Forest School Training, starts October 2026 – Level 3 Forest School Leader, County Durham

10 day course, £900.00

This is an approved use of Schools’ PE and Sports Premium.

Become a Forest School Leader and safely lead Forest School programmes, getting your children outdoors and active in your school grounds and local area. Learn practical skills such as fire and tool safety and inspirational forest activities as well as gaining health and safety and woodland knowledge. You will run sessions with your own group and complete a portfolio of evidence alongside the course.

This course leads to the NOCN Forest School Leader Level 3 qualification and is appropriate for teachers, teaching assistants and EYFS practitioners interested in the Forest School learning approach.

OASES have trained over 250 forest school practitioners since 2017, revolutionising their practice.

Who is it for?

Those working with children and young people who wish to deliver forest school programmes. Ideal for teachers, teaching assistants, EYFS practitioners, outdoor educators and environmental education staff. You must be 19 years old or over to begin the course and 21 years old or over to complete the course.

What does it involve?

• Delivery of 6 forest school sessions over 6 weeks at your own site. (Please note, if you are working independently of a school or setting, you will need to source a group and insurance for these sessions).
• Completion of a comprehensive portfolio of evidence and reflection– learners have 12 months from the beginning of the course to complete their portfolio.
• 10 days of training.

The qualification includes 5 units:
• Forest School Programme: Planning and Preparation
• Forest School Programme: Delivery
• Forest School Programme: Learning and development
• Forest School Programme: Practical skills (including fires, tools, knots and shelters)
• Forest School Programme: The woodland environment

How do I book?

• Complete the booking form below.
• We recommend that you also complete a 2 day forest school / paediatric first aid qualification. We can provide details of courses that are available in the region.
• We also recommend that you complete food hygiene and safeguarding training.

What should I bring?

• Outdoor clothing including a waterproof coat, waterproof trousers and warm layers.
• Sturdy footwear, such as hiking boots or wellies, with steel toe cap boots recommended.
• A packed lunch or money for cafe/shops. A café is available at Hamsterley and local shops are available at Esh Winning. Tea and coffee is provided at Esh Winning. Please bring a flask at Hamsterley Forest. 

*An upgrade is available to convert from Level 2 to Level 3, for those with a level 2 certificate – 6 Day Course- contact OASES for details*

*Refresher courses are available for practical skills- contact OASES for details*

County Durham 10 day course – Level 3 course starting October 2026

Timings: 10am-3pm with 1 hour per day of self study

Days take place at a mixture of Esh Winning Primary School and Hamsterley Forest. Day 10 is on Microsoft Teams. 

Day 1-Wednesday 7^th October 2026

Day 2–Thursday 8^th October 2026

Day 3-Wednesday 21^st October  2026

Day 4–Thursday 22^nd October  2026

Day 5–Wednesday 4^th November 2026

Day 6- Wednesday 10^th March 2027

Day 7–Thursday 11^th March 2027

Day 8- Wednesday 17^th March 2027

Day 9–Thursday 18^th March 2027

Day 10–Wednesday 15^th April 2027

This course is convenient for organisations and schools in the North East, including Newcastle, Northumberland, Sunderland, Redcar and Cleveland, Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Stockton, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Darlington, Yorkshire, Cumbria and further afield.