Forest School Leader Study Guide :: March 2025

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Forest School Leader training – Level 3

Learners have one year from registration – first practical session – to complete all coursework elements. This is a requirement of the awarding body. If you have any issues working within this time-frame, please contact the centre manager in due course.

🌳155 Guided Learning Hours
🌳35 hours on site practical
🌳120 hours supported theory Study Guide

Followed by a practical observation at your setting

In this Forest School Leader, Level 3 course, you will learn practical skills and knowledge to work as a Forest School Leader. This will include building factual, procedural and theoretical knowledge and understanding of Forest School.

Course learning outcomes

Once you have completed the studies you should be able to:
1. understand the development of Forest School
2. be able to manage the ecological impact of Forest School
3. develop the underpinning documents required for a Forest School programme
4. plan in line with the Forest School ethos and principles

What will the course entail?

Once you have enrolled on the course we will begin guiding you through the step by step process of the training programme.

This qualification combines practical sessions at our setting with theory elements supported by our Study Guide.
These units are fully supported by the team at Inspired Forest School Training, offering advice and coursework marking, via the Google Classroom platform you will be invited to via email.

How many modules are there?

The Forest School Leader award (Level 3) is divided into 5 clear units, of which 3 can be achieved online. The remaining two units will be completed on the Forest School Practical Days (x2) you choose to attend in the future.

Planning and Preparation
Delivery
Learning and Development
Practical Skills
The Woodland Environment

Offering a guided, supported opportunity to train.

Learn practical skills alongside our training team.

Curriculum

20 Sections
52 Lessons
65 Weeks

Expand all sectionsCollapse all sections

Week 1 : Introduction to training with Inspired [3 hours]
A chance to introduce the Forest School Leader (Level 3) qualification and the team supporting you on your journey to qualification.
7
- 1.0
  Welcome from the Inspired Forest School tutors
- 1.1
  Guide to Forest School Leader qualification
- 1.2
  Module flow chart
- 1.3
  Study Guide
- 1.4
  Assessment
- 1.5
  Study support : Google Classroom
- 1.6
  (Unit 1: Task 2) Begin reflective journal entries
Weeks 2 – 3 : Planning and Preparation [3 hours]
Preparing for study is imperative to success. Follow these guides to get ready for the training programme.
9
- 2.0
  Introduction to Unit: Planning and Preparation
- 2.1
  Unit objectives
- 2.2
  Unit 1 : Learning and Development
- 2.3
  Unit 2 : Planning and Preparation
- 2.4
  Unit 3 : The Woodland Environment
- 2.5
  Unit 4 : Practical Skills
- 2.6
  Unit 5 : Programme Delivery
- 2.7
  Submitting work for assessment
- 2.8
  Your Portfolio Of Evidence
Week 4 : (Unit1) Theories of Learning and Development [5 hours]
Learners will gain knowledge and understanding of the Forest School pedagogy and approach to Learning and Development
2
- 3.0
  Week 4: TASK – Theories of learning and development
- 3.1
  Week 4: Summary
Week 5 : (Unit1) Principles of Forest School [5 hours]
Learners will gain knowledge and understanding of the Forest School pedagogy and approach to Learning and Development
2
- 4.0
  Week 5: TASK – Principles of Forest School
- 4.1
  Week 5: Summary
Weeks 6 – 7 : (Unit1) Social and emotional development [8 hours]
Learners will gain knowledge and understanding of the Forest School pedagogy and approach to Learning and Development
2
- 5.0
  Week 6&7: TASK – Social and Emotional Development
- 5.1
  Week 6&7 : Summary
Weeks 8 – 9 : (Unit1) Key characteristics of Play [9 hours]
Learners will gain knowledge and understanding of the Forest School pedagogy and approach to Learning and Development
2
- 6.0
  Week 8&9: TASK – Key Characteristics Of Play
- 6.1
  Week 8&9: Summary
Weeks 10 – 11 : (Unit 2) Outline Forest School development [12 hours]
Learners will gain knowledge and understanding of the Forest School pedagogy and approach to Learning and Development
4
- 7.0
  Unit 2 objectives
- 7.1
  Unit 2 structure
- 7.2
  Week 10&11: TASK – Outline Forest School development
- 7.3
  Week 10&11: Summary
Week 12 : (Unit 4) Structure of woodland [5 hours]
Learners will gain knowledge of the benefits of woodlands, their structures and management
2
- 8.0
  Week 12 – TASK: Compare structure of woodlands
- 8.1
  Week 12: Summary
Week 13 : (Unit4) Importance of Flora and Fauna identification [4 hours]
Learners will gain knowledge of the benefits of woodlands, their structures and management
2
- 9.0
  Week 13 – TASK: Flora and Fauna
- 9.1
  Week 13: Summary
Weeks 14 – 16 : (Unit4) Create an Identification key [12 hours]
Learners will gain knowledge of the benefits of woodlands, their structures and management
2
- 10.0
  Weeks 14-16 – TASK: Create an Identification Key
- 10.1
  Week 14-16: Summary
Week 17 : (Unit4) Woodland management methods [6 hours]
Learners will gain knowledge of the benfits of woodlands, their structures and management
2
- 11.0
  Weeks 17 – TASK: Woodland Management Methods
- 11.1
  Week 17: Summary
Week 18 – 19 : (Unit4) Involving participants in woodland management [5 hours]
Learners will gain knowledge of the benfits of woodlands, their structures and management
3
- 12.0
  Weeks 18 – TASK: Involving participants in woodland management
- 12.1
  Week 19 – TASK: Connection to woodland environment
- 12.2
  Week 18 – 19 Summary
Weeks 20 – 21 : (Unit2) Ecological Impact on your site [14 hours]
Learners will gain knowledge of the benefits of woodlands, their structures and management
2
- 13.0
  Weeks 20-21 TASK: Assessing Ecological Impact
- 13.1
  Week 20-21 Summary
Week 22 : (Unit2) 3 Year Management plan [6 hours]
Learners will gain knowledge of the benefits of woodlands, their structures and management
2
- 14.0
  Weeks 22 TASK: Three Year Ecological Management Plan
- 14.1
  Week 22 Summary
Week 23 : (Unit 5) Portfolio of practical skills
Learners will gain practical skills and be able to teach practical skills to Forest School participants
2
- 15.0
  Week 23 – TASK: Portfolio Of Practical Skills
- 15.1
  Week 23: Summary
Week 24 – 27: (Unit 2) Forest School Handbook
Your Forest School sessions can only begin once this Handbook has been ‘signed off’ by us
3
- 16.0
  Week 24-26: Forest School Handbook
- 16.1
  Week 25: Risk Assessment
- 16.2
  Week 27 : Role description and application
Week 28 : (Unit 3) Session plans and evaluations
Learners will gain knowledge and skills to facilitate and evaluate a Forest School Programme
1
- 17.0
  Weeks 28 – TASK: (Unit 3) Session plans and evaluations
Week 29: (Unit 3) Observations of students
Learners will gain knowledge and skills to facilitate and evaluate a Forest School Programme
1
- 18.0
  Weeks 29 – TASK: (Unit 3) Observations of students
Week 30: (Unit 3) Summative Evaluation
Learners will gain knowledge and skills to facilitate and evaluate a Forest School Programme
1
- 19.0
  Weeks 30 – TASK: (Unit 3) Summative Evaluation
Week 31: Review of training
How did you training go? Would you recommend us to a colleague? Your help is appreciated 👍🌳
1
- 20.0
  Review of training experiences