Level 1 Foundation in Forest Schools, Self Guided - Online

Over 25,000+ Happy Learners

Level 1 Foundation in Forest Schools, Self Guided - Online

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£147.00
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Open Awards Accredited - £197
Unaccredited - £147
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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 £147.

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2

Learn From Anywhere

Study online at your own pace with a 3-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
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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 3-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 +25,000 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 - £147
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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 £147 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 £147 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, £147 covers everything you need.
Can I upgrade from £147 to £197 later?
Yes. If you start on the £147 pathway and decide you want the regulated qualification, you can pay the difference and switch to the accredited route at any point during your 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 3 months from enrolment. On the £147 pathway there is nothing to submit and nothing to be marked, so you work through the material, if you choose to, at whatever pace suits you. The £197 pathway takes longer because of the portfolio, usually 8 to 12 weeks of part-time study, and it needs to be finished within the 3 months.
Is it really fully online? Do I ever need to go outside?
The taught content is fully online. For the £147 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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