This qualification is designed for practitioners who wish to learn safe and effective methods to carry out Forest School principles and methodologies within their own work setting. It is of particular interest to teachers, youth workers, play workers, and other practitioners working in schools, children’s homes, activity centres, and other provisions with children from age 7 to 16 years of age. The qualification considers how Forest School methodologies can be integrated into an environment with children and young people. Whether the setting is in a rural environment, rich with woodland access, or an urban environment where practice is completed on a school site, this qualification supports practitioners to support children and young people in their well-being, holistic development, and environmental stewardship, in an age-appropriate way.
Learners will gain an understanding of:
Learners will gain an understanding of:
- the philosophy and principles of forest school practice
- practical skills in outdoor activities that can be safely shared with children
- risk assessment and safety protocols
- pedagogical insights into nature-based learning and child-led exploration
- design age-appropriate, nature-inspired activities that align with the needs and aspirations of children and young people
Key Information
Key Information
Qualification Number: CQ11826
Level: 3
Hours: 550
Minumum Age at entry: 16 years
Entry Requirements: There are no formal entry requirements for this qualification, although learners will benefit from having studied at level 3 previously, such as an Early Years Educator Diploma or a Teaching Assistant qualification. Regardless of prior learning, experience in working with young children is required and a voluntary or paid placement will need to be accessible to gain practical evidence for the qualification.
Course length: 9-15 months with flexibility around the learner needs
Qualification Number: CQ11826
Level: 3
Hours: 550
Minumum Age at entry: 16 years
Entry Requirements: There are no formal entry requirements for this qualification, although learners will benefit from having studied at level 3 previously, such as an Early Years Educator Diploma or a Teaching Assistant qualification. Regardless of prior learning, experience in working with young children is required and a voluntary or paid placement will need to be accessible to gain practical evidence for the qualification.
Course length: 9-15 months with flexibility around the learner needs
Course Information and Syllabus
Course Information and Syllabus
This Level 3 Diploma is specifically designed for educators, youth workers, and other practitioners working with children and young people aged 7 to 16 years. It focuses on imparting safe and effective methods for integrating Forest School principles into diverse settings, from schools and children’s homes to activity centres. The qualification enhances the participants' ability to foster holistic development, well-being, and environmental stewardship among children and young people in both rural and urban settings.
Aims and Objectives
Course Content and Units
Unit 1: Philosophy and Principles of Forest School PracticeThis unit covers the origins and evolution of Forest Schools, highlighting its Scandinavian influences and adaptations in the UK. It introduces the core principles of Forest School, such as child-led learning and the importance of risky play. The benefits of Forest School on the holistic development of children and young people are also explored, along with strategies for promoting environmental stewardship and resource management.
Unit 2: Practical Skills in Outdoor Activities for a Forest School ProvisionLearners develop practical skills needed to conduct outdoor activities safely. This includes the correct use of various tools, managing fire safety, and outdoor cooking practices. The unit teaches safe handling and emergency procedures for tools and fires, alongside simple recipes that are appropriate for outdoor settings.
Unit 3: Health, Safety, and Risk Management in the Forest School ProvisionThis unit focuses on safety and legal compliance in Forest School settings. It includes conducting risk assessments, understanding health and safety laws, and managing emergencies. Learners will also learn the importance of record-keeping for safety and safeguarding in outdoor educational settings.
Unit 4: Planning and Implementing Forest School Sessions for Children and Young PeopleIn this unit, learners will plan and deliver Forest School sessions that cater to the diverse needs of children and young people. It covers how to use care plans to set session objectives, manage group behaviour, and assess the effectiveness of activities in meeting educational goals.
Unit 5: Facilitating Outdoor Adventure Play for Children and Young PeopleThis unit introduces the concept of outdoor adventure play and its benefits for the holistic development of children and young people. Learners will plan and lead adventure play activities, focusing on risk management and safety while encouraging independence and teamwork among participants.
This diploma is ideal for practitioners looking to enrich their educational practice with outdoor learning experiences specifically tailored to children and young people aged 7 to 16, promoting a deep, meaningful engagement with the natural world.
You will have access to a comprehensive platform of interactive online learning materials, which you can engage in at your own pace. In addition, you can book tutorials with your tutor over Zoom as and when you require these. You will engage in a range of assessment tasks to build your portfolio of evidence, which is assessed by your NCCE Tutor and then Externally Quality Assured by our awarding organisation, NCFE CACHE. You will be required to set targets for your PLP (Personal Learning Plan) that are then provided to you on your portfolio page. You will need to aim to work towards the dates that you have set, but we understand that life happens and your dates can be adjusted- we work flexibly with all our learners here at NCCE.
This Level 3 Diploma is specifically designed for educators, youth workers, and other practitioners working with children and young people aged 7 to 16 years. It focuses on imparting safe and effective methods for integrating Forest School principles into diverse settings, from schools and children’s homes to activity centres. The qualification enhances the participants' ability to foster holistic development, well-being, and environmental stewardship among children and young people in both rural and urban settings.
Aims and Objectives
- Understanding Forest School Philosophy and Principles: Learners will delve into the historical and theoretical foundations of Forest School practices, emphasising child-led learning and long-term outdoor engagement.
