![Forest Schools Level 2 Assistant Training [Online]](http://www.forestschools.com/cdn/shop/files/OL2.png?v=1777023111&width=1080)
Pioneering UK Forest Schools training since 2000
Forest Schools Level 2 Assistant Training [Online]
100% Secure Checkout
Guaranteed Secure
Time commitment and study schedule
The course is built for people fitting study around full-time work or family life. Here is what to expect.
2 to 4 hours
Manageable around full-time work
Up to 6 months
Finish faster if you have more time
3 sessions
Slot into your existing setting
No week-long block off work needed. Unlike traditional face-to-face courses that require five consecutive days away from your job, our online format means you study when it works for you. Lunchbreaks, evenings, weekends, school holidays, your choice.
Who this course is for
Level 2 works for anyone who wants to support children's learning outdoors, whether you are already in education or coming to it fresh.
Teachers, TAs & nursery staff
You see what classroom-based learning is missing. Level 2 gives you the qualification to bring Forest Schools into your school or setting, working alongside a Level 3 Leader.
Outdoor practitioners
You are already comfortable outdoors. Level 2 layers the Forest Schools pedagogy on top of what you do, so your sessions become more child-led, intentional, and developmentally rich.
Parents & home educators
You want your children, or the children you support, to spend meaningful time in nature. Level 2 gives you the framework, the safety knowledge, and the credentials to do it well.
This is the work you will be qualified to support
About Forest Schools Education
Forest Schools Education was founded by Sarah Blackwell in 2000, and ran the UK's first urban Forest Schools in 2001. Sarah is a published academic, co-author of the Forest Schools chapter in SAGE's leading early years pedagogy textbook, and has trained thousands of practitioners across five continents.
The course content has been refined over 25 years of practice and research, including frameworks Sarah developed herself such as the Blackwell Growth Cycle and the 5 C's Emotional Wealth Inventory.
- Co-author, SAGE Publications
- Author, The Archimedes Forest Schools Model
- Featured in Nursery World
- Ofqual-regulated, accredited by Open Awards
What you will learn
The course is built around the same depth of practice we teach to Level 3 Leaders, with the assistant role as your focus.
The Forest Schools ethos & principles
Where Forest Schools came from, the six core principles, and the reasoning behind every part of the practice.
Holistic development & PILESS
The PILESS framework (Physical, Intellectual, Linguistic, Emotional, Social, Spiritual) and how to observe and support each area in children.
Play and self-directed learning
How children learn through play in natural settings, and how to support without directing.
Dynamic risk assessment
How to read a site, identify hazards, and balance risk against benefit in real time. Includes downloadable assessment templates you can use immediately.
PPE & safe practice
What protective equipment is needed, when, and how to model safe behaviour for the children you support.
Tool use & maintenance
Tool Talks aligned to the 7 R's, demonstration sequences for each tool, and how to support children using bow saws, knives, and loppers safely.
Knots, lashings & shelter building
Practical skills for building dens and shelters with children, plus the knots and lashings that hold them together.
Fire management & leaving the site
Safe fire lighting, management, and extinguishing, plus the principles of leaving no trace at the end of every session.
Making and creating with natural materials
Sourcing, working with, and crafting from natural materials, with a focus on supporting children's creative process.
Observation, assessment & evidence
How to observe meaningfully, document what you see, and contribute to the assessment of children's progress on a Forest Schools programme.
Inside the learning platform
Everything lives in one place. Watch a lesson, download the templates, upload your evidence, track how far through you are.
Tool use and Tool Talks
Illustrative example of the learning area
How the course is delivered
Everything is online and self-paced, with one practical placement element you fit around your own schedule.
Self-paced video modules
Step-by-step video lessons led by Sarah and the training team. Watch in your own time, rewatch as often as you need.
Downloadable templates & resources
Risk assessments, observation forms, planning templates and reference guides, all yours to keep.
Live help sessions with our trainers
Regular live sessions where you can ask questions, get feedback on your portfolio, and connect with other trainees.
Supportive community group
Access to our private learning community where current trainees and graduates share advice, photos, and encouragement.
Three sessions in your local setting
You will assist on three Forest Schools sessions run by a Level 3 Leader. We help you find a placement if you do not already have one.
Portfolio of evidence
Build your portfolio gradually as you go, submitting written and video evidence with feedback at each stage.
The Archimedes frameworks you will work with
Original frameworks developed by Sarah Blackwell and used in our training, giving you a structured way to observe, plan, and support holistic development.
The PILESS Framework
Six interconnected areas of holistic development (Physical, Intellectual, Linguistic, Emotional, Social, Spiritual) used to plan and observe across every session.
The Blackwell Growth Cycle
A six-stage sequence describing how learners grow in Forest Schools: Biology, Boundaries, Belonging, Belief, Build, Brilliance. Use it to plan progressive session sequences.
