Level 2 Assistant Training

Level 2 Forest School Assistant Training

The Level 2 Forest School Assistant qualification is for people who wish to assist a Level 3 Leader at Forest School. This qualification does not qualify you to lead a Forest School project.

What will I need to consider before I go on this training course?

You will need an existing DBS check which we will need to see evidence of in your portfolio.

You will need to work with an existing qualified Forest school Leader to be able to complete your portfolio. If you are not already in this position, you will need to identify someone you can work with before you access the course.

An existing Level 1 qualification or equivalent (1 GCSE)

At least one year of working with your expected client group.

You will need to make some time to complete the work required within your portfolio

You will need enthusiasm. Bags of this will go a long way!

What does the training involve?

Forest School Assistant courses with Forge Learning;

You will spend 5 days of training which consist of outdoor teaching, learning sessions and practical skills application & practice sessions.

This will be broken down into an initial 4 days training, followed by a day practical skills assessment.

You will then have 6-9 months to complete a portfolio of work. During this time, you will need to assist a Forest School Leader with at least 3 Forest School sessions.

We usually run our Forest School Assistant and Leadership courses together which gives you the opportunity to ‘train as a team’ if you desire and make great connections with your cohort peers.

The theory side of the course will be managed via distance-learning, supported by an assigned tutor. You will be sent digital access to course paperwork and a distance-learning ‘plan of action’ to work through which contains a variety of teaching methods (e.g. video, power point presentations, questions, directed research etc.)

Included with your course;

  • Personalised support from an assigned tutor throughout the timescale of your qualification with us
  • A wide-range of course materials for self-directed learning
  • A resources bag containing your starter kit of essential items; A Tarpaulin, Work gloves, Fire Steel, Tinder, Fire gloves, A Knife & Sharpening stone.
  • Free Forest School membership to Forge Learning’s on-line resource library.
  • Access to discounted First Aid for Forest School Training Courses
  • Access to CPD Training Courses to support your on-going Forest School journey
  • The opportunity to access the Forest School Leader training course at a discounted rate upon completion of your Assistant qualification.

What does the training cover?

The Level 2 Award for Forest School Assistants qualification comprises of two units.

Learning and Development; Looking at holistic development and how learning outdoors supports this. Looking at the role of the assistant, helping to plan and support Forest School sessions plus risk/benefits analysis.

Practical Skills; Being able to carry out a range of outdoor practical tasks including safe tools and campfire use, shelter building, making items from natural resources

Our Forest School accredited courses are accredited through the awarding body ITC First. This course is approved by the Forest School Association.

How does the assessment work?

We will assess your practical skills during the time you spend with us. The last full course day will be a practical skills assessment where we will assess you to ensure you are safely competent in the requirements of your Practical Skills unit. We aim to have 50% of this unit of study completed with you at this stage.
We will mark your portfolio when it is handed in. If there is work in your portfolio which needs re-doing to pass, you have the opportunity to re-do your work and for it to be re-marked, until it is completed. We then have a system of Internal and External Verification to ensure our marking is of a consistent standard and quality.

What does it cost?

The Award in Assisting Forest School Level 2 Training costs £450 per person, which covers all training days, practical assessment, portfolio marking and certification. This also includes tutor support.

Is there anything extra with my course?

Yes 🙂 we will support you with a huge amount of handouts and for each person we will include a ‘starter pack’ of useful equipment – this contains a penknife, a tarpaulin, a fire steel, fire gloves, work-gloves, a sharpening stone, string, cotton wool and petroleum jelly; this will help you during your training, give you something to practise with and get you started with your Forest School adventures.

If you are in a position to book a whole course, we are happy to talk to you about this. Please contact us to discuss the details.