Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders, including First Aid training

Welcome to our Level 3 Forest School Leaders training page. This is the course to do if you want to lead your own Forest School sessions. The Forest School part is 10 days long, and the First Aid is an additional two days, making 12 days in total. The total cost is £950 + £160 = £1110. Please read on to find out more about it.

To request a booking form for our Spring Level 3 course, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

LEVEL 3 CERTIFICATE FOR FOREST SCHOOL LEADERS (10 DAYS) This comprehensive, ten-day course represents the industry standard in Forest School training. Designed by our expert tutor, Harriet Menter, and Lily Horseman of Kindling Play and Training (member of the Forest School Association board of directors), this course supports you to understand everything you need to know to design and run a Forest School programme safely and effectively including:

• How children and young people 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, erecting play structures 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.

The course is fun and inspirational, taught through an enjoyable and supportive learning process with clear, easy to understand teaching materials. It is taught both indoors and outdoors through a mixture of games, practical activities, reflection and creative presentations. 

The course is accredited by ITC First and is equivalent to an A level. 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 also need to plan and deliver six Forest School sessions with the same group of learners (these can be children or adults). We’ll provide you with more details of the coursework when you contact us to book.

FIRST AID TRAINING (2 DAYS) Alongside the Level 3 Forest School Leaders course, you will spend an additional two days at Scotswood Garden doing Outdoor First Aid and Paediatric First Aid training. It is a requirement of the Level 3 Forest School Leaders course to hold the Level 3 Outdoor First Aid qualification. We also cover the Level 3 Paediatric First Aid during these two days, given that most people are working with children. Both these courses are also accredited by ITC First and run for us by Susan Byrne from Where We Tread. Not only is Susan a first aid trainer, but also a fully qualified and experienced Forest School leader who has worked with us over many years. 

We’ve incorporated the first aid training into the course offer so that you don’t have to find, book and pay for a separate outdoor first aid course elsewhere. The total cost of both First Aid training courses is £160 - £140 (Outdoor First Aid) and £20 (Paediatric First Aid).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION All participants receive a 5% discount on forest school resources from Muddy Faces Home | Muddy Faces; and one year's membership of the Forest School Association. 

FEEDBACK FROM RECENT 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".

BOOKING INFORMATION

Before you book: Please read our “Coursework and Training Time Commitment” document which goes into more detail about the coursework and time involved. To request this document and to book, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. If you are booking the course for a colleague, please ensure you have shared this information with them. Thank you. Please note: Participants must be 19 years old or over. 

Course dates starting in SPRING 2027 - BOOKING NOW

All days are Thursdays and Fridays, all 9-5 (except first aid days which run until 5.30pm):

Days 1-4: 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th March 2027

Outdoor First Aid training days: Either 20th & 21st May or 27th & 28th May (you can choose whilst available)

Days 5-6: 1st and 2nd July 2027

Days 7-10: 4th, 5th, 11th and 12 November 2027

Learners must attend all 12 days of training to complete the course. 

Course dates starting in AUTUMN 2026 *Sorry, this course is now full, but there are still spaces on the waiting list* - All Thursdays and Fridays, all 9-5 (except first aid days which run to 5.30pm): 15th, 16th, 22nd & 23rd October 2026; 26th & 27th November 2026* (First Aid days); 25th & 26th Feb 2027; 10th, 11th, 17th & 18th June 2027.

Entry requirements: We ask that all participants on the Level 3 course have at least one of the following:

• 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 email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request a booking form.

Cost per person: £950 Course fee + £140 Outdoor First Aid training fee + £20 Paediatric First Aid fee = £1110

We offer two subsidised places on each Level 3 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 (for example, people of colour or 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.

Other funding - If you are aged 18-30 and not in work, you may be eligible to apply for funding to cover part of the course fee from the King's Fund. See here for more information: Get funding to train and learn | Development Awards