Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders

‘Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders provides learners with the knowledge and skills required to support individuals in Forest School programmes and outdoor learning … [enabling you] to gain the skills and knowledge required to plan and lead Forest School programmes’

AIM Awards
The Awarding Body

Information About Our Courses

The awarding body explain that the ‘Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders is a regulated qualification that will enable you to learn how to become a Forest School Leader, how to develop and practice the skills required for employment or career progression within Forest School education’.

Many teachers, nursery staff, teaching assistants, outdoor leaders and youth workers undertake this qualification; but anyone with an interest in Forest School is welcome!

If you to have a relevant teaching, training, youth work or Early Years qualification, we will be happy to offer you a place on the this course; otherwise we are happy to discuss your existing experience and aspirations for undertaking the Level 3 Certificate for Forest school Leaders; providing you with sufficient information, advice and guidance, so that you can make a decision as to whether this is the right course and at the right level for you!

Please note: there is a minimum age of 19 years to undertake the qualification from the awarding body; however, the Department for Education and Forest School Association require you to be 21 years old to qualify. 

If you would like to be added to our mailing list regarding upcoming Forest School Leader courses then please share your details with us here

There’s five days of training, with a considerable consolidation period, then five development days, within which aspects of your practice will be assessed.

There are five units that will be covered during the training and the development days, and which you are required to gather evidence of your competency during the consolidation period; these units are:

  • Unit 1: The woodland environment
  • Unit 2: Practical Skills
  • Unit 3: Learning & Development
  • Unit 4: Planning & Preparation
  • Unit 5: Delivery of a Forest School Programme

This is a practical and outdoor based course, so you should expect to spend the majority of your time in the woods, being active during all weathers and throughout the seasons.

Please note: you will also require an outdoor first aid certificate in order to practice as a Forest School Leader; we can recommend Vital Training who provide outdoor first aid courses locally. 

This is a level 3 qualification on the Regulated Qualifications Framework, and so there is a formal assessment requirement. 

The work is assessed via a substantial portfolio of evidence, where you are required to gather evidence and demonstrate your knowledge, understanding and ability in order to meet the requirements of each of the learning outcomes. We will provide you with a portfolio template, and support you to complete it. 

There are some practical assessments, such as observations and presentations, from which you will provide evidence in your portfolio. 

You are able to begin your portfolio immediately following your training, and we encourage you to use the consolidation period between your training and development days to explore, examine, evaluate and record your experiences, as well as researching and learning the theory and approaches that an effective Forest School Leader needs to apply in their practice. 

A key part of the portfolio is that you have to plan, prepare and deliver a Forest School Programme (a 2 hour session once a week, for 6 weeks) to a group of learners of your choice, including observing and recording their development. It is worth considering how you will achieve this prior to applying for the course, including any insurance and resourcing needs. 

Your tutor will be responsible for assessing your portfolio; which will then be subject to Internal Quality Assurance, as well a External Quality Assurance, prior to your qualification being awarded.  We are able to offer a limited number of opportunities to some learners who wish to shadow our established Forest School programmes. 

Our Forest School Leader courses take place at our  woodland site that is used with our existing Forest School Programmes.

The address is: Rewilding Adventure, Redcar Road, Dunsdale, Cleveland, TS14 6RH.

This offers an authentic environment to learn, with established camps, ancient woodland and all the resources and sustainability issues that practice presents.

Given the credit value and guided learning hours, the Level 3 course includes 5 training days, and 5 development days, each of which runs from 8.30am until 4.30pm. 

We deliver the course in different ways, each with a specific delivery schedule including:

  • Week Blocks: a five day block for the training, with another 5 day block for the development week
  • Weekly Days: this is one day per week, for five weeks for the training phase, then another five days over five consecutive weeks
  • Modular/Weekends: this where we have two or three days together, either mid-week or during a weekend, with an extended period for the consolidation element

We are a registered centre with AIM Qualifications (having previously been with The Open College Network West Midlands), and the qualification code is: 603/2406/5

You can find the Qualification Guide here; and the OCNWM’s Information for Learners is here

We are proud of our hard earned reputation for good quality Forest School provision. Locally, we are the longest established Forest School setting, having completed many long-term Forest School programmes, throughout all the seasons, with participants of all ages, abilities and needs.

Notably, our Wildlings Forest School Programme, for Home Educated families, has been running weekly for four years. We also work in partnership with Community Ventures Ltd from Middlesbrough, and offer a 12 week Forest School project, titled the Progress Programme to promote mental wellbeing and develop employability skills with adults; see this evaluation report of one of the programmes. Furthermore, this case study of Michael, who had a life changing experience as a result fo attending! 

The total cost for this programme is £895

This cost includes all registration and awarding fees, tuition, academic support, access to social media alumni group, refreshments during all days and resources 

Please note: as this is a regulated qualification please contact Rewilding Adventure to ensure you have received appropriate information, advice and guidance that this qualification is right for you. 

There are several ways of booking options:

  • Deposit (£295) and Balance (£600)
  • Deposit (£295) and three payments (of £200); one paid prior to training, the remaining two prior to development days
  • Invoice to employer (please email info@rewildingadventure.co.uk) 

You can secure your place by paying the deposit here, and then we will set up a payment plan/dates to pay the balance prior to your course starting.

Planned Courses for 2024

Delivery Schedule: Weekly Days

Training Dates: Thurs. 22nd Feb. | Thurs. 29th Feb. | Thurs. 7th March | Thurs. 14th March | Thurs. 21st March

Development Dates: Thurs. 6th June | Thurs. 13th June | Thurs. 20th June | Thurs. 27th June | Thurs. 4th July

Portfolio Submission Date: Sun. 13th Oct. 2024

To book, please contact us via the Contact Form below if you want us to invoice your organisation, or follow this link to pay a deposit and arrange a payment plan.

Delivery Schedule: Weekly Days

Training Dates: Wed. 5th June | Wed. 12th June | Wed. 19th June | Wed. 27th June | Wed. 3rd July

Development Dates:  Wed. 18th Sept. | Wed. 25th Sept. | Wed. 2nd Oct. | Wed. 9th Oct. | Wed. 16th Oct.

Portfolio Submission Date: Sun. 12th Jan. 2025

To book, please contact us via the Contact Form below if you want us to invoice your organisation, or follow this link to pay a deposit and arrange a payment plan.

Delivery Schedule: Weekly Days

Training Dates: Thurs. 19th Sept. | Thurs. 26th Sept. | Thurs. 3rd Oct. | Thurs. 10th Oct. | Thurs. 17th Oct.

Development Dates: Thurs. 9th Jan. | Thurs. 16th Jan. | Thurs. 23rd Jan. | Thurs. 30th Jan. | Thurs. 6th Feb.

Portfolio Submission Date: Sun. 11th May 2025

To book, please contact us via the Contact Form below if you want us to invoice your organisation, or follow this link to pay a deposit and arrange a payment plan.

GET IN TOUCH

Email: info@rewildingadventure.co.uk
Tel: 07799 141 373

Complete this short contact form and one of our friendly team will be in touch to discuss your requirements.