Forest School Practitioner Training courses, outdoor workshops, creativity courses and more from Kindling Play and Training
If you wish to be added to the list a booking form will secure a place.
Kindling delivers RQF accredited Forest Schools Practitioner Training at NOCN (One Awards) Level 1 through to Level 3. These training courses can be delivered in house f the group size is viable. All courses are facilitated by Lily Horseman, an experienced and creative trainer and Forest School practitioner. Lily has held a Level 4 Forest School Trainers award since 2009, is a director and Chair of the Forest School Association. For more information or to ask questions call Lily on 07789 723 061 (please note that texts or WhatsApp messages may not receive a quick response, phone calls will receive a faster response).
Lily has demonstrated that Kindling Forest School training meets the criteria set out by the Forest School Association and has met the Quality Assurance benchmarks.
Click on an event for more information and to download booking forms.
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*This course is now fully booked. Contact us about the waiting list.*
This Forest School training course also includes a second week of training 13th – 17th May 2019 Cost £760 includes both weeks of training, course materials, ongoing support and membership of the Forest School Association.
NOCN Level 3 Certificate in Forest School Programme Leadership (RQF)
This course is an opportunity to explore to a higher level different approaches to using the outdoor environment in a Forest School setting and is for those who and wish to coordinate, manage and lead Forest School Sessions with children, young people or adults.
You will investigate how best to design and run a Forest School programme and look at how to approach and apply it safely and effectively.
This Forest School Level 3 course is aimed at individuals who have a minimum Level 2 qualification in Youth Work, Child Care, Teaching, or relevant experience in working with children.
The course content of this qualification is based on up-to-date research surrounding aspects of
- Holistic development
- Neuro-science
- Theories of Learning and Development
- Woodland conservation, history and management
- Wellbeing and nature connection
- Risk benefit assessments
Course Duration
- Initial training week – consisting of 5 days of training
- Portfolio work – candidates take away their portfolio to work on (For about 7 months)
- First Aid – Candidates complete a 2 day ITC outdoor paediatric first aid course at own cost
- Second week – Consisting of further training and benchmarking
Participants on this course will need to complete a paediatric outdoor First Aid 2 day course before completing their Forest School training. (First Aid not included in price).
*This venue has basic accommodation on site which costs approx £16 per night. Details of how to book accommodation will be sent with confirmation of course booking.
*This course is now fully booked. Contact us about the waiting list.*
Modular Forest School Training sessions – Participants will attend all of: 26th and 27th Nov 2018, 3rd and 4th Dec 2018, 25th and 26th Feb 2019 and 17th, 18th, 24th and 25th of June. Cost £790 includes both weeks of training, course materials, ongoing support and membership of the Forest School Association.
NOCN Forest School Level 3 Training; (RQF)
Level 3 Certificate in Forest School Programme Leadership
This course is an opportunity to explore to a higher level different approaches to using the outdoor environment in a Forest School setting and is for those who and wish to coordinate, manage and lead Forest School Sessions with children, young people or adults.
Course leaders will be Lily Horseman of Kindling and Harriet Menter of Scotswood Natural Community Garden.
You will investigate how best to design and run a Forest School programme and look at how to approach and apply it safely and effectively.
This Forest School Level 3 course is aimed at individuals who have a minimum Level 2 qualification in Youth Work, Child Care, Teaching, or relevant experience in working with children.
The course content of this qualification is based on up-to-date research surrounding aspects of
- Child development
- Personal development
- Neuro-science
- Nature Connection
- Creativity and crafts
- Woodland conservation and management
- Innovative and therapeutic theory in the outdoors
- Risk assessments to enable safe outdoor play and education
Course Duration
- Initial training – consisting of 4 days of training
- Portfolio work – candidates take away their portfolio to work on (For about 4 months)
- 2 days training and planning
- 3 more months of work on portfolios
- First Aid – Candidates complete a 2 day ITC first aid course
- Development Training – Consisting of 4 days.
Participants on this course will need to complete a paediatric outdoor First Aid 2 day course before completing their Forest School training. (First Aid not included in price).
NOCN Forest School Level 1 Training
This course is aimed at individuals with little or no experience of working in the outdoors, and aims to build knowledge and confidence in the Forest School ethos and principles.
Kindling will introduce basic woodland skills, and individuals will be required to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the flora and fauna in a woodland area. The course will allow participants to look at using the outdoor environment to facilitate different learning styles and to encourage the development of personal skills such as confidence and self-esteem.
Participants will learn how the outdoors can be used to encourage all areas of development, understand factors that affect children’s behaviour and strategies for the outdoor environment. We will also look at how the outdoor environment encourages independence, self-reliance and self-esteem and promotes healthy, balanced social and emotional growth.
Course Duration: 3 days
Portfolio Completion will take place during the course and be handed in on the last day.
This course is ideal for those people who are wanting to gain skills for working outdoors with children and young people, those who want to explore how Forest Schools could work within their own setting or those who wish to support a trained Forest Schools practitioner.
