Level 3
Forest School Leader Course
Course Overview
This course provides trainees with an in-depth understanding of the forest school ethos and practice.
Trainees learn the practical skills required to deliver forest school sessions, as well as the theoretical understandings of play, learning, and holistic development.
The Level 3 Forest School Leader course is best for professionals who want to deliver forest school sessions within their current setting or start their own forest school programme. In our training programme specifically, we want to highlight how the forest school practice can be applied within early years settings, providing opportunities throughout the training to consider how to approach practical skills with different ages and abilities and how to align the forest school approach with the statutory framework upheld in your setting, such as the EYFS and national curriculum.
This course allows you to deliver forest school sessions independently.
Trainees will be expected to hold or complete an in-date Level 2 Food Safety qualification and a 16-hour Outdoor and Paediatric First Aid course before being able to complete certain units of the Level 3 Forest School Leader course
Course Flow
Initial In-Person Training Days
Begin to understand the forest school approach and learn the practical skills involved in being a Forest School Leader.
4 days
Independent Work
Complete coursework through the online classroom to meeting the assessment criteria for the course.
Monthly group video call sessions held to go through specific course material.
4 months
Follow-Up In-Person Training Days
Deepen understanding of the Forest School approach and develop effective facilitation practices.
4 days
Independent Work
Complete coursework through the online classroom to meet the assessment criteria for the course.
Facilitate six introductory forest school sessions.
Monthly group video call sessions held to go through specific course material.
7 months
3 days
In-Person Practical Assessment
Demonstrate practical and facilitation skills and reflect on the Forest School journey.
After completing all coursework, the online portfolio of evidence is submitted for review by internal and external quality assurers. We expect trainees to reach this stage 12-16 months from beginning the course.
Submit Completed Portfolio
Receive Qualification
Awarded by iTC First.
Upcoming Training Dates
September 2024 Training
-
Initial Training: 17th - 20th September 2024
Follow-Up Training: 4th - 6th December 2024 (recommended) OR 5th - 7th February 2025
-
Choose from the following options:
17th - 19th September 2025 (recommended)
22nd - 24th October 2025
-
Flying Horse Lawn, Lodge Ln, Sheffield S6 5SP
-
£1000
October 2024 Training
-
Initial Training: 22nd - 25th October 2024
Follow-Up Training: 4th - 6th December 2024 OR 5th - 7th February (recommended)
-
Choose from the following options:
17th - 19th September 2025
22nd - 24th October 2025 (recommended)
-
Flying Horse Lawn, Lodge Ln, Sheffield S6 5SP
-
£1000
April 2025 Training
-
Initial Training: 29th April - 2nd May 2025
Follow-Up Training: 5th - 7th August 2025 (recommended) OR 17th - 19th September 2025
-
Choose from the following options:
29th April - 1st May 2026 (recommended)
13th - 15th May 2026
17th - 19th June 2026
-
Flying Horse Lawn, Lodge Ln, Sheffield S6 5SP
-
£1000
May 2025 Training
-
Initial Training: 13th - 16th May 2025
Follow-Up Training: 17th - 19th September 2025 (recommended) OR 5th - 7th August 2025
-
Choose from the following options:
13th - 15th May 2026 (recommended)
29th April - 1st May 2026
17th - 19th June 2026
-
Flying Horse Lawn, Lodge Ln, Sheffield S6 5SP
-
£1000
June 2025 Training
-
Initial Training: 17th - 20th June 2025
Follow-Up Training: 15th - 17th October 2025 (recommended) OR 12th - 15th November 2025
-
Choose from the following options:
17th - 19th June 2026 (recommended)
13th - 15th May 2026
29th - 31st July 2026
-
Flying Horse Lawn, Lodge Ln, Sheffield S6 5SP
-
£1000
July 2025 Training
-
Initial Training: 29th July - 1st August 2025
Follow-Up Training: 12th - 14th November 2025 (recommended) OR 15th - 17th October 2025
-
Choose from the following options:
29th - 31st July 2026 (recommended)
17th - 19th June 2026
13th - 15th May 2026
-
Flying Horse Lawn, Lodge Ln, Sheffield S6 5SP
-
£1000
Training Days
7 in-person training days in total from 9am to 5pm each day. There will be an initial four-day training week followed by another set of three training days about four months into the course. Splitting up the training days helps our learners solidify what they have learned between training sessions, provides further opportunities for questions and deeper learning, and helps keep up motivation throughout the course.
These sessions are located in Sheffield.
During the training days, participants will learn about the forest school ethos, a holistic approach to child development, introduction into play theory, and practical skills including, but not limited to:
Fire lighting, maintaining and extinguishing
Tool work
Knot tying
Tarpaulin shelter building
Nature crafts
Flora and fauna identification
We try to structure the training days to allow trainees an opportunity to learn the value of the forest school approach by experiencing it themselves. We utilise play and reflective time to help solidify the concepts and practice we teach on this course.
Group video call sessions
After the initial training days, we will connect as a group throughout the next year during one-hour group video-call sessions. These sessions usually take place in the evenings from 7:30pm to 8:30pm.
During these sessions we will cover the upcoming portfolio assignments, going into further detail about the assignment requirements and answer any questions trainees may have.
Each session is recorded and uploaded to the online portfolio system for trainees to refer back to while working or to catch up on if they are unable to attend a session.
Individual video call sessions
We allocate three hours of one-to-one video call sessions for trainees to speak directly to tutors about any questions they have or help they may need on a specific assignment.
Additional Support
Trainees are encouraged to reach out to tutors with any questions they have at any time throughout the course. They are able to contact tutors via email or add comments within the online portfolio system.
Tutors will strive to mark submitted assignments as soon as possible, providing feedback to trainees about their work to ensure all trainees are successful in the completion of this course.
Practical Assessment
Around 12 months from the initial training week, the group will come back together for a three-day practical assessment and course reflection.
The assessment days take place in Sheffield.
Expected trainee independent working time
Between the initial training week and the practical assessment, trainees are required to complete assignments through an online portfolio. These assignments cover both the theoretical and practical elements required to run a quality forest school practice.
To help space out the workload, we assign one assignment roughly every two weeks. These assignments range in the time required to complete the work. We recommend trainees allocate around five hours per week for coursework.
There is opportunity during the training week to complete elements of the online portfolio to help ease the workload in trainee’s own time. We recognise that lives are busy and continue to work to find ways to minimise the coursework.
Apply Now
There are 12 places on each course.
Be sure to register as soon as possible!
