Forest Kindergarten Leader Course
Our Forest Kindergarten Leader Course, incorporating the Qualifications Scotland Forest Kindergarten Award, is designed to meet the needs of early years practitioners who wish to lead regular visits to local outdoor spaces for learning and play. Forest Kindergarten is a child-led, rights-based approach to early years education that takes learning through play into natural outdoor spaces.
The Qualifications Scotland Forest Kindergarten Award is a National Workplace Award credited at Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Level 7, equivalent to National Vocational Qualification Level 4 or a Higher National Certificate (HNC). The qualification is relevant to anyone in the UK (and beyond), not just Scottish residents. You can compare qualification levels on the Qualifications Scotland website.
Why choose Forest Kindergarten
Forest Kindergarten supports:
- Child development through nature connection, exploration, and play
- Practitioner confidence in managing off-site learning safely and effectively
- Curriculum delivery through outdoor pedagogy and planning
- Whole-setting transformation by embedding sustainable outdoor practice
Who this training is for
Forest Kindergarten training is ideal for:
- Early years practitioners in nurseries, schools, and voluntary settings
- Local authorities and nursery chains seeking to upskill staff
- Individuals looking to gain a recognised qualification in outdoor learning
What to expect
The course is delivered over three days and includes:
Day 1 – The Place
- Defining woodland learning and its benefits
- Site appraisal, access, and sustainability
- Health & safety, insurance, and land use
- Risk-benefit and dynamic risk assessment
Day 2 – The People
- Observation of a live Forest Kindergarten session
- Preparing children, staff, and volunteers
- Safeguarding, hygiene, clothing, and equipment
- Group management and travel logistics
Day 3 – The Pedagogy
- Outdoor pedagogy and curriculum links
- Planning and facilitating sessions
- Recording learning and assessing impact
- Portfolio development and course review
Qualification and assessment
Participants complete a post-course portfolio of work via our dedicated online platform. This includes evidence of Forest Kindergarten implementation and reflection. Successful submission within six months leads to the awarding of the Qualifications Scotland & LtL Forest Kindergarten Leader qualification, with both digital and physical certificates.
Entry requirements
No formal qualifications are required, but participants must:
- Have experience working with children in an early years setting
- Have access to a practical placement in a nursery, school, or voluntary setting
Delivery options
We offer two main routes:
- Open Courses: Scheduled events listed on our website for individual bookings (cost £375 plus VAT per booking). If you don’t see an open course listed, please complete the form below to express interest in attending a course near you.
- Private Courses: Delivered for local authorities or nursery chains for up to 20 participants across your group of settings (cost £6,495 plus VAT per booking).
Enquire now
To arrange a Private Course, please complete the form below with details of your training requirements and we will get back to you shortly.
Send a Booking Enquiry
Related Courses
Explore our range of training courses designed to build confidence and skills in delivering outdoor learning and play.
Early Years Foundations Outdoors
Fire Lighting Training
Our Fire Lighting and Outdoor Cooking training is one of our most popular courses, enabling educators to safely lead fire lighting and outdoor cooking experiences at schools or early years settings.