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Pioneering UK Forest Schools training since 2000
Forest Schools Level 2 Assistant Training [Online]
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Training that fits the life you already have
Picture it. A short lesson on your lunch break. A quiet half hour of reading in the evening. Then three mornings in the woods, beside children who are discovering what they are capable of. That is the gentle rhythm of Level 2.
2 to 4 hours
Easy to weave around full-time work
Up to 6 months
Move faster whenever life gives you space
3 sessions
In a setting close to you
Keep your job, keep your weekends, and grow anyway. There is no five-day block away from work. You choose when you learn: early mornings, evenings, weekends or school holidays. Whatever rhythm feels right for you is the right one.
You may already know this is for you
If you have ever watched a child light up the moment they step outside, you already understand why Forest Schools matters. Level 2 turns that instinct into a recognised qualification.
Teachers, TAs & nursery staff
You sense how much more children grow when learning steps outside. Level 2 gives you the qualification to bring Forest Schools into your school or setting, working alongside a Level 3 Leader.
Outdoor practitioners
You already feel at home outdoors. Level 2 layers the Forest Schools pedagogy onto everything you know, so each session becomes more child-led, more intentional and richer for everyone in it.
Parents & home educators
You want the children in your life to grow up knowing the woods, the weather and their own capability. Level 2 gives you the framework, the safety knowledge and the credentials to offer that beautifully.
Imagine this as an ordinary Tuesday morning
Rooted in 26 years of practice
Forest Schools Education was founded by Sarah Blackwell in 2000. Sarah brings 45 years in outdoor education, is a published academic, and co-authored the Forest Schools chapter in a SAGE pedagogy textbook. She has trained thousands of practitioners across five continents.
Everything you learn has been shaped by 26 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 same depth of practice we share with Level 3 Leaders, focused on the role you will hold as an assistant.
The Forest Schools ethos & principles
Where Forest Schools came from, the six Forest School principles, and the thinking behind every part of the practice.
Holistic development & PILESS
The PILESS framework (Physical, Intellectual, Language, Emotional, Social, Spiritual) and how to notice and nurture each area in the learners you support.
Play and self-directed learning
How children learn through play in natural places, and how to support them while the lead stays with them.
Dynamic risk assessment
How to read a site, notice hazards and weigh risk against benefit as the day unfolds. Includes downloadable templates you can use straight away.
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 with confidence and care.
Knots, lashings & shelter building
The hands-on skills for building dens and shelters with children, plus the knots and lashings that hold them together.
Fire management & leaving the site
Lighting, tending and extinguishing a fire safely, and leaving every site as beautiful as you found it.
Making and creating with natural materials
Sourcing, working with and crafting from natural materials, with the focus on each child's own creative process.
Observation, assessment & evidence
How to observe with real attention, record what you see, and contribute to each child's progress on a Forest Schools programme.
Inside the learning platform
Everything lives in one calm, simple place. Watch a lesson, download a template, share your evidence and watch your progress grow.
Tool use and Tool Talks
Illustrative example of the learning area
How you will learn
Online and self-paced, with one practical element you weave into your own week.
Self-paced video modules
Step-by-step video lessons led by Sarah and the training team. Watch whenever suits you and return as often as you like.
Downloadable templates & resources
Risk assessments, observation forms, planning templates and reference guides, all yours to keep and use for years to come.
Live help sessions with our trainers
Regular live sessions to ask questions, receive feedback on your portfolio and meet the people learning alongside you.
Supportive community group
A private community where trainees and graduates share advice, photographs and encouragement. You are never learning alone.
Three sessions in your local setting
You will assist on three Forest Schools sessions alongside a Level 3 Leader. If you do not yet have a setting in mind, we will help you find one.
Portfolio of evidence
Your portfolio grows naturally as you go, with written and video evidence and feedback at every stage.
The Archimedes frameworks you will work with
Original frameworks developed by Sarah Blackwell, giving you a clear, structured way to observe, plan and support holistic development.
The PILESS Framework
Six interconnected areas of holistic development (Physical, Intellectual, Language, 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 sessions that build on one another.
5 C's Emotional Wealth Inventory
Map and nurture emotional growth through Consciousness, Control, Catalyst, Compassion, and Community and Companionship, then plan experiences that gently stretch each one.
Tool Talks & the 7 R's
A structured way to introduce, demonstrate and supervise tool use with children, aligned to seven core safety principles.
Who you will become
By the end of your training you will be a qualified Forest Schools Assistant, ready to support real programmes, with real children, in real woodland.
- Assist a qualified Level 3 Leader in delivering Forest Schools sessions
- Carry out dynamic risk assessments on a woodland or outdoor site
- Support children using tools and around fires, safely and confidently
- Help build shelters, dens and structures from natural materials
- Observe and record children's holistic development using PILESS
- Use the Blackwell Growth Cycle to support session planning
- Use the 5 C's to notice and nurture 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.
Everything that comes with you
Founding cohort pricing
Level 2 training is available online for the very first time, and our founding cohort joins below the standard price.
The same total either way. Choose whichever suits you best.
One payment
Nothing further to pay
- Immediate access to both units
- All templates and resources
- Assessor 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
- Assessor feedback and live sessions
- Certification on completion
Indicative only, based on mid-market rates on 31 August 2026. The training 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 Level 2 training take?
You have up to 6 months to complete your training at your own pace. Most learners study 2 to 4 hours a week, plus the time spent assisting at three Forest Schools sessions in a setting near you.
You can finish sooner whenever you have more time, or take the full 6 months if you are fitting it around work and family life.
Do I need Level 1 before doing Level 2?
No. Level 1 is a lovely grounding but it is not required. Level 2 covers the core Forest Schools principles in depth, so you can begin right 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.
Leading your own Forest Schools programme is the next step, through Level 3, and many of our Level 2 graduates go on to do exactly that.
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 training 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, and we deliver our training across five continents.
Do I need to find my own placement?
You will assist on three consecutive Forest Schools sessions alongside 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 yet have a setting in mind, we will guide you towards a suitable placement and can connect you with our network of qualified Leaders.
What happens after I complete my training?
On successful completion you will receive your accredited Level 2 Award and can begin work as a Forest Schools Assistant straight away. You will also join our alumni community and receive discounted progression onto our Level 3 Leader training.
What if I need more time?
Life is full, and we understand that. If you would like more time beyond the six months, simply get in touch and we will find the way forward together. We are here to support you every step of the way.
A note from Sarah
I started Forest Schools Education in 2000 because I could see how much children grow when they are given time, trust and the natural world. Twenty-six years later, what still moves me most is hearing someone return from their placement and describe a child they watched come alive in the woods.
Level 2 is where so many people begin. You do not need to be an outdoor expert, and you do not need to leave your job. You simply need to be curious about how children learn, and ready to give a few hours a week to something that matters.
If that sounds like you, I would love to welcome you into Level 2 training.
Pay in full or in four monthly instalments. 6 months access. Secure checkout.
