ABOUT
LEVEL 3 FOREST SCHOOL LEADER TRAINING
Charlotte has been delivering Level 3 Forest School Leader training since 2014 and is an endorsed trainer with the Forest School Association (FSA). She runs courses alongside Sarah Allington from Nature of Learning – with training taking place in two beautiful, small and tranquil woodland settings: Charlotte’s Wood in Wilby, Suffolk and a site in Ashdon, Essex. For information about the Essex course, please visit Nature of Learning.
Our Level 3 training is rooted in the ethos and principles of Forest School. Throughout the course Charlotte and Sarah provide expert coaching and support to help you develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to plan, deliver and lead your own Forest School programmes – whether within a school, an educational setting or independently.
THE QUALIFICATION
The Level 3 Forest School Leader qualification is equivalent to an A Level standard and provides trainees with the skills and knowledge to risk assess, set up and manage a Forest School site. It enables trainees to plan and safely facilitate challenging, learner-led, Forest School programmes with a range of client groups in line with the Forest School ethos and principles. The training covers 5 units of study worth 18 credits at Level 3, requiring the planning and delivery of a 6-week ‘Introduction to Forest School’ programme and the completion of a portfolio of evidence which includes a group and site-specific handbook. Our course is internally verified and is accredited by ITC First.
Entry Criteria
To do the course you must:
✓ Be aged 21 years or over (by the end of the course);
✓ Be a qualified teacher, play-worker, youth-worker , teaching assistant or support worker (to Level 3 equivalent) OR an appropriate Level 2 with at least 2 years’ experience of working with your chosen client group in a leadership capacity;
✓ Hold a current DBS certificate;
✓ Have access to a group with whom you will run a 6-week ‘Introduction to Forest School’ programme and access to an appropriate site.
Course Content: Comprises 18 ITC credits contained in five units of study:
- Forest School Programmes: Practical Skills – This unit covers aspects of how to use the outdoor environment for learning and how to teach a range of practical woodland skills to others.
- Forest School Programmes: The Woodland Environment – Understanding the structure, diversity and sustainable management of a wooded area.
- Forest School Programme: Learning and Development – Looking at theories of learning and how to support holistic development. Discussing the importance of play and how to raise self-esteem in learners.
- Forest School Programmes: Planning and Preparation – Covering elements of the preparation needed to establish your own Forest School, including policies and procedures, risk and communication.
- Forest School Programme: Delivery – Aimed at delivering and evaluating Forest School sessions.
Estimated Course Commitment
The Total Qualification Time (TQT) for the Level 3 Forest School Leader Qualification is 180 hours. This is made up of the taught element (mainly through face-to-face contact with your tutors) and self-directed study (mainly written assignments for the coursework portfolio).
Part of the course involves identifying a suitable site, establishing and running a 6-week ‘Introduction to Forest School’ programme. This includes creating a Forest School handbook of policies and procedures for your site and group of learners. Trainees also have to complete a Coursework Portfolio evidencing the learning outcomes from all 5 units of study. This includes research, practical and written assignments, photographs and other evidence of learning.
One of the benchmarks to become an FSA Endorsed Trainer is that at least 96 hours of the 180 hours of the course should be taught face-to-face (ideally outdoors) leaving approximately 84 hours of self-directed study. This high proportion of face-to-face training to self-directed study is to ensure that trainees get a high-quality training experience, benefitting from the feedback, advice, guidance and support that course tutors are able to provide when working face-to-face with individuals and groups of learners.
We have refined and developed our course further as we recognise that in order to achieve success, trainees often need even more input and support from their tutors. As a result, the taught element of our current course is approximately 134 hours, leaving just 46 hours of self-directed learning. We split the course into manageable blocks and provide support with trainees on a regular basis throughout the 12 months of the course through Portfolio Tutorials and Workshops after the practical training days.
WHY TRAIN WITH US?
- Our tutors are skilled, highly qualified and have extensive experience of offering high quality training, endorsed by the FSA, for Forest School Leaders. They are warm, supportive and knowledgeable about the learning process; resulting in a course that is fun, meaningful and promotes active learning.
- We recognise that the investment of time and money in Level 3 training is significant and therefore take time to ensure that prospective students are in the right position to successfully complete the course. This includes a pre-entry conversation to check that you have the qualifications, experience and time to achieve success.
- We offer a small training group experience with a high ratio of tutors to students to allow trainees to benefit from individual attention and support. We adapt our training provision and are flexible to meet the individual needs of the trainees and any changes that might arise in personal circumstances during the course.
- Our training is a fully immersive experience held entirely outdoors (weather permitting) in beautiful woodlands. The woodland sites (one based in Wilby in Suffolk and the other in Ashdon in Essex) are genuine Forest School sites, allowing trainees to gain an understanding of the considerations that need to be made in a practical way.
- Trainees benefit from running their own Forest School taster session together with local children as part of the training days; something which provides a real insight and hands-on experience allowing them to reflect on their learning before beginning their own ‘Introduction to Forest School’ programme.
- Our training programme is designed to provide as much tutor support as possible; leading to very high completion rates. The course (and coursework) is split into manageable blocks and we facilitate portfolio tutorials and workshops during the course where trainees can get together and work on written assignments with ongoing support from the course tutors. This is something we believe is unique to our course and significantly reduces the amount of time that trainees need to spend on independent study.
- Our course has been developed and improved over more than ten years of training Forest School Leaders and as a result we believe that our current offer is unique, delivering the highest quality of training and the best levels of support for trainees.
OUR UNIQUE OFFER
Our Level 3 Forest School Leader training course takes approximately one year to complete and includes:
- A pre-course Zoom call to start to build community amongst the group.
- 6 days of initial face to face training (split into 2 blocks of 3 days to make these manageable with other work and family commitments).
- 4 practical skills days which include a day focusing on outdoor cooking and food safety, the opportunity to work with other students to lead a Forest School session for a small group of children and an option to camp over wherever possible.
- A Level 2 Food Safety qualification.
- The option to complete your 16 hour Outdoor First Aid training (a mandatory element of the Level 3 qualification) at a significantly reduced price.
- An opportunity to visit either Charlotte or Sarah to observe the Forest School ethos and principles in practice.
- A half day mentoring visit from one of the tutors whilst you are running your own ‘Introduction to Forest School’ programme in order to provide feedback, support and the opportunity to ask questions and gain advice for your continuing journey to becoming a Forest School Leader.
- Two 2-hour Portfolio Tutorials and three one-day Portfolio Workshops at key points during the year where course tutors will introduce each of the assignments and provide you with time, space, support and guidance to work on your coursework portfolio.
- One year of FREE membership to the Forest School Association.
- A copy of the Forest School Bible worth £29.99! ‘Growing a Forest School – from the Roots Up!’ has been written by FSA Endorsed Trainers (including a chapter written by Charlotte), has been edited and is published by the FSA and is the key text to support your journey to becoming a Forest School Leader.
- An optional Skills Share Day after the course to enable students to get together to practise and improve their practical skills.
Cost: £1399 (without First Aid) or £1499 (including First Aid)
Interested? Please complete the contact form below.
Not sure? Why not give Charlotte or Sarah a ring to discuss further? Charlotte’s number is 07879 653488. Sarah’s number is 07944 164983.
send us a message
Level 3 Forest School Leader Training Expression of Interest form
I am interested in applying for training as a Level 3 Forest School Leader. I understand that there will be a charge of £1399 for the course (or £1499 including first aid training).
