Forest School Leader Training Level 3

ITC Forest School Leader
Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders
 
Next starting date: September 21st-25th, 2026, 9am-5pm.
 
This qualification is intended to provide the skills and knowledge required to set up and deliver safe and effective Forest School programmes and for those who wish to become Forest School Leaders.
 
Suitable for 19 years old plus (Please note that the minimum age for Forest School Leaders is 21, this is a Forest School Association and Department for Education requirement).
 
Candidates:  
- Anyone with love for the natural environment, teaching and learning in nature.
- Great for existing teachers looking into incorporating the outdoors into their curriculum or taking the curriculum outdoors.
- Suitable for those looking for a career change to spend more time in nature and sharing this with their communities.
- Suitable for those with no experience but with a passion for the environment and the benefits of being in nature: better educational attainment, improving students behaviour, developing self-confidence and practical skills, community cohesion, etc.
 
This qualification is composed of 5 units:
 
Unit 1: Woodland structure, identification of flora and fauna, and sustainable woodland management at Forest School.
 
Unit 2: Deliver, assess and evaluate a Forest School programme.
 
Unit 3: Application of learning and development theory, understanding of impact of behaviour to learning and development, holistic learning and development at Forest School.
 
Unit 4: The development of Forest School ethos supported by policies and procedures and understanding the ecological impact when planning a Forest School Programme.
 
Unit 5: Facilitating a range of woodland skills, including campfire management appropriate to a Forest School Programme.
 
Course Includes:
96 guided learning hours - for the FSA to recognise the qualification, 80% of the guided learning hours will be delivered face-to-face in a forest school context, i.e. not online (1 full time week of training face-to-face, 4 meet ups in a calendar year and 1 to 1 Mentor support).
Assessed by a portfolio of evidence developed by each learner from a range of tasks; evidence of achievement will be made available for external moderation.
Each learner will produce evidence to meet all the assessment criteria of each unit and this evidence will be authentic, reliable, valid and sufficient.
Part of the evidence will result in a Forest School Leader Manual (or Handbook) for the candidate to utilise in their own practice once certified.
 
Consult us for more information or to meet us to see how this course can enhance your career, your life quality and that of those who you will work with once qualified.