What qualifications do you need to teach forest school?

To undertake the level 3 Forest School practitioner training there are prerequisites to meet to be accepted onto a course. If you don’t have a teaching or equivalent qualification in play or youth work, you need at least 2 years’ experience of working with your chosen client group instead.

What is the difference between outdoor learning and Forest School?

‘The difference between outdoor learning and Forest School might be considered to be quite straightforward – that outdoor learning is an umbrella term that covers all sorts of activities and approaches, while Forest School is a defined approach,’ says The Ernest Cook Trust Schools programme lead, Liz MacKenzie.

How does Forest School support outdoor learning?

Forest school is an approach to learning that takes children into the great outdoors whatever the weather to explore the natural environment. For children, forest school activities develop confidence, self-esteem, imagination and physical ability as they are allowed to test their limits in the natural world.

What does forest school training involve?

Forest School is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than one-off or infrequent visits; the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session.

What are the disadvantages of Forest School?

Some of the cons of forest school It can be tough and challenging on bitterly cold days as children spend every day outside, rain or shine. (We did hear from some of our lovely Forest School leaders that they also visit museums if the weather gets really bad.)

What age is forest school for?

Forest School is a concept that has been developed from the Scandinavian approach to learning, where children from the age of 3-7 attend Early Years Education called måbørnspædagogik, or Forest School.

How long should Forest School last?

Forest School sessions are supposed to be regular and over a long enough period of time – not just a few one-off workshops. As a minimum, the FSA suggests at least 24 weeks, over at least two terms, at least two seasons and a minimum of two hours per session. However, many groups continue for years.

Why are forest schools bad?

As children spend time outdoors, they are moving more, climbing trees and jumping in puddles (which we totally support by the way!), there is a slightly bigger chance that they get injured. They are also more exposed to potentially unhygienic items. Both of these risks are closely managed by forest schools.