Level 1 - Foundation in Forest Schools - Online Training

Over 25,000+ Happy Learners

Level 1 - Foundation in Forest Schools - Online Training

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£197.00
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Full Accreditation - £197
Course Only - £97
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Sam Thomas
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“ I'd been reading about Forest Schools for years but everything I found online was either too vague or assumed I already knew what it was. This finally explained it properly. Started Level 3 a few months later. ”

3 Easy Steps to Becoming a Forest School Assistant

Everything you need to confidently support a qualified Forest School Leader, learned in one immersive week.

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1

Book Your Place

Choose your pathway, pay securely, and get instant access to your learning portal. From £97.

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2

Learn From Anywhere

Study online at your own pace with a 12-month completion window. Live support sessions throughout.

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3

Get Certified

Finish the course and receive your certificate. The accredited pathway leads to your Open Awards Level 1 qualification.

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Understand Forest Schools Properly Before You Go Further

The philosophy, the ethos, the framework. Studied from anywhere.

Most introductions to Forest Schools are either a paragraph on a nursery website or a 200-page textbook. Neither tells you what it actually is or whether it's for you. Our Foundations course sits in the middle. It's a structured, online programme that walks you through the philosophy of Forest Schools, the methodology, and the practical considerations of running sessions in a woodland setting. By the end, you'll know whether this is a path you want to take further, and you'll have the language and the theory to take the next step with confidence.

  • Built on the same proprietary frameworks taught at Level 3, including the Blackwell Growth Cycle and the Archimedes Model
  • Studied entirely online, at your own pace, around your existing commitments
  • Choose to add an Ofqual-regulated qualification, or take the course for the learning alone
Enrol Now
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The Foundations You'll Cover

Five areas of study, designed to give you a complete picture of what Forest Schools is, why it works, and what running it involves.

  • The Forest Schools approach to learning, and how it develops the whole child across physical, intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual domains
  • The role of freely chosen play, and why the adult's job is often to step back rather than step in
  • Reading a woodland site, identifying species, and managing hazards without eliminating challenge
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How The Course Works

Fully online. Genuinely self-paced. Designed for people fitting study around real life.

  • Work through structured online modules at your own pace, with a 12-month completion window
  • Live online support sessions and same-day responses to questions throughout
  • On the accredited pathway, build a portfolio and submit for assessment when you're ready

Reviewed by +20,000 Confident Leaders

Two Pathways. Choose What Fits

Same course content. Same support. The difference is whether you need a regulated qualification at the end.

Full course access
Online modules and learning materials
Ofqual-regulated qualification
Certificate of completion from Forest Schools Education
Portfolio assessment
Foundations + Qualification - £197
Foundations - £97
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Reviewed by +100 Happy Customers

Join the 25,000+ People Who Trained With Us

Reviewed by +1000 New Leaders

What people are saying about our Forest Schools training

Real Stories From People Who Made The Leap.

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Greg K.

Verified Customer

I was a burnt out Year 4 teacher. Now I spend my days in the woods with children. No contest.

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Maisie L.

Verified Customer

The children I work with have SEN and forest school has been incredible for them. This course prepared me properly

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Karina M.

Verified Customer

Loved it. My nursery manager is sending two more staff on the next cohort

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Ruth A.

Verified Customer

I've seen children who can't sit still for 5 minutes in a classroom happily engage for 2 hours in the woods. This training showed me how to facilitate that properly.

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Jessie B.

Verified Customer

My favourite week of the year was my training week. Came home a different person.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Got questions? We’ve got answers!

What's the difference between the £97 and £197 pathway?
Both pathways give you full access to the same course, the same materials, and the same support. The £197 pathway also includes a portfolio assessment and the Open Awards Level 1 Award in Introduction to Forest School Principles, which is an Ofqual-regulated qualification. The £97 pathway gives you a certificate of completion from Forest Schools Education. If you need a recognised qualification on your CV, choose £197. If you want the learning for its own sake, £97 covers everything you need.
Can I upgrade from £97 to £197 later?
Yes. If you start on the £97 pathway and decide you want the regulated qualification, you can pay the difference and switch to the accredited route at any point during your 12-month enrolment. Get in touch and we'll arrange it.
Do I need any previous experience to take this course?
No. The Foundations course is designed for complete beginners. You don't need a teaching background, an outdoor qualification, or any prior Forest Schools experience.
How long does it take to complete?
You have 12 months from enrolment. Most learners complete the £97 pathway in around 4 to 8 weeks of part-time study. The £197 pathway takes longer because of the portfolio element, typically 2 to 4 months working at your own pace. But it's mostly up to you.
Is it really fully online? Do I ever need to go outside?
The taught content is fully online. For the £97 pathway, no outdoor work is required. For the £197 pathway, you'll need to participate in and reflect on Forest Schools-style experiences in an outdoor setting as part of your portfolio. This can be a local woodland, a park, a garden, or any green space you can access safely.
Is the qualification on the £197 pathway recognised?
Yes. The Level 1 Award in Introduction to Forest School Principles is accredited by Open Awards, a nationally recognised Ofqual-regulated awarding body.
Can I progress to Level 2 or Level 3 after this?
Yes. The Foundations course is a strong starting point for either route. Many learners go on to Level 3 to qualify as a Forest School Leader. Completing this course first means you'll already know the ethos, the vocabulary, and the methodology before you arrive at the practical training.
What if I change my mind after enrolling?
You have a 14-day cooling-off period from enrolment for a full refund.
Who is this course for?
Parents who want to understand the approach their child's nursery or school uses. Home educators looking for a structured outdoor pedagogy. Teaching assistants, early years practitioners, and childminders who want a formal grounding in Forest Schools. Career-changers exploring whether outdoor education is their next step. Anyone who suspects Forest Schools might be a path they want to follow further and wants to find out properly first.

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