5 C's Emotional Wealth Inventory
Map and support emotional growth through Consciousness, Control, Compassion, Companionship and Courage. Spot emotional growth and plan stretching experiences.
Tool Talks & the 7 R's
A structured way to introduce, demonstrate, and supervise tool use with children, aligned to the seven core safety principles.
Skills and qualifications you will gain
By the end of the course, you will be a qualified Forest Schools Assistant, ready to support real programmes in real settings.
- Assist a qualified Level 3 Leader in delivering Forest Schools sessions
- Conduct dynamic risk assessments on a woodland or outdoor site
- Support children using tools and around fires safely
- Help build shelters, dens and structures using natural materials
- Observe and document children's holistic development using PILESS
- Use the Blackwell Growth Cycle to support session planning
- Apply the 5 C's framework to spot and support emotional growth
- Hold an internationally recognised, Ofqual-regulated Level 2 qualification
What our trainees say
Reviews from real graduates of our training programmes.
What a fantastic community of people. Above all they believe in the power of what they are teaching. Their training was second to none. They presented a thoroughly researched pedagogy coupled with practical skills.
The session from start to finish was jam packed with facts, a deeper understanding and so much fun. I came away feeling confident and eager to learn more.
Teacher of 24 years. Wish I had found this a decade ago. My only regret is not doing it sooner. Life changing.
What is included in the course
Founding cohort pricing
This is the first time Level 2 has been available online. Founding cohort members pay below the standard course price.
The same total either way. Choose whichever suits your cash flow.
One payment
Nothing further to pay
- Immediate access to both units
- All templates and resources
- Tutor feedback and live sessions
- Certification on completion
per month for 4 months
£697 total, no interest
- Immediate access to both units
- All templates and resources
- Tutor feedback and live sessions
- Certification on completion
Indicative only, based on mid-market rates on 31 August 2026. The course is priced and charged in pounds sterling. Your bank or card issuer sets the rate you actually pay, and it will differ from the figures above.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Level 2 course take?
You have up to 6 months to complete the course at your own pace. Most learners study 2 to 4 hours per week, plus the time spent assisting at three Forest Schools sessions in your local setting.
You can finish faster if you have more time, or take the full 6 months if you are fitting it around work and life.
Do I need Level 1 before doing Level 2?
No. Level 1 is recommended as a grounding but not required. The Level 2 course covers the core Forest Schools principles in depth, so you can start here.
What can I do with the Level 2 qualification?
Level 2 qualifies you to work as a Forest Schools Assistant, supporting a qualified Level 3 Leader in planning and delivering sessions. You will be able to assist with tools, fire, shelter building, and observation.
It does not qualify you to lead or run your own Forest Schools programme. That requires Level 3. Many graduates progress to Level 3 after completing Level 2.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. You can pay in full at £697, or spread the cost across four monthly payments of £174.25 with no interest. Both come to the same total and give the same access from day one. Purchase orders for organisations can be arranged using the special instructions field at checkout.
What currency am I charged in?
The course is priced and charged in pounds sterling. If you are browsing from outside the UK your local currency may be shown at checkout, converted at the rate applying on the day.
Any figures shown elsewhere on this page are a rough guide only. Your bank or card issuer sets the final rate.
Is the qualification recognised internationally?
Yes. The Level 2 Award is accredited by Open Awards and listed on the Ofqual register of regulated qualifications. It is recognised by Forest Schools settings and educational organisations worldwide. We deliver our training across five continents.
Do I need to find my own placement?
You will need to assist on three consecutive Forest Schools sessions run by a qualified Level 3 Leader. This could be at your school, a local nursery, or another Forest Schools provider in your area.
If you do not already have a setting in mind, we provide guidance on how to find a suitable placement and can help connect you with our network of qualified Leaders.
What happens after I complete the course?
On successful completion you will receive your accredited Level 2 Award and can immediately begin work as a Forest Schools Assistant. You will also gain access to our alumni community and discounted progression onto our Level 3 Leader training.
What if I fall behind or need more time?
Life happens. If you need an extension on the 6-month window, get in touch and we will work with you. Our team is here to support you, not punish you for being busy.
A note from Sarah
I started Forest Schools Education in 2000 because I could see what children were missing, and because nobody in the UK was training practitioners to do this properly. Twenty-five years later, the thing that still convinces me is watching someone come back from their placement and describe a child they had written off suddenly coming alive in the woods.
Level 2 is where most people begin. You do not need to be an outdoor expert, and you do not need to leave your job to do it. You need to be curious about how children learn, and willing to put in a few hours a week.
If that sounds like you, I would love to have you on the course.
Pay in full or in four monthly instalments. 6 months access. Secure checkout.