- Practical Outdoor Skills: The course provides essential skills for safely conducting outdoor activities, including tool use, fire management, and outdoor cooking tailored to older children and young people.
- Risk Assessment and Safety Management: Participants will learn to perform detailed risk assessments and implement robust safety protocols to ensure secure outdoor experiences.
- Pedagogical Insights: The program covers the integration of Forest School methodologies into standard curricula, focusing on nature-based learning and child-led exploration that aligns with the developmental needs of older children.
- Design and Implementation of Activities: Learners will design and execute age-appropriate, nature-inspired activities that foster cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.
Course Content and Units
Unit 1: Philosophy and Principles of Forest School PracticeThis unit covers the origins and evolution of Forest Schools, highlighting its Scandinavian influences and adaptations in the UK. It introduces the core principles of Forest School, such as child-led learning and the importance of risky play. The benefits of Forest School on the holistic development of children and young people are also explored, along with strategies for promoting environmental stewardship and resource management.
Unit 2: Practical Skills in Outdoor Activities for a Forest School ProvisionLearners develop practical skills needed to conduct outdoor activities safely. This includes the correct use of various tools, managing fire safety, and outdoor cooking practices. The unit teaches safe handling and emergency procedures for tools and fires, alongside simple recipes that are appropriate for outdoor settings.
Unit 3: Health, Safety, and Risk Management in the Forest School ProvisionThis unit focuses on safety and legal compliance in Forest School settings. It includes conducting risk assessments, understanding health and safety laws, and managing emergencies. Learners will also learn the importance of record-keeping for safety and safeguarding in outdoor educational settings.
Unit 4: Planning and Implementing Forest School Sessions for Children and Young PeopleIn this unit, learners will plan and deliver Forest School sessions that cater to the diverse needs of children and young people. It covers how to use care plans to set session objectives, manage group behaviour, and assess the effectiveness of activities in meeting educational goals.
Unit 5: Facilitating Outdoor Adventure Play for Children and Young PeopleThis unit introduces the concept of outdoor adventure play and its benefits for the holistic development of children and young people. Learners will plan and lead adventure play activities, focusing on risk management and safety while encouraging independence and teamwork among participants.
This diploma is ideal for practitioners looking to enrich their educational practice with outdoor learning experiences specifically tailored to children and young people aged 7 to 16, promoting a deep, meaningful engagement with the natural world.
You will have access to a comprehensive platform of interactive online learning materials, which you can engage in at your own pace. In addition, you can book tutorials with your tutor over Zoom as and when you require these. You will engage in a range of assessment tasks to build your portfolio of evidence, which is assessed by your NCCE Tutor and then Externally Quality Assured by our awarding organisation, NCFE CACHE. You will be required to set targets for your PLP (Personal Learning Plan) that are then provided to you on your portfolio page. You will need to aim to work towards the dates that you have set, but we understand that life happens and your dates can be adjusted- we work flexibly with all our learners here at NCCE.
Placement Requirements
Placement Requirements
Practical experience in working with children and/or young people and access to a setting where Forest School principles can be applied is essential. This can be within any suitable setting. There are no minimum practical hours to record, but you will need to demonstrate practical skills throughoyt the programme.
Practical experience in working with children and/or young people and access to a setting where Forest School principles can be applied is essential. This can be within any suitable setting. There are no minimum practical hours to record, but you will need to demonstrate practical skills throughoyt the programme.
Financing Your Studies
NCCE offer the opportunity to spread the cost of your studies interest-free for a duration of up to 6 months, helping to promote a low-cost alternative to to student finance, that has hefty interest added to your loan.
Please see our page Funding Your Learning for more information.
Please see our page Funding Your Learning for more information.
Our qualification has been developed to meet the specific needs of our learners and has been accredited by NCFE demonstrating the quality and rigour.
NCFE is an awarding organisation recognised by the qualification regulators for England (Ofqual), Wales (Qualifications Wales) and Northern Ireland (CCEA Regulation). This is an unregulated qualification and is not a nationally recognised qualification. This qualification has been accredited as a Customised Qualification and we have benchmarked the qualification’s learning outcomes and assessment criteria at Level (using a national framework’s level descriptors) to allow you to demonstrate the difficulty and depth of study. On completion of the Customised Qualification, learners will receive a certificate of achievement. The certificate is evidence of the knowledge and skills gained by completing the qualification. This qualification has been accredited by NCFE under the Customised Qualification and the certificate of achievement will be issued directly by NCFE.
NCFE is an awarding organisation recognised by the qualification regulators for England (Ofqual), Wales (Qualifications Wales) and Northern Ireland (CCEA Regulation). This is an unregulated qualification and is not a nationally recognised qualification. This qualification has been accredited as a Customised Qualification and we have benchmarked the qualification’s learning outcomes and assessment criteria at Level (using a national framework’s level descriptors) to allow you to demonstrate the difficulty and depth of study. On completion of the Customised Qualification, learners will receive a certificate of achievement. The certificate is evidence of the knowledge and skills gained by completing the qualification. This qualification has been accredited by NCFE under the Customised Qualification and the certificate of achievement will be issued directly by NCFE.
