Accredited Forest School Training in Bristol
Qualifications delivered through AIM Qualifications Assessment Group
Accredited Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Forest School Training
Forest School - despite its name - is not just for schools and not just for working with children. It can be used with all ages and all levels of need and is a great way to support well-being as well as enabling a deeper connection with nature. Those that have done the training have come from all backgrounds including health, education, social and youth work sectors as well as parents and individuals wanting to explore new ideas and new career paths.
Forest School is an inspirational process that offers all those involved regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees. It adopts a learner-centred approach, that offers opportunities for holistic growth and involves using long-term engagement that supports being playful, exploration and supported risk taking. For more detail on this visit the Forest School Association Website.
These courses are run in partnership with Cathedral School who are hosting the Forest School training courses on their Forest School site in Failand (next to Ashton Court). The courses are an ideal opportunity for people working with children, young people and adult groups wishing to develop their learning experience and use the outside setting as an invaluable learning and development tool.
The training is a woodland based nature connected course that has been designed to build confidence through a supportive group approach and provide maximum support through additional on-line sessions on the theory & practice of Forest School. This allows students then to progress quickly with running sessions with their groups and will support students more effectively to complete the written aspects of the training.
To find out more about the experiences of those doing the training you can click here. Also to see a range of photos from recent training click here.
Please see the FAQ section as this will help or please get in touch if you have other questions.
Also if you have a group that wants training it is possible to design a bespoke course to suit your availability and training needs - in the past settings have combined an Inset session for a bigger group and then follow on training for staff wanting to do the accredited training - please get in touch to discuss this.
These are the updated best practice version of the OCN qualifications that were updated in 2018 by a national network of Forest School Trainers and professionals and approved by the Forest School Association. The qualifications are accredited by AIM awards.
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Level 1 Award in Forest School Ethos and Principles
This course is designed to give an insight into Forest School principals and an understanding of its benefits. Over the 2 planned sessions you will explore and experience a range of activities and games which you can use with your groups straight away to develop your own outdoor setting. These skills will help you to engage with the outdoor environment and use it as a tool to facilitate learning. A basic portfolio demonstrating your knowledge of Forest School principles and observations you have made on a Forest School session (that you will need to organise) will be required to be completed following the course. No prior experience required. There will be an additional short on-line session in the evening that will help you to explore the Forest School approach and its background. Minimum age of 16.
Venue: Cathedral Primary School Forest School / Bristol Cathedral Choir School Playing Fields Beggar Bush Lane, Failand, BS8 3TG
Dates:
Spring Course 2025 - spaces available - 13/3/25 & 20/3/25 - 2 days in the woods - book now at 2024 price - deposit due in January
Autumn Course 2025 - spaces available - Starting end of September - 9.30 - 4pm - 2 days - reserve you place now with no upfront costs
Cost: £385 - (book in January at 2024 price of £350.00)
- group booking discount available - please ask
Booking:
- To confirm your place on the course fill out the booking form and request an invoice via the booking form to secure your place - via a £150 deposit. The remainder of the cost will be due the week before the course starts. BACS payments are preferred from the invoice that will be issued but credit card payments can also be made via your invoice.
- Everyone must fill out the booking form - please click on the button below.
- to discuss the training please use my contact page
This course is designed to give an insight into Forest School principals and an understanding of its benefits. Over the 2 planned sessions you will explore and experience a range of activities and games which you can use with your groups straight away to develop your own outdoor setting. These skills will help you to engage with the outdoor environment and use it as a tool to facilitate learning. A basic portfolio demonstrating your knowledge of Forest School principles and observations you have made on a Forest School session (that you will need to organise) will be required to be completed following the course. No prior experience required. There will be an additional short on-line session in the evening that will help you to explore the Forest School approach and its background. Minimum age of 16.
Venue: Cathedral Primary School Forest School / Bristol Cathedral Choir School Playing Fields Beggar Bush Lane, Failand, BS8 3TG
Dates:
Spring Course 2025 - spaces available - 13/3/25 & 20/3/25 - 2 days in the woods - book now at 2024 price - deposit due in January
Autumn Course 2025 - spaces available - Starting end of September - 9.30 - 4pm - 2 days - reserve you place now with no upfront costs
Cost: £385 - (book in January at 2024 price of £350.00)
- group booking discount available - please ask
Booking:
- To confirm your place on the course fill out the booking form and request an invoice via the booking form to secure your place - via a £150 deposit. The remainder of the cost will be due the week before the course starts. BACS payments are preferred from the invoice that will be issued but credit card payments can also be made via your invoice.
