Forest School Training With O.W.L.

Welcome to the training section of O.W.L.!

Listed below are the main courses that O.W.L. delivers, created from years of research and development, personal and professional experiences. By blending together, the acquired knowledge, skills and experiences from the last 40 years as a Teacher, Forest School Leader/Trainer and Survival Instructor/Trainer, adding in direct consultations with organisations such as Ofqual, the DfE, the HSE, Insurance Companies, completing Ofsted inspections and working continually with groups up to and over six years, I am able to offer you, as a student, courses that-

Have a rapid learning curve
Are Effective and
Reproduceable in a variety of environments.

I am also able to provide other courses, training, INSET and CPD sessions. Contact me directly for more details about organising any of these experiences/sessions.

Level 3 Forest School Leader

Bottom Line Up Front: Enrol on this course if you are ready to deliver Forest School sessions that range from the most basic, relaxed introduction of the outside all the way through to the high delivery tempo of tools, fire and off-the-floor. Cost is £600 per person for the Forest School course.

In Depth Explanation: The qualification is divided into six modules that are designed to develop your knowledge and skills in-line with the level descriptors and processes that Ofqual set (see FAQ’s for more information). Most of the learning is done through direct, face-to-face transfer of knowledge, the remaining sections require you to show initiative and the ability to improvise and adapt.

The Nature of Forest School and how it can influence Learning:

Research how the current drive to educate others outside started many years ago before the term Forest School was coined.
Compare learning outside to what goes on inside and how educational theory blends into the concept.

Characteristics of the UK Environment and Managing it:

Start big with the UK’s climate and then narrow it down to the features of various ecosystems and woodland types.
Look at how others have managed areas and discover techniques that are sensible to Forest School.
Begin to identify some types of local flora and fauna and what impact they can have on the local area.

Health and Safety:

Dispel the myths and bad advice, save the HSE website as a favourite and become more up-to-speed with the reality of risk management.
Learn to develop a safe environment for those involved in sessions, including yourself.
Learn about insurance and the different types that are available.

Policies:

Compile the various policies needed to run Forest School sessions, either as an employee or freelance practitioner.

Practical Skills:

Learn the basic techniques for the following areas:
Using the four tool families,
Building shelters and dens,
The O.W.L. Knot Tying System®,
Using fires and cooking on them and
Carrying out off-the-floor activities.
Once you have learnt these yourself, you then get the chance to pass this knowledge onto various groups of participants under controlled conditions and the watchful eye of myself.

Planning, Delivery and Assessment:

Plan, deliver and reflectively assess a series of Forest School sessions for a group of your own picking.
Complete the relevant risk assessments for them.
Complete an observation task.

A Typical Training Evolution:

Complete the initial five days of learning the practical skills and passing them on to others
In general, you now have six months to complete the coursework and acquire any additional skills. Within this timeframe you will also need to complete the points listed below-
Day 6 tasks and activities
A further four days of training to build up knowledge and experience of situations

You are also free to attend any additional days that you can to gain further experience and add to your face-to-face training time.

Additional Requirements: To complete your overall skill set and ensure that you carry out sessions in the most prepared way possible, you are required to attain these additional points by the end of your training.

Enhanced DBS (Needed to begin training)
Safeguarding minimum of Level 1
PREVENT
First Aid, suitable to needs
Food Hygiene, Catering
Health and Safety/Manual Handling
Insurance (will vary depending upon your circumstances)

You may already have some/all of these extra requirements which is brilliant! If you do not, please feel free to discuss them with me in more detail. Any good trainer will be able to explain why these are required and show you their certificates upon request (see other pages on the website for details of mine).

An Ongoing Pursuit: Making each course as focused as possible to the specific needs of each individual is an on-going pursuit.

With continual personal experience and the support of students who have completed the training, the number of situational variations that the training can be tailored to continues to rise.
Because O.W.L. considers training never to be truly “done” and is continually updating the syllabus and face-to-face training with the latest research and development, students who purchase one of the courses get a lifetime access to O.W.L. for advice and help.
By checking in with O.W.L. from time to time, or allowing O.W.L. to contact them occasionally, students can see what changes and updates have been made and benefit from update training long after they originally completed their course.

"The FS Leader course run by OWL is comprehensive and enlightening in equal measure. Students tutored by Christian will be ensured of not only quality teaching but also challenge to any previously held complacency about leading young people and adults in an outdoor setting. OWL training is (excuse the pun) a cut above the rest. There are good Forest Leaders and there are excellent Forest Leaders. Students of OWL have a great chance of being the
latter."

Level 2 Forest School Assistant
Bottom Line Up Front: As a Level 2 Assistant you are able to work with participants on your own but are not allowed to carry out high risk activities (tools, fire and off-the-floor) unless in the presence of a qualified Level 3 Leader. There is still a massive amount of activities that you can do as a Level 2 and as you are a student of O.W.L. it is always possible to up-grade your training to Level 3. Some students even start on Level 2 and then up-grade part way through their training. Cost is £300 per person for the Forest School course.

