Level 3 Certificate - Forest School Leader 

AIM Qualifications Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders provides learners with the knowledge and skills required to support individuals in Forest School programmes and outdoor learning.

This qualification is designed to:

• develop leadership, facilitation, practical and teaching skills
• enable learners to understand the principles and ethos of Forest School
• enable learners to deliver Forest School programmes

The qualification is designed to meet the needs of school and college staff, teachers and teaching assistants, youth workers, adults and professionals in training to become a Forest School Leader.

Overview

There are 5 units to the qualification (total 18 credits):

1. Delivery
2. Learning and development
3. Planning and Preparation
4. Practical Skills
5. Woodland as a learning environment

As a learner, you are required to:

1) Attend 5 days intensive training delivered at Heaton Park, Manchester

Your training starts with five days on site - this consists of a combination of theory and practical learning.

2) Attend 5 days practical skills and assessment at Heaton Park, Manchester

Here you will be assessed on your practical skills such as fire building/cooking and use of tools/knots

3) Plan and deliver 6 week ‘Introduction to Forest School’ course

An ‘Introduction to Forest School Programme’ needs to have a minimum of 6 consecutive sessions with a minimum duration of 2 hours.

To deliver a 6 week ‘Introduction to Forest School’ course, you will need:

• Access to a group of children/adults to run your 6 Forest School sessions with
• Access to an appropriate site and permission to run a Forest School programme
• A Outdoor First Aid training certificate
• An enhanced DBS Certificate

4) Complete a written portfolio

Your portfolio is a collection of evidence demonstrating your knowledge and understanding of all 5 units covered in the course.

Entry requirements

It is recommended that learners have a minimum of Level 2 literacy and numeracy skills or Grade 4/C GCSE English and Maths, or equivalent- but no formal qualifications are required.

Learners must be a minimum age of 18, at the point of enrolment onto the qualification.

Total qualification time

180 hours

Majority of  learners complete the qualification within 10 - 12 months

The total qualification time is the amount of time expected to take, on average, to complete the qualification.  This includes:

• guided learning
• assessment days
• planning, preparation and delivery of the 6 Forest School sessions
• self study
• completion of portfolio

Dates

Autumn 2026 cohort (fully booked)

Initial five days | 12th - 16th October 2026

Skills Assessment | 4th - 8th January 2027

Spring 2027 cohort

Initial five days | 15th - 19th March 2027

Skills Assessment | 26th - 30th April 2027

Summer 2027 cohort

Initial five days | 24th - 28th May 2027

Skills Assessment 28th June - 2nd July 2027

Autumn 2027 cohort

Initial five days   11th - 15th October 2027

Skills Assessment 22nd November - 26th November 2027

How to apply

Before booking, we will arrange a short call with our trainer to go through the course and what it involves.

Forest School Leader training is a rewarding but in-depth course, requiring time, commitment and practical work.

The call gives you the opportunity to ask questions, understand what’s involved and know what to expect before you book your place.

Please complete the form below or email training@communitree.co.uk