Learning Outside the Classroom Training Courses
Are you a teacher or a member of your school support staff wanting to do more teaching outside the classroom both in school and further afield. Are you a student teacher wanting to learn as much as you can about different ways of teaching? We can help! The Forestry Commission offers practical and informative courses for teachers, support staff and students on exactly these subjects.
Student Teacher Placements
We're aware that many student teachers are required to arrange placements in alternative educational settings in addition to teaching practice placements in schools. Alice Holt Forest is an ideal location for your placement if you're interested in taking learning outside the classroom. Whether your interest is primarily in environmental education e.g. habitats, or whether you're more interested in using the outdoors as a resource for other subject areas e.g. orienteering, map work, team building, we can offer an interesting and rewarding experience. Please contact Helen Wallace on 01483 326264 if you or your students would be interested in a placement here.
Training Courses for School Staff and Early Years Practitioners
EARLY YEARS
Courses are available for Early Years Practitioners working in nurseries, pre-schools and schools. These are for whole staff groups from individual settings or for a group of practitioners from more than one setting. They provide ideas and information which can be adapted for use in most settings, although there is an emphasis on the benefits of trees and woodland environments for children's learning. Courses can be run at Alice Holt or in other appropriate settings.
Quotes from nursery staff:
'The whole day was brilliant, informative and fun! I learnt a range of activities linked to EYFS and how to deliver them at a child's level. 10/10!'
'I would definitely recommend this to colleagues'.
Dates and course details can be arranged to suit
individual settings.
PRIMARY
We've run a number of these courses and have had really positive responses from everyone who's attended. Here are some genuine comments made by delegates on our courses:
"It has been a super day....many ideas for inspiring children to use, enjoy and care for their environment" ." It has really inspired me to move forward with developing the outdoor space".
" One of the best things was being reminded that YOU CAN do things and they aren't too