- Everyone must fill out the booking form - please click on the button below.
- to discuss the training please use my contact page
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Level 2 Award for Forest School Assistants
Level 2 is designed to qualify you to become a Forest School assistant, enabling you to take a proactive role in helping a Forest School leader plan and deliver a Forest School programme and support your group effectively. You will develop suitable practical skills and understanding of how to support and guide a range of activities as well as developing an understanding of the woodland environment and how to minimise a groups impact on it. Following your training you will organise working with a Forest School leader to assist in the planning and development of some forest school sessions and you will evaluate the impact of these sessions on the group you work with.
The Level 2 course covers a lot of the Level 3 content but with a smaller written portfolio. You would complete the same 7 days of practical training as the Level 3 trainees and during this time you will also complete your practical skills assessments. As part of the qualification you must assist with three Forest School sessions in your own setting and complete a portfolio within 12 months of the practical training. The written portfolio for Level 2 is significantly less work than the Level 3 portfolio. The over outline for the two units of work for this can be found here - Learning and Development unit and here - Practical Skills unit.
To undertake the Level 2 course you need to:
Venue: Cathedral Primary School Forest School / Bristol Cathedral Choir School Playing Fields Beggar Bush Lane, Failand, BS8 3TG
Dates:
Spring Course 2025 - final space available - 13/3, 20/3, 27/3 and 24/4, 1/5, 8/5 & 15/5 - 7 days in the woods + evening 1 hr online sessions
Autumn Course 2025 - spaces available - 7 days in the woods + online sessions + site visit - 9.30 - 4pm each day - starting end of September - reserve you place now with no upfront costs.
Cost: £725
- please ask for group booking discount
Booking:
- please click on the booking form button below to apply for the course. Secure your space by paying a £150 deposit via invoice which will be sent on receiving your booking form. BACS payments are preferred from the invoice that will be issued but credit card payments can also be made via your invoice.
- to discuss the training please use my contact page
Level 2 is designed to qualify you to become a Forest School assistant, enabling you to take a proactive role in helping a Forest School leader plan and deliver a Forest School programme and support your group effectively. You will develop suitable practical skills and understanding of how to support and guide a range of activities as well as developing an understanding of the woodland environment and how to minimise a groups impact on it. Following your training you will organise working with a Forest School leader to assist in the planning and development of some forest school sessions and you will evaluate the impact of these sessions on the group you work with.
The Level 2 course covers a lot of the Level 3 content but with a smaller written portfolio. You would complete the same 7 days of practical training as the Level 3 trainees and during this time you will also complete your practical skills assessments. As part of the qualification you must assist with three Forest School sessions in your own setting and complete a portfolio within 12 months of the practical training. The written portfolio for Level 2 is significantly less work than the Level 3 portfolio. The over outline for the two units of work for this can be found here - Learning and Development unit and here - Practical Skills unit.
To undertake the Level 2 course you need to:
- Be 18 years or older
- Have experience or knowledge of Forest School
- Have relevant experience related to leading groups you work with
- Have access to a group and a Level 3 Leader you can plan and run Forest School sessions with
- Have or get an up to date DBS check
- Have or plan to get a suitable First Aid qualification
Venue: Cathedral Primary School Forest School / Bristol Cathedral Choir School Playing Fields Beggar Bush Lane, Failand, BS8 3TG
Dates:
Spring Course 2025 - final space available - 13/3, 20/3, 27/3 and 24/4, 1/5, 8/5 & 15/5 - 7 days in the woods + evening 1 hr online sessions
Autumn Course 2025 - spaces available - 7 days in the woods + online sessions + site visit - 9.30 - 4pm each day - starting end of September - reserve you place now with no upfront costs.
Cost: £725
- please ask for group booking discount
- If you have completed a level 1 course recently you may be able to get a discount on the cost and miss the first 2 days - please ask
- If you really want to attend and price is a barrier do ask.
Booking:
- please click on the booking form button below to apply for the course. Secure your space by paying a £150 deposit via invoice which will be sent on receiving your booking form. BACS payments are preferred from the invoice that will be issued but credit card payments can also be made via your invoice.
