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.
Or filter events by category or tags below.
Chatting, Playing, Doing
CPD sessions for people involved or interested in Forest School
By ‘Chatting’ we mean Networking and by ‘Playing and Doing’ we mean learning new skills and ideas that you can share with the children and young people and Forest School participants you work with.
We’ll be doing some weaving, some tool maintenance, and cooking food on the fire for everyone. There will be lots of tools and resources available for you to try things out and see some different inspirational ideas that you could apply to your own work. We’ll also be supporting you to find answers to any Forest School related questions you have and to meet and spend time with others.
to book a place and let us know you are coming send us an email to Harriet or Lily;
mail@kindlingplayandtraining.co.uk or harriet@sncg.org.uk
OCN 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 safe use of equipment and tools.
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 Forest Schools within their own setting or those who wish to support a trained Forest Schools practitioner.
OCN 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 safe use of equipment and tools.
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 Forest Schools within their own setting or those who wish to support a trained Forest Schools practitioner.
This Forest School training course also includes an Assessment Week 18th-22nd April 2016
OCN Forest School Level 3 Training
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
- Accelerated Learning
- Woodland conservation and recreation
- Innovative and therapeutic theory in the outdoors
- Risk assessments to enable safe outdoor play and education
Course Duration
- Initial training week – consisting of 5 days of training
- Portfolio work – candidates take away their portfolio to work on (For about 6 months)
- First Aid – Candidates complete a 2 day ITC first aid course
- Assessment Week – Consisting of 5 days of assessment
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 is an invitation to reconnect with the enthusiasm that you found during the process of training to be a Forest School practitioner.
The weekend will be hosted by Lily Horseman, an experienced facilitator and Forest School trainer. Having walked alongside many people during the training process she recognises the value of asking questions and the support of a community of learning. This weekend will be all about that. Reconnecting and connecting with people who are walking the same path to support your continuing growth as a Forest School practitioner.
The content will be guided by the questions that you all bring which will be explored in a hands on way. There will be games and crafts, time to connect with nature, exploration of theories, time to play, Simon from Treecreepers Forest School will be coming along to share his skill at spoon carving and whittling and of course, there will be cooking and eating around the fire. All the good stuff that gets the juices flowing.
The cost covers accommodation in the bunk barn dorms or camping on the site with full use of the facilities, kitchen, shower room, sitting room etc and basic vegetarian ingredients for main meals, the resources and tools.
We are also asking for people to consider a donation for our time and energy that represents the worth to you as a practitioner.
Spaces are limited. Email mail@kindlingplayandtraining.co.uk to book.
Modular Forest School Training sessions – Participants will attend all of: 9th & 10th November, 16th & 17th November 2015, 21st & 22nd March, 20th & 21st June and 27th & 28th June 2016
NOCN Forest School Level 3 Training
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 of including assessment
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 Forest School training course also includes an assessment and development week 13th -17th June 2016
OCN Forest School Level 3 Training
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
- Accelerated Learning
- Woodland conservation and recreation
- Innovative and therapeutic theory in the outdoors
- Risk assessments to enable safe outdoor play and education
Course Duration
- Initial training week – consisting of 5 days of training
- Portfolio work – candidates take away their portfolio to work on (For about 6 months)
- First Aid – Candidates complete a 2 day ITC first aid course
- Assessment Week – Consisting of 5 days of assessment.
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).
Come and join other Forest School practitioners to share practice, chat over what’s going on in the world of Forest School, get up to date on latest developments and revisit and extend your own skills.
We’ll get a fire lit, a kettle over it, some light refreshments cooked over the fire and there will be a selection of tools and a nice woodland to hang out in. Jenny will fire up the pizza oven for us so bring your own toppings.
We will be exploring the potential to set up a network for practitioners in Cumbria.
For more information and to help us plan for numbers contact Lily to let us know you are coming.
This Forest School training course also includes a second week of training 3rd-7th October 2016
NOCN Level 3 Certificate in Forest School Programme Leadership (QCF)
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 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
- Development 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.
Come and join other Forest School practitioners to share practice, chat over what’s going on in the world of Forest School, get up to date on latest developments and revisit and extend your own skills.
We’ll get a fire lit, a kettle over it, some light refreshments cooked over the fire and there will be a selection of tools and a nice woodland to hang out in. We can make ‘stone soup’ and experiment with different bread recipes and methods of cooking on a fire. The Stone Soup story is an old one and will need everybody to bring something to add to the pot or feel free to bring your own food to cook on the fire.
It was decided at the last network meeting that all members are encouraged to bring something Forest School related along that they are working on at the moment. Offers so far include Bird song ID, coppicing some hazel on the site and sharing simple craft ideas and tool skills, and making brands (if you have any old bicycle spokes bring them along)
Email to let us know you are coming and get detailed directions to the site.