Forest School Training, Newcastle, UK
Welcome to our Forest School Training page
We offer both Forest School Level 1 and Level 3 courses at our lovely site here at Scotswood Garden in Newcastle upon Tyne. Our highly experienced, knowledgeable trainers ensure that all courses are both engaging and informative. If you choose to train with us, you'll join of hundreds of like-minded people who have trained at Scotswood Garden over the years.
Below you'll find the dates of our next courses and more details on both Level 1 and Level 3 training including course content and feedback from past participants. Any questions? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We're very proud to report that Harriet has been recognised as an ENDORSED Forest School Trainer by the Forest School Association (FSA). Harriet is a highly experienced practitioner and the Education Manager at Scotswood Garden. Along with her colleague, Kay, she leads the Level 3 training. She also oversees everything else education-related at Scotswood Garden. Go to this page of the FSA website Find a Forest School Trainer and click on our pin to view our listing.
To find out more about the FSA, please see here: Forest School Association | What is Forest School? | Forest Schools | Nature Premium
Forest School Level 1 Award: Introduction to Forest School Principles (3 day course)
This course is great for those wanting to find out more about Forest School. It is full of activities, games and ideas to enrich your practice, as well as introducing you to some of the skills of forest school. For more information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
*BOOKING NOW* Level 1 course dates (3 days) in Spring 2025: 10th April, 1st May and 8th May 2025.
Book here: Booking form for Forest School Level 1 course at Scotswood Garden Spring 2025
*BOOKING NOW* Level 1 course dates (3 days) in Autumn 2025: 25th Sept, 2nd and 9th October 2025.
Book here: Booking form for Forest School Level 1 Training at Scotswood Garden Autumn 2025
Learners will need to attend all 3 days to complete the course. Cost £300 per person. Training days run 9.00am - 5.00pm.
We offer 2 subsidised places on each Level 1 course (half price, i.e. £150) for people on low income. People from backgrounds that are under represented in outdoor education (people of colour, disabled people) will be given priority. For more information and an application form, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Forest School LEVEL 1 Award: Introduction to Forest School Principles
The Level 1 course is suitable for peo
The total qualification time for this course is 30 hours. This includes 3 days of face to face teaching, and the requirement to observe a forest school session (we can help arrange this for you if necessary). We will provide a course book with 9 short written assessment tasks. There will be time to complete all of these on the course, although you can take your workbook home to add extra information if you wish.
Feedback from Level 1 participants: "This is the best course I have been on in 21 years of teaching.""I found the course highly informative and very useful to my work practice and personally. Thank you."LEVEL 3 Certificate in Forest School Programme Leadership (10 day course)
A comprehensive course for those wanting to deliver their own forest school sessions. For more information or to request a booking form, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
*BOOKING NOW* Level 3 course dates (10 days) starting in Spring 2025: 27th & 28th March; 3rd & 4th April; 5th & 6th June; 6th, 7th, 13th & 14th November 2025. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a booking form.
*BOOKING NOW* Level 3 course dates (10 days) starting in Autumn 2025: 16th, 17th, 23rd & 24th October 2025; 26th & 27th February 2026; 18th, 19th, 25th & 26th June 2026. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a booking form.
Cost £900 per person, includes one year's membership of Forest School Association. Training days will run 9.00am - 5.00pm. Learners need to attend all 10 days of training. For a more detailed description of the level 3 course, scroll down the page.
We offer 2 subsidised places on each Level 3 course (half price, i.e. £450) for people on low income. People from backgrounds that are under represented in outdoor education (people of colour, disabled people) will be given priority. For more information and an application form, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Level 3 Certificate in Forest School Programme Leadership
The Level 3 course represents the industry standard for those that wish to lead their own forest school sessions. We have developed this course together with Kindling Play and Training.
Harriet of Scotswood Garden and Lily of Kindling have used their many years of experience in delivering Forest School and Forest School training programmes, to develop a new format for the OCN Level 3 (RQF) course that excites and inspires participants, whilst providing all the theory, skills and knowledge necessary to set up and lead a Forest School programme. The course guides learners through an enjoyable, supportive learning process with clear, easy to understand teaching materials. The course is taught outside, through a mixture of games, practical activities, reflection and creative presentations. The course is delivered by Harriet and Kay Stott, who is an experienced teacher, forest school leader and community musician.
Participants are assessed in their learning through the submission of 20 assessment tasks, completed throughout the course. Some tasks will be completed during the training and some will be written up in between the taught sessions. Participants on the course will need to plan and deliver 6 Forest School sessions with the same group of children.
This Forest School Level 3 course is aimed at individuals who have a minimum Level 2 qualification in Youth Work, Child Care, Teaching, or relevant experience in working with children. Participants must be 19 year old or over. Please contact us for more details on this.
Feedback from Level 3 participants:
"Quite honestly I felt in very safe and professional hands. Even before it started I felt that needs were met. The content was completely inspirational and delivered with such passion and confidence it would have been hard not to be immersed in learning at all times. The complete diversity of teaching styles was really engaging and really taught me a lot".
"Wonderful setting and welcoming place."
"What an experience! Forest School has been a really incredible learning experience that has changed a part of me. I've found peace in the forest and learnt a lot along the way."
“Harriet and Kay are amazing! Inspirational, motivational, professional, approachable and wonderful people who have converted me to the forest school life!"
"Unbelievable training course, you would be hard pressed to find a more inspirational, engaging and playful training course for all leaders".
"I have accumulated a wealth of skills, knowledge and understanding, and am far from the practitioner I was at the start".
Forest School Level 3 - More notes on course content
The course will support you to understand everything you need to know to design and run a Forest School programme safely and effectively including:
- Understanding how children learn and develop
- Learning about woodland plants and animals and how to care for woodlands
- Practical skills including fire lighting, cooking, using tools, tying knots and building shelters
- How to safely teach these practical skills to a group
- How to maintain safety and wellbeing, and understand the relationship between risk and developmental benefit
- How to effectively communicate the ethos and benefits of Forest School
Course Duration and Assessments
The total qualification time for this course is 180 hours. This includes:
- 10 taught days (5 x 2 day blocks) of teaching spread over 9 months
- Written work: learners complete and submit 20 written tasks throughout the course. The last of these tasks are submitted 3 months after the last day of training. We estimate these will take approximately 60 hours to complete outside of the face to face training.
- You will plan, deliver and evaluate 6 sessions with a group of learners in your setting.
- Ongoing support and advice available by telephone or email throughout the course.
- During the last 4 days of training, learners will demonstrate their practical skills and work together to deliver a session that demonstrates the ethos of forest school.
For more information or to book a place on the course please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us for a chat.
First Aid Training
Before the last day of training, learners need to complete a separate 2 day ITC Outdoor first aid course (not included in price). Susan Byrne from "Where We Tread" offers accredited ITC First Aid training for forest school trainees that will combine an outdoor qualification with a pediatric first aid qualification. She will arrange a training course for the participants on each course. If you cannot attend the dates, we can recommend other alternatives. If you are due to renew your pediatric first aid before you start the course, you can save time and book onto a course that combines both, rather than doing a pediatric one now and an outdoor one later. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
All trainees on both courses will receive a 5% discount on forest school resources from Muddy Faces: Home | Muddy Faces