Get Out More has been delivering accredited forest school training since 2021 and we receive a lot of interest from people who are interested in gaining qualifications in forest school. This blog post aims to answer some of the more frequently asked questions and provide information on the Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders and the Level 2 Award for Forest School Assistants

Who is this training for?

Both courses are designed for people who want to work as forest school practitioners, as leader (level 3 course) or assistant (level 2).  The course will cover all the theory, skills and knowledge to set up forest school programmes.

How long does it take to complete the course and to qualify as a forest school leader (Level 3)?

The taught element of the course takes place over 10 full training days, usually offered as two full weeks, with 5-6 months in between the first and second week.  In between the training weeks, learners are required to plan and deliver six forest school sessions and undertake a two-day forest school first aid qualification (costed separately).  There are 20 assessment tasks to complete within three months of the final day of training.  Once submitted, assessment and verification processes can take up to three months, therefore, from start to certification as a forest school leader can take up to 12 months.

What’s the difference between the Level 3 and Level 2 courses?

The Level 2 course is for people who wish to assist qualified forest school leaders, rather than lead the forest schools themselves.  Level 2 learners attend the first 5 days of the course only and are required to assist in the planning and delivery of 3 forest school sessions and to complete 10 assessment tasks, which have lower level of requirements in terms of their assessment criteria.  Assessment tasks need to be submitted within 3 months of the final day of training. Once submitted, assessment and verification processes can take up to three months, therefore, from start to certification as a forest school assistant can take up to 7 months.

What will I learn?

Learners investigate how to design and run or support a successful forest school programme and look at how to approach and apply it safely and effectively.  We explore the Forest School Association’s Forest School principles at a higher level, developing learners’ understanding of the natural environment, risk assessment, child development and nature-based learning.  Learning units include forest school programme delivery, learning and development, planning and preparation, the woodland environment and practical skills.

What will I be assessed on? How long will assessment tasks take?

Learners are assessed in their learning through the submission of assessment tasks on subjects ranging from woodland management, learning and behaviour theory, forest school research and practical skills. Some tasks will be completed during the training, and some will be written up in between the taught sessions.  Participants on the Level 3 course will need to plan and deliver six

forest school sessions with the same group of children (or support 3 sessions at level 2) and the tutor will also assess learners through observation during the course.  The deadline for all tasks is 3 months after the final training day.

Learners need to plan to allow time to complete assessment tasks.  At Level 3, there are 17 written tasks which range in size from 1000 words essay to completion of a Forest School Handbook. At Level 2 there are 10 written assignments, generally of a smaller scale.  We advise that learners speak to line managers and family beforehand to ensure that they are able to schedule time to complete their assessments, as the scale of the self-guided work should not be underestimated.

What are the entry requirements?  Do I need previous experience of working in an outdoor or educational setting?  Do I need to have completed level 1 and level 2 in order to do the level 3?

For both the level 2 and level 3 course, we highly recommend that learners have previous experience of working with

children or young people in an outdoor environment.  If learners have not previously experienced forest school, then we advise that they complete the level 1 Introduction to Forest School course first, or spend some time volunteering at a forest school before they commit to the training.

The level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders is aimed at individuals who have a minimum level 2 qualification in a related subject (childcare, teaching or youth work) or relevant experience in working with children or young people.  If you are unsure which course is the right one for you, please get in touch so we can advise.

Who is the course tutor?

All our forest school training courses are taught by Annie Berrington, the founder and Managing Director of Get Out More.  Annie has run forest schools in Yorkshire since 2010 and is pleased to share her years’ of experience and enthusiasm for forest school with learners.  She gained an ITC Level 3 Award in Education and Training in March 2021 and has since delivered 20+ forest school training courses, supporting hundreds of people on their first steps on their forest school journey.

Is the course accredited?

Yes, Get Out More delivers the course developed by Kindling Training  and Scotswood Garden.  The course is accredited by ITC First. More information can be found here.

What if I have support needs?

If learners have support needs that impact on ability to participate in the practical skills or complete the portfolio work, please discuss these with us as soon as possible.  We are committed to making our programmes as inclusive as possible and can make reasonable adjustments to support participation and assessment.

When is the next forest school level 3 course taking place?

Our next courses are displayed over on the Development section of our website. Click here to be taken there.

What is the cost of the course and is there funding available?

The Level 3 Certificate for Forest School course costs £900 per participant plus there is an additional cost for the first aid qualification, a requirement to complete the qualification.

The Level 2 Award for Forest School Leaders course costs £500.

We are always looking for funding streams to make our training programmes accessible to all, but cannot guarantee this.  Please get in touch if you would like to enquire if there are any available funded or subsidised places or to discuss a payment plan.

Hopefully this answers your questions and you are feeling ready to take the first step into the world of Forest School, but if you still need more information then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at [email protected]