Our accredited Level 3 Forest School Leader training course is designed to provide trainees with all the skills they’ll need to lead rich and creative Forest School sessions in a safe natural environment.
This course is accredited through National Awarding Organisation AIM Qualifications & Assessment Group. AIM are approved by and meet the requirements of the Forest School Association. Through AIM, our Curriculum is endorsed by the FSA.
The course is structured around five units covering the pedagogy that underpins the Forest School ethos and principles, the understanding of child-centered learning in nature, the planning and preparation that are key to successful sessions, the broad range of practical skills supporting Forest School and the knowledge that allows the sustainable use of woodlands and natural materials for learning.
It is designed to meet the needs of teachers, nursery practitioners, youth workers, community facilitators, artists, counsellors, and parents – anyone keen to lead Forest School sessions in their own – or others - setting on a regular basis.
Please note that there are entry requirements for this course. These are listed further down the page.
We offer four types of training schedules:
Course starting on 13.09.2024 |
Friday Training ONE DAY PER WEEK Stave Hill Ecology Park
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Course starting on 08.10.2024 |
Tuesday-Thursday Training CONSECUTIVE DAYS Stave Hill Ecology Park
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Course starting on 07.02.2025 |
Friday Training ONE DAY PER WEEK Stave Hill Ecology Park
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Course starting on 31.03.2025 |
Monday-Friday Training CONSECUTIVE DAYS Stave Hill Ecology Park
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Course starting on 02.06.2025 |
Monday Training ONE DAY PER WEEK Stave Hill Ecology Park
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Course starting on 11.08.2025 |
Monday-Friday Training CONSECUTIVE DAYS Stave Hill Ecology Park
|
Check dates & book |
Course starting on 12.09.2025 |
Friday Training ONE DAY PER WEEK Stave Hill Ecology Park
|
Check dates & book |
Course starting on 07.10.2025 |
Tuesday-Thursday Training CONSECUTIVE DAYS Stave Hill Ecology Park
|
Check dates & book |
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Remember that you will also need a valid Outdoor First Aid training certificate to become a Level 3 FS Leader. The Hive doesn't provide Outdoor First Aid training but we can recommend providers.
The course consists of 5 units:
Unit 1 - Forest School programme: delivery
Unit 2 - Forest School programme: learning and development
Unit 3 - Forest School programme: planning and preparation
Unit 4 - Forest School programme: practical skills
Unit 5 - Forest School programme: the woodland environment
Course content for each unit is listed below.
This unit follows on from the previous one and applies the theory to practice. It involves the practitioner leading their own Forest School programme and is a culmination of all prior work.
Topics covered include:
The philosophy of Forest School is rooted in learning theories, psychology and neural development. Its ethos is formed through a combination of the natural physical environment and a safe, open and trusting community created by the supporting adults. This unit covers some of the theoretical components that underpin the Forest School ethos.
Topics covered include:
This unit draws together the skills and understanding of the previous 3 units and combines them to consider how Forest School programmes are planned.
Topics covered include:
This unit focuses on the safe application of outdoor learning skills. It also covers safe processes for using natural materials for crafts and building within a Forest School context.
Topics covered include:
This unit focuses on the skills needed to use the potential of woodlands effectively, safely and sensitively to support learning and development within a Forest School context.
Topics covered include:
Please be aware that there are several entry requirements for this course. These are listed below:
Before you run your own programme you will also need:
As part of the training programme, you will receive course materials, ongoing tutor support and online examples. The resources will be accessible through the Student Hub on The Hive website and will include:
We recommend that before you commit to the level 3 training you make sure you understand the Forest School ethos to ensure it is the right approach for you. It may also be worthwhile to arrange to talk to or visit an existing Level 3 Forest School Practitioner to find out more about how Forest School can work in practice. Once you've booked your course with us, The Hive will provide you with a short list of suggested reads to get you started!
The cost of the Forest School Leader training course is £934.
We offer 3 payment options:
You can also save 5% on the cost of your course by signing up to our newsletter.
To register your interest for one of our courses, request more information or ask a question, you can call 020 3435 6848 or email team@thehive-kids.com. You can also save 5% on the cost of the course by signing up to receive our newsletter.