First Aid Training for Forest School (& Outdoor Woodland Learning)
Sixteen-hour Outdoor First Aid cover must be in place for Forest School sessions taking place outwith school grounds, or using higher risk activities such as fire and bladed tools. This includes your block of practice sessions run during your training.
In Scotland, we have adapted a course in partnership with the First Aid Training Co-operative, called Outdoor First Aid for Forest School and Outdoor Woodland Learning. For info and dates scroll down. The course is specially designed to meet the needs of practitioners working in outdoor environments with groups of children, and aims to build skills and confidence. Courses are taught with an emphasis on practical application, contextual relevance and built up in small achievalbe chunks with lots of repetition.
In England, we recommend the 2-day ITC Outdoor Forest School First Aid course accredited by SQA. The context for this training course is Forest School and as such the discussion, practice and outdoor scenarios are suited to Forest School situations. The course is taught in a 'Forest School way', using small achievable chunks, repetition and scaffolding. It is very hands-on and includes outdoor role-play scenarios, so you will need to wear suitable outdoor clothing!
It should be noted that the Outdoor Forest School First Aid training course is a 16-hour course and is run over 2 days, starting at 9.00am and finishing at 6.00pm. It is suitable for those working in the Outdoor industry, such as outdoor instructors, scout leaders, forestry workers, environmentalists and those undertaking field studies.
Forest School First Aid trainers
Andy Forsyth runs the Forest School First Aid course, which is similar content to the Outdoor First Aid course.
In the South-West of England this courses are taught by Sam and Stella Iskander, from FirstAid4Life. Note that whilst it does briefly cover aspects of how First Aid applies to work with children at Forest School, it does not qualify you with a Paediatric First Aid certificate. If your employer requires you to have a specific Paediatric First Aid Certificate then you will need to do their combined First Aid for Forest School and Paediatric First Aid course (South West mainly).
In Scotland, one of our FSTC trainers, Aline Hill, also runs the Outdoor First Aid for Forest School and Outdoor Woodland Learning courses, whihc ensures they are perfectly aligned to the needs of practitioners. Contact her on aline@forestschoolscotland.co.uk or see below for next course dates.
For level 3 students and level 2/3 Top Up students it is a requirement for you to have your First Aid Certificate in place before you run your 6-week Forest School Programme.
First Aid Training for Forest School
Training in Norfolk
Please visit the FSA Norfolk local group website for up to date information about CPD and First Aid courses.
Training in Scotland
Next dates for Outdoor First Aid are:
23 & 24 March 2020, Strathclyde Country Park
Info and booking: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/96445985539
31 March & 1 April 2020, Bonaly Scout Centre, Edinburgh
Info and booking: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/96060883689
Cost: £145. An invoice can be requested through Eventbrite on booking.
Email: aline@forestschoolscotland.co.uk
Training in the South West
Please visit FirstAid4Life website for informations about first aid courses in Devon and other locations in the South West of England.