- to discuss the training please use my contact page
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Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders
This Forest School Leader course will enable you to develop the Forest School approach with your groups, develop your skills and knowledge and help to create a Forest School handbook. You will learn about woodland management, how to develop and maintain a site and risk assessments required. You will start the course by a one to one meeting to guide you through the structure and content and introduce you to the theory and written aspect of the course. Following this you will be given some key work to undertake - including developing your handbook - that will then allow you to develop your Forest School Practice more quickly with your groups.
The practical training element of the course will introduce to a wide range of activities and games and help you develop skills in the safe use of tools, fire lighting, cooking and knife work will also be covered. Following the training sessions a final day will be organised with you individually which will involve a site visit during one of your case study sessions and additional mentoring. You will be required to complete a written portfolio of your Forest School work to complete your course.
As part of the course you will also have some short evening on-line group sessions to support the development of your portfolio. The overview of the qualification can be found here - you will be given access to full course materials and guidance once you are enrolled.
To undertake the Level 3 course you need to:
Venue: Cathedral Primary School Forest School / Bristol Cathedral Choir School Playing Fields Beggar Bush Lane, Failand, BS8 3TG
Dates:
Spring Course 2025 - 13/3, 20/3, 27/3 and 24/4, 1/5, 8/5 & 15/5 - 7 days in the woods + evening 1 hr online sessions + site assessment (to be arranged with each student) - book now at 2024 price
Autumn Course 2025 - 7 days in the woods + online sessions + site visit - 9.30 - 4pm each day - starting end of September - reserve you place now with no upfront costs.
Cost: £1075 - book in January at 2024 price of £975
- please ask for group booking discount
Booking:
- please click on the booking form button below to apply for the course. Secure your space by paying a £150 deposit via invoice which will be sent on receiving your booking form. BACS payments are preferred from the invoice that will be issued but credit card payments can also be made via your invoice.
- to discuss the training please use my contact page
This Forest School Leader course will enable you to develop the Forest School approach with your groups, develop your skills and knowledge and help to create a Forest School handbook. You will learn about woodland management, how to develop and maintain a site and risk assessments required. You will start the course by a one to one meeting to guide you through the structure and content and introduce you to the theory and written aspect of the course. Following this you will be given some key work to undertake - including developing your handbook - that will then allow you to develop your Forest School Practice more quickly with your groups.
The practical training element of the course will introduce to a wide range of activities and games and help you develop skills in the safe use of tools, fire lighting, cooking and knife work will also be covered. Following the training sessions a final day will be organised with you individually which will involve a site visit during one of your case study sessions and additional mentoring. You will be required to complete a written portfolio of your Forest School work to complete your course.
As part of the course you will also have some short evening on-line group sessions to support the development of your portfolio. The overview of the qualification can be found here - you will be given access to full course materials and guidance once you are enrolled.
To undertake the Level 3 course you need to:
- Be 21 years or older
- Have experience or Knowledge of Forest School
- Have relevant experience related to leading groups you work with or a minimum Level 2 childcare or teaching qualification
- Have access to a group you can plan and run a Forest School session with
- Have or get an up to date DBS check
- Have a suitable First Aid qualification (or be willing to get this before your case study observation session)
Venue: Cathedral Primary School Forest School / Bristol Cathedral Choir School Playing Fields Beggar Bush Lane, Failand, BS8 3TG
Dates:
Spring Course 2025 - 13/3, 20/3, 27/3 and 24/4, 1/5, 8/5 & 15/5 - 7 days in the woods + evening 1 hr online sessions + site assessment (to be arranged with each student) - book now at 2024 price
Autumn Course 2025 - 7 days in the woods + online sessions + site visit - 9.30 - 4pm each day - starting end of September - reserve you place now with no upfront costs.
Cost: £1075 - book in January at 2024 price of £975
- please ask for group booking discount
- If you have completed a level 1 course recently you may be able to get a discount on the cost and miss the first 2 days - please ask
- If you really want to attend and price is a barrier do ask.
Booking:
- please click on the booking form button below to apply for the course. Secure your space by paying a £150 deposit via invoice which will be sent on receiving your booking form. BACS payments are preferred from the invoice that will be issued but credit card payments can also be made via your invoice.
- to discuss the training please use my contact page