Forest School Training, Newcastle, UK
Welcome to our Forest School Training page
We offer both the Forest School Level ONE and Level THREE 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.
One of our wonderful tutors, Harriet, is 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
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NEW FOR 2026!
Scotswood Garden Forest School Network
This year, we’re planning a series of events for people who trained with us in the past, as well as those currently on their Forest School journey with us. We know that being a Forest School leader can sometimes feel a little isolated, so we’re creating more opportunities to come together, share experiences, and stay connected.
These gatherings and workshops will offer space to develop your skills, meet others working in the field, and hear about new ideas, resources, and developments across the Forest School world. Whether you’re looking to up your skill level, or simply for a chance to reconnect, we’d love you to join us.
Whittling Workshop
We’re excited to launch a brand-new Whittling Workshop designed for those who trained with us at Level 1 or Level 3, and also people who are currently training with us. This practical, hands-on session offers the chance to refresh and develop your whittling skills, while connecting with fellow Forest Schoolers.
What you’ll learn
- Choosing the right tools and wood
- Safe and effective knife grips & techniques
- Two practical project ideas to start and take back to your Forest School setting
- Health & safety essentials for whittling
- Space to ask questions about tool work, challenges or techniques you’ve been curious about
- Plenty of time to practise and build confidence with your new skills
Led by our trainers
Guided by our wonderful Forest School trainers, Alice and Harriet, this workshop is a chance to share experiences, learn together, and take your whittling practice and confidence to a new level.
Workshop details
Date: Choose between Tuesday 21st April or Tuesday 12th May 2026
Time: 16.15 – 18.15
Venue: Scotswood Garden
Cost: £40
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Entry requirements
This course is open exclusively to those who have already completed a Forest School Level 1 or Level 3 course with us, or who are currently training with us.
Choose the link to book your place
Tuesday 21st April - book here: https://forms.gle/7rqMkpKuyneBvj3F6
Tuesday 12th May - book here: https://forms.gle/Fa5vCptDZQXuMyVDA
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Forest School Level ONE Award: Introduction to Forest School Principles (3 day course)
This course is great for those wanting to find out more about Forest School, no prior experience is necessary. 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. Please see below for more information or contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
BOOK HERE: https://forms.gle/sVgq9Mavp5zjn9jH7
Basic Details of the Level 1 course
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 One course (half price, i.e. £150) for people on low incomes (who are paying for their own places on the course). 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..
*Please note that you can also pay by instalments in the months leading up to the course, although we do ask that all course fees are paid in full before the beginning of the course. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss this further.
More about the Level 1 course
The Level One course is suitable for those at the start of their forest school journey, giving an overview of the principles, introducing many of the skills, and providing a range of ideas for activities and games that learners can use in their own settings. It covers the forests school ethos and the theory that underpins it, practical skills such as fire lighting, using tools and putting up shelters, flora and fauna identification, risk assessment and management, and managing the environmental impact. It is also suitable for teachers, teaching assistants and group leaders who want to understand the ethos of forest schools and incorporate it into their teaching, gain new ideas and inspiration for activities, or decide whether Forest School is for them before embarking on the more involved level three training. Please note that no prior experience or knowledge is necessary to join this course.The total qualification time is 30 hours. This includes three 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 workbook with nine 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. After the course, the workbook is yours to keep for reference.
Feedback from Level 1 participants who attend our last course in Spring 2025 - please read:
"High quality teaching by trainers who boosted my confidence, knowledge and commitment to the outdoors.""Friendly, inclusive and down to earth.""Outstanding on a personal and professional level.""The support was immeasurable.""The setting was stunning, and extremely therapeutic and inspirational.""The trainers were excellent - very approachable, knowledgeable and interesting. They complemented each other so well.""The course provided a brilliant springboard for me to improve my own school setting.""Will take lots of new ideas away to share with reception children.""Very useful for life and work."Want to know more? Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Level THREE Certificate in Forest School Programme Leadership (10 day course + 2 day Outdoor First Aid course)
This is a comprehensive course for those wanting to deliver their own forest school sessions. Please see below for more information. To request a booking form, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Level 3 course dates 12 days* starting in SPRING 2026 **only four places left**: All Thursdays and Fridays, all 9am-5pm (except the first aid days which run to 5.30pm): 19th, 20th, 26th & 27th March 2026; 14th& 15th May 2026*; 9th & 10th July 2026; 5th, 6th, 12th & 13th November 2026. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a booking form.
- A Level 1 Introduction to Forest school certificate
- A minimum of two years of experience of working with children or young people
- A qualification relating to children or young people.
*PLEASE NOTE: Our Level 3 courses now include the compulsory two days of Outdoor First Aid training at Scotswood Garden, as part of the course (rather than learners having to find and pay for a separate first aid course themselves elsewhere).
Basic Details of the Level 3 course
Cost per person: £950 Course fee + £140 Outdoor First Aid training fee (Total £1090)*. This also includes one year's membership of Forest School Association. Training days will run 9.00am - 5.00pm (5.30pm finish on first aid days). Learners need to attend all 12 days of training to complete the course. For a more detailed description of the Level Three course, scroll down the page.
We offer two subsidised places on each Level Three course (half price, i.e. £545) for people on low incomes (who are paying for the course themselves). 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..
More details about the Level 3 course
The Level Three 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 Three (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 previous 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 - Additional 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 for the Level 3 course
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 for Level 3 learners
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