Forest School and Promoting Learning:

Research the development of Forest School in the UK.
Learn about the external and internal influences on children.

Understanding the UK Environment and Managing it:

Understand key terms relating to ecology and ecosystems.
Learn why a certain woodland type is special.
Research how woodland can be managed.
Discuss the three reasons for being able to identify flora and fauna.

Health and Safety:

Dispel the myths and bad advice, save the HSE website as a favourite and become more up-to-speed with the reality of risk management.
Learn to develop a safe environment for those involved in sessions, including yourself.
Learn about insurance and the different types that are available.

Policies:

Compile the various policies needed to run Forest School sessions, either as an employee or freelance practitioner.

Practical Skills:

Learn the basic techniques for the following areas:
Using the four tool families,
Shelters v dens,
The O.W.L. Knot Tying System®,
Fire management and cooking on them and
Carrying out off-the-floor activities.
Once you have learnt these yourself, you then get the chance to pass this knowledge onto various groups of participants under controlled conditions and the watchful eye of myself.

Planning, Delivery and Assessment:

Plan, deliver and reflectively assess a series of Forest School sessions for a group of your own picking.
Complete the relevant risk assessments for them
Complete an observation task.

A Typical Training Evolution:

Complete the initial five days of practical skills, experience and working with various groups
In general, you now have six months to complete the coursework and acquire any additional skills.
Complete the Day 6 tasks and activities

You are also free to attend any additional days that you can to gain further experience and add to your face-to-face training time.

Enhanced DBS (Needed to begin training)
Safeguarding minimum of Level 1
PREVENT
First Aid, suitable to needs
Food Hygiene, Catering
Health and Safety/Manual Handling
Insurance (will vary depending upon your circumstances)

An Ongoing Pursuit: Making each course as focused as possible to the specific needs of each individual is an on-going pursuit.

With continual personal experience and the support of students who have completed the training, the number of situational variations that the training can be tailored to continues to rise.
Because O.W.L. considers training never to be truly “done” and is continually updating the syllabus and face-to-face training with the latest research and development, students who purchase one of the courses get a lifetime access to O.W.L. for advice and help.
By checking in with O.W.L. from time to time, or allowing O.W.L. to contact them occasionally, students can see what changes and updates have been made and benefit from update training long after they originally completed their course.

Level 2 Forest School Activity First Aid

Bottom Line Up Front: This course is designed and delivered in such a way that it complements the training which you will have received on either the Level 2 or Level 3 O.W.L. Forest School courses. This course uses the latest knowledge, techniques, equipment and ICT to build up your confidence through theory and practical tasks. Cost is £90 for the two-day First Aid course.

In Depth Explanation: The qualification is in-line with the advice and processes set out by the HSE. Although it is not the FAW or EFAW course, this course could well be the appropriate and adequate option based upon your First Aid needs assessment.

The course will cover the following situations:

Mechanisms of Injury
Assessment of the casualty and situation
CPR- adult, child and infant and AED’s
Choking- adult, child and infant
Shock/Unconsciousness
General injuries/illnesses- allergies, eyes, asthma...
Fire related injuries- burns, scalds, smoke inhalation...
Tool related injuries- cuts, penetrations, amputations...
Fall related injuries- head, spine, dislocation, breaks...
Bleeding- minor through to catastrophic
Environmental issues
Putting together an effective First Aid Kit
How to use, probably, the most effective trauma dressing on the market for a multitude of injuries

A Typical Training Evolution:

Complete the 2-day face-to-face practical training in very small tutor groups
Complete a selection of interactive training videos designed by experts
Look at the reality of CPR and ways to improve its effectiveness based on the latest information
Learn what a common, emergency breathing feature really looks like

An Ongoing Pursuit: Making each course as focused as possible to the specific needs of each individual is an on-going pursuit.

With continual personal experience and the support of students who have completed the training; the syllabus, resources and delivery continue to evolve.
Because O.W.L. considers training never to be truly “done” and is continually updating the syllabus and face-to-face training with the latest research and development, students who purchase one of the courses get a lifetime access to O.W.L. for advice and help.
By checking in with O.W.L. from time to time, or allowing O.W.L. to contact them occasionally, students can see what changes and updates have been made and benefit from update training long after they originally completed their course.

Disclaimer- Please note that on all courses run by O.W.L. the students are shown/explained the consequences of either mis-leading or not doing what is required of them. To this end, when students qualify they have met the criteria(s) set them. If they chose not to follow their training, once qualified, this course of action is purely down to the individual and O.W.L. does not recommend nor endorse this type of behaviour.

Likewise - anyone who claims to work for, or be under the guidance of O.W.L., must be checked through me so that I can provide proof of their claims. Please do not hesitate to contact me with regards to checking anyone.