Forest School & Outdoor Learning Training

Price: £270 (£50 deposit)

This two day course provides the learner with an understanding of the Forest School approach to learning, providing the knowledge and skills necessary to become an effective member of a Forest School delivery team.  The course runs from 9.30am to 4.30pm daily.

This two day course covers the following: 

• Background to the Forest School ethos, principles and holistic approach to learning.
• Observing a Forest Schools session to understand what a Forest School experience involves.
• Practical skills required to be able to participate in Forest School experiences.
• Completing a short portfolio of evidence which should be completed within 3 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 16 years old and have an interest in working with children and young people outdoors.  All participants must be DBS checked.  Completion is expected within 3 months.

Future course dates will be listed here when scheduled in.

Price: £540 (£100 deposit)

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 runs 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.

Future course dates will be listed here when scheduled in.

Price: £1150 (£200 deposit)

This course includes six tutor-led days plus two further skills days and assessment.  This 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 runs 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.

As part of your training and in order to complete your portfolio you will need to have a suitable site and a client group to deliver your own Forest School programme.  This will consist of a minimum of 6 two-hour sessions with the same client group. 

Click here for course dates and to book

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.

Click here for course dates and to book

Email education.centres@surreywt.org.uk for more information and to request a booking form.

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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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