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.
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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
This is a 3 day OCNWMR accredited course worth 3 credits. Delivered by Lily Horseman in partnership with Jon Cree (chair of the Forest School Association).
We will delve into: what challenges us as leaders in the outdoors; theory on challenging behaviour, up-to-date neural research; triggers and causes for behaviour that challenges us, ways of dealing with ‘real life’ scenarios; de-escalation and formulating/reviewing your own policies, including looking at the validity of sanctions and rewards in a community based approach. We will look at how to develop our own empathetic responses to children and young people and how to react to their needs.
As this is an OCN 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.
“this course has really helped me re-appraise the way I work with some of our students and has actually given me new strategies for working with challenges that have worked!” ~ participant from February 2011 course
*This venue has basic accommodation on site which is included in the price. Other local accommodation is available.
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.
The Forest School Association National Conference with a host of brilliant workshops and keynote speakers.
Lily’s workshop will be ‘The quest for the child led session’ – An adventurous quest into giving up the role of leader to the children and young people you work with. This workshop is based on some work that Lily has been doing with groups that incorporates rites of passage and transitions, the hero’s journey, group agreements, quests and missions, collective decision making, with a dollop of mucking about in the woods and organised chaos. Through this we will explore how to manage our role as a non leader both emotionally, practically and dynamically.
It is not possible to book this workshop separately it will only be available as part of the conference package.
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.
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.
The annual popular Conference for Institute of Outdoor Learning members in the North West
This is an ideal opportunity to gather with other outdoor practitioners and professionals from the region and attend a varierty of workshops from a wide programme.
Non members are also welcome.
Lunch is included.
– See more at: IOL NW Conference
Lily’s workshop will be ‘The quest for the child led session’ – An adventurous quest into giving up the role of leader to the children and young people you work with. This workshop is based on some work that Lily has been doing with groups that incorporates rites of passage and transitions, the hero’s journey, group agreements, quests and missions, collective decision making, with a dollop of mucking about in the woods and organised chaos. Through this we will explore how to manage our role as a ‘non-leader’ both emotionally, practically and dynamically and whether our adventures are authentic adventures.
It is not possible to book this workshop separately it will only be available as part of the conference package.
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.
This new accredited course is designed for Forest School practitioners or those who work in natural environments with children.
The purpose of the course is to develop Forest School practitioners ability to understand historic aspects of woodlands. We will explore traditional skills, woodland management, customs, traditions and folklore associated with woodlands. All of this will be aimed at looking how we can create positive learning environments and bring woodland heritage alive.
This course is worth two credits at level 3 and is accredited by NOCN. The majority of the coursework will be completed during the training sessions.
