Forest School Training Level 2 to 3 Upgrade Scheduled for November 2025
Level 3 Forest School Leader Course with Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Suffolk Wildlife Trust is offering a Level 3 Forest School Leader course, designed to develop leadership, facilitation, practical, and teaching skills for individuals aiming to lead Forest School programs. The course is operated by Forest School Association (FSA) Registered Forest School Trainers and is certified by AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group.
Course Structure
The course consists of 10 days of face-to-face outdoor training, followed by a coursework portfolio to be submitted within 12 months. The training covers Forest School program delivery, learning and development, planning, practical woodland skills, and the woodland environment.
The 10 training days are focused on leadership, facilitation, Forest School ethos, risk management, woodland flora and fauna, practical skills like fire management, cooking, and tool use. After completing the training, participants must submit a coursework portfolio comprising five units within 12 months.
Key Requirements and Procedures
- Age and Qualification/Experience: Candidates must be over 21 and hold a Level 2 qualification in teaching, youth work, or equivalent, or have significant experience in working with young people.
- Training Days: Attend 10 days of outdoor training at the Foxburrow Nature Reserve, IP12 1NA. The course dates are 11th-13th November 2025 and 24th-25th November 2025, from 9:30am - 5:30pm each day (with the exception of day 4 where the end time will be 8pm).
- Coursework Portfolio: Complete a portfolio comprising five units of coursework within 12 months. Submission deadlines are provided during the course.
- Costs and Payment: The course costs £1199, with an option to pay in instalments; full payment is required before the course start. Schools or organizations can book via invoice.
- Top-up Option: If you completed an AIM accredited Level 2 Forest School qualification within 18 months, you can do a shorter "top up" attending days 6-10 only to achieve Level 3.
- Recommended Additional Training: A Forest School First Aid qualification (16 hours) is recommended and often required for Level 3 Leaders to be fully compliant with safety standards in outdoor education.
Additional Information
- Participants are required to bring a packed lunch, suitable outdoor clothing for the weather conditions, stout shoes or boots, and a camera (if desired).
- Hand-in dates for the coursework are set at regular intervals throughout the 12 months following the teaching days.
- Dogs are permitted on the red trail only, on a lead.
- Hot drinks, all required paperwork, all tools, and equipment for the outdoor tasks will be provided.
- Participants are asked not to bring their own tools for a variety of reasons.
- The coursework is submitted and marked on a platform called Moodle.
- People with limited mobility are asked to contact the organizer in advance.
- The contact details for the main phone number and accredited.training email are provided.
- The location of the event is Foxburrow Nature Reserve, IP12 1NA.
- Participants must hold a First Aid certificate before delivering Forest School. A 16-hour First Aid with an outdoor element is recommended.
- The course is aimed at individuals who wish to top up their Level 2 Forest School Assistant qualification and lead a Forest School programme as a Level 3 Forest School Leader.
For more detailed information or bookings, contact Suffolk Wildlife Trust directly or visit their events page. The Diversity and Inclusion policy, Students complaints and appeals procedures are available within the Terms & Conditions.
This Level 3 Forest School Leader Course with Suffolk Wildlife Trust focuses on education-and-self-development and personal-growth, providing an opportunity for individuals to gain leadership, facilitation, practical, and teaching skills for Forest School programs, contributing to their learning and overall development. Participants should submit a coursework portfolio that encompasses units of learning within 12 months after completing the 10-day outdoor training, which includes topics like forest school program delivery, woodland flora and fauna, and risk management, fostering educational experiences in a forest school setting.