This course will run December 5th- 7th 2018.
1.30pm-5.00pm on Wednesday and 9.00am- 4.30 pm on the Thursday and Friday.
The cost is £280 for the course. This course can be accredited as a level 3 award at an additional cost of £50. This accreditation will require some additional work and you can decide what you want to do at the end of the course. This is a level 3 OCNWMR accredited course worth 3 credits.
The course will be delivered by Jon Cree and hosted on the Branching Out Forest School site in Liverpool.
This course is aimed at any educator who feels they want to engage and work with students in the outdoors who may be reluctant learners (of any age).
We will look at;
- What do behaviours communicate?
- What is challenging behaviour, what challenges us as leader in the outdoors?
- Behavioural theories and how these relate to our own settings
- ‘Neural development’—the most recent research and how this affects triggers and causes for behaviour
- Causes of certain behaviours’—models for working with behaviour—the 3C’s, non violent communication and the pros and cons of rewards and sanctions’’? ‘What needs do the outdoors cater for?
- Ways of working with ‘behaviours’ interventions and de-escalation’ in the outdoors
- Motivating our learners
- ‘Transferring’ behavioural strategies from the outdoors to everyday life in educational settings and home
- Looking after ourselves
- ‘Policies and procedures’ relating to behaviour, safeguarding & learners safety’
To accredit this as an OCNWMR Level 3 course worth 3 credits it will require participants to reflect on their own practice and write up a workbook after the course which we estimate would take approx 8 hours work. It is suitable for people who have trained as Forest School practitioners or who work in the outdoors.
Jon Cree, training co-ordinator and 11 –19 programme manager at Bishops Wood Centre in Worcestershire, will be facilitating sessions that involve ‘real life’ scenarios, some outdoor exercises, as well as chats around the fire! Jon has been working with youth groups and groups of young people with specific needs, in the outdoors for almost 30 years.
* This course is now full. Please contact us about the waiting list.*
This Forest School training course also includes a second week of training 28th October to 1st Nov 2019 Cost £760 includes both weeks of training, course materials, ongoing support and membership of the Forest School Association.
NOCN Level 3 Certificate in Forest School Programme Leadership (RQF)
This course is an opportunity to explore to a higher level different approaches to using the outdoor environment in a Forest School setting and is for those who and wish to coordinate, manage and lead Forest School Sessions with children, young people or adults.
You will investigate how best to design and run a Forest School programme and look at how to approach and apply it safely and effectively.
This Forest School Level 3 course is aimed at individuals who have a minimum Level 2 qualification in Youth Work, Child Care, Teaching, or relevant experience in working with children.
The course content of this qualification is based on up-to-date research surrounding aspects of
- Holistic development
- Neuro-science
- Theories of Learning and Development
- Woodland conservation, history and management
- Wellbeing and nature connection
- Risk benefit assessments
Course Duration
- Initial training week – consisting of 5 days of training
- Portfolio work – candidates take away their portfolio to work on (For about 7 months)
- First Aid – Candidates complete a 2 day ITC outdoor paediatric first aid course at own cost
- Second week – Consisting of further training and benchmarking
Participants on this course will need to complete a paediatric outdoor First Aid 2 day course before completing their Forest School training. (First Aid not included in price).
*This venue has basic accommodation on site which costs approx. £20 per night. Details of how to book accommodation will be sent with confirmation of course booking.
NOCN Forest School Level 1 Training
This course is aimed at individuals with little or no experience of working in the outdoors, and aims to build knowledge and confidence in the Forest School ethos and principles.
Kindling will introduce basic woodland skills, and individuals will be required to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the flora and fauna in a woodland area. The course will allow participants to look at using the outdoor environment to facilitate different learning styles and to encourage the development of personal skills such as confidence and self-esteem.
Participants will learn how the outdoors can be used to encourage all areas of development, understand factors that affect children’s behaviour and strategies for the outdoor environment. We will also look at how the outdoor environment encourages independence, self-reliance and self-esteem and promotes healthy, balanced social and emotional growth.
Course Duration: 3 days
Portfolio Completion will take place during the course and be handed in on the last day.
This course is ideal for those people who are wanting to gain skills for working outdoors with children and young people, those who want to explore how Forest Schools could work within their own setting or those who wish to support a trained Forest Schools practitioner.
Funding for subsidies for practitioners in the South Pennines comes from Heritage Lottery Fund and Newground Together administered by Pennine Prospects.
* This course is now full. Please contact us about the waiting list.*
This Forest School training course also includes a further week of training week November 11th- 15th 2019. Cost £760 includes both weeks of training, course materials, ongoing support and membership of the Forest School Association.
NOCN Forest School Level 3 Training (RQF)
This course is an opportunity to explore to a higher level different approaches to using the outdoor environment in a Forest School setting and is for those who and wish to coordinate, manage and lead Forest School Sessions with children, young people or adults.
You will investigate how best to design and run a Forest School programme and look at how to approach and apply it safely and effectively.
This Forest School Level 3 course is aimed at individuals who have a minimum Level 2 qualification in Youth Work, Child Care, Teaching, or relevant experience in working with children.
The course content of this qualification is based on up-to-date research surrounding aspects of
Child development
Personal development
Neuro-science
Nature Connection
Creativity and crafts
Woodland conservation and management
Innovative and therapeutic theory in the outdoors
Risk assessments to enable safe outdoor play and education
Course Duration Initial training – consisting of 5 days of training
Portfolio work – candidates take away their portfolio to work on (For about 7 months)
First Aid – Candidates complete a 2 day ITC first aid course
Development Training – Consisting of 5 days of including benchmarking and feedback
Participants on this course will need to complete a paediatric outdoor First Aid 2 day course before completing the second part of their Forest School training. (First Aid not included in price).
* Course now fully booked*
This Forest School training course also includes a further week of training week 2nd – 6th December 2019. Cost £780 includes both weeks of training, course materials, ongoing support and membership of the Forest School Association.
NOCN Forest School Level 3 Training (RQF)
This course is an opportunity to explore to a higher level different approaches to using the outdoor environment in a Forest School setting and is for those who and wish to coordinate, manage and lead Forest School Sessions with children, young people or adults.
You will investigate how best to design and run a Forest School programme and look at how to approach and apply it safely and effectively.
This Forest School Level 3 course is aimed at individuals who have a minimum Level 2 qualification in Youth Work, Child Care, Teaching, or relevant experience in working with children.
The course content of this qualification is based on up-to-date research surrounding aspects of
Child development
Personal development
Neuro-science
Nature Connection
Creativity and crafts
Woodland conservation and management
Innovative and therapeutic theory in the outdoors
Risk assessments to enable safe outdoor play and education
Course Duration Initial training – consisting of 5 days of training
Portfolio work – candidates take away their portfolio to work on (For about 7 months)
First Aid – Candidates complete a 2 day ITC first aid course
Development Training – Consisting of 5 days of including benchmarking and feedback
Participants on this course will need to complete a paediatric outdoor First Aid 2 day course before completing the second part of their Forest School training. (First Aid not included in price).
NOCN Forest School Level 1 Training
This course is aimed at individuals with little or no experience of working in the outdoors, and aims to build knowledge and confidence in the Forest School ethos and principles. .
Download Forest School Booking Form Level 1
Kindling will introduce basic woodland skills, and individuals will be required to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the flora and fauna in a woodland area. The course will allow participants to look at using the outdoor environment to facilitate different learning styles and to encourage the development of personal skills such as confidence and self-esteem.
Participants will learn how the outdoors can be used to encourage all areas of development, understand factors that affect children’s behaviour and strategies for the outdoor environment. We will also look at how the outdoor environment encourages independence, self-reliance and self-esteem and promotes healthy, balanced social and emotional growth.
Course Duration: 3 days
Portfolio Completion will take place during the course and be handed in on the last day.
This course is ideal for those people who are wanting to gain skills for working outdoors with children and young people, those who want to explore how Forest Schools could work within their own setting or those who wish to support a trained Forest Schools practitioner.
Download the Forest School Practitioner Training Level 1 Flyer
Funding for subsidies for practitioners in the South Pennines comes from Heritage Lottery Fund and Newground Together administered by Pennine Prospects.
* Course now fully booked.*
Please contact us if you wish to be on the waiting list.
This Forest School training course also includes a second week of training 18th to 22nd May 2020. Cost £780 includes both weeks of training, course materials, ongoing support and membership of the Forest School Association.
NOCN Level 3 Certificate in Forest School Programme Leadership (RQF)
This course is an opportunity to explore to a higher level different approaches to using the outdoor environment in a Forest School setting and is for those who and wish to coordinate, manage and lead Forest School Sessions with children, young people or adults.
Download Forest School Booking Form Level 3
You will investigate how best to design and run a Forest School programme and look at how to approach and apply it safely and effectively.
This Forest School Level 3 course is aimed at individuals who have a minimum Level 2 qualification in Youth Work, Child Care, Teaching, or relevant experience in working with children.
The course content of this qualification is based on up-to-date research surrounding aspects of
- Holistic development
- Neuro-science
- Theories of Learning and Development
- Woodland conservation, history and management
- Wellbeing and nature connection
- Risk benefit assessments
Course Duration
- Initial training week – consisting of 5 days of training
- Portfolio work – candidates take away their portfolio to work on (For about 7 months)
- First Aid – Candidates complete a 2 day ITC outdoor paediatric first aid course at own cost
- Second week – Consisting of further training and benchmarking
Download the Forest School Practitioner Training Level 3 Flyer
Participants on this course will need to complete a paediatric outdoor First Aid 2 day course before completing their Forest School training. (First Aid not included in price).
*This course includes an Adult Annual Pass to Lowther Castle and Gardens.