If you are a Forest School Leader (or are working towards it) then you need a 16 hour (2-day) First Aid qualification with an Outdoor slant.

Traditionally this meant taking the 16 hour Outdoor First Aid course. This is still accepted, however some content is not relevant to Forest School. Because of this, a Forest School First Aid syllabus has sprung up. This still delivers a 16 hour Outdoor First Aid course to meet requirements, but it is more aligned with the Forest School ethos and needs.

2 day (16 hour) Forest School First Aid

This course is for those working Outdoors in a Forest School (or just Outdoor education) environment further away from roads and buildings. It covers emergency First Aid as well as medical issues and scene management – all with a nod to the environment. Temperature extremes and shelter are also covered.

Most Forest School Training Providers can include the 12-hour Ofsted / EYFS compliant Paediatric Certificate for those that need it. The syllabuses are very closely aligned.

When looking for a Training Organisation, look for one that is aligned with the Institute for Outdoor Learning’s Accreditation or Alignment at Level 3 as it is written with input from many NGOs. 4 Minutes Training Ltd (the owner of this website) is aligned, for instance.