaching and learning. Complete follow up work to gain a certificate accredited at Level 2 by AIM Qualifications. We deliver this course in partnership with SOLD.
Entry requirements:
Participants should be over 18 years old and have some experience of delivering a curriculum to young people, for example teachers, teaching assistants, or other educators. All participants must be DBS checked. Completion is expected within 6 months.
FAQs
Not sure what to expect? Please email education.centres@surreywt.org.uk with your questions. We can also arrange for you to have a chat with one of our Tutors to find out more about our training courses.
How can I book a course?
Email education.centres@surreywt.org.uk for more information and to request a booking form.
How can I stay in the loop?
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Can I run a Forest School on SWT land?
If you wish to undertake Forest School activities on one of the sites we manage, please get in touch or complete the form below:
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Enquiries
Email: education.centres@surreywt.org.uk
Phone: 01372 379509