Level 1 Forest School - An Introduction

Level 1 Award in Forest School Ethos and Principles (ITC)

This course is an introduction to Forest School and provides you with a "taste" of what the ethos and principles of Forest School are and why spending time learning, playing and developing in and through nature is so much a part of our human make up.

We run this course in parallel with Level 2 and 3 training so that everyone learns the roles and responsibilities of adult practitioners at Forest School and can easily switch to top up your training if you wish to continue. Assessment tasks will result in each candidate producing a portfolio of evidence meeting each assessment criteria in the unit.

The majority of our training is in the outdoors, hosted at the truly inspirational Sylva Foundation Wood Centre, with access to a variety of woodlands and an onsite Forest School setting. The training barn provides shelter and access to resources while regular webinars, peer study groups, tutorials and online resources offer ongoing support in between workshops to complete coursework and provide a reflective space.

As a trainee with us, you will receive a discount on the Level 3 sixteen-hour Outdoor First Aid qualification, and a Level 2 Outdoor Food Safety qualification, optional for Forest School Assistants.

Please note: this qualification does not equip or qualify the learner to lead Forest School sessions without a qualified L3 Forest School Leader.

- a minimum of 3 face to face days, giving you a broad introduction to a range of practical skills as well as gaining an insight into the ethos and pedagogy of Forest School sessions. and care for the ecology of your setting.

- a half-day visit to a qualified Forest School Leader near you

- individual and group tutorials

- monthly webinars

- optional portfolio workshop, with support and guidance to gather and complete parts of your portfolio of evidence

- A discount on our 16-hour Outdoor First Aid qualification (Level 3 ITC) course

- A discount on our Outdoor Food Safety qualification (Level 2 ITC) course

Please note that the minimum age to access this qualification is 16 years.

We believe that our Forest School training courses embody the ethos and principles of Forest School by providing a truly holistic learning and collaborating experience. We know that allowing each and every one of our trainees to develop their own unique path over time, to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to set up and run your sessions independently, is the best way to ensure and embed long-term success and sustainability.

We offer the ITC Level 1, 2 and 3 Certificate for Forest School roles, regulated qualifications which are approved by and meet the requirements of the Forest School Association. Our training centre works in collaboration with Urban Outdoor Learning, an Awarding Centre for ITC First qualifications.

We understand that it usually takes time, effort and personal commitment to complete your qualification . As experienced trainers, we are fully committed to tailoring the support you need to achieve the qualification by providing a wide range of resources that work for your way of learning, your personal and professional context and your individual needs. We draw on our broad experience of working with both neurodivergent and neurotypical adults and children in a wide range of settings to help you to connect with other Forest School practitioners who work in a similar context to yours.

We embrace practical forms of formal and peer-assessment, collaborative learning and peer teaching throughout the training, which differentiates us from many other Forest School training providers, ensuring that together we build confidence and understanding in putting the Forest School ethos and principles into practice.

We are proud of our strong connections to the FSA, the UK professional body that supports us as much as our learners; our connections with Flo’s The Place in the Park - Forest School Nursery, Long Wittenham and Stonesfield Primary schools and local Home Ed settings, where opportunities to visit and volunteer, to network and learn in and around the heart of Oxford, extend your training experience even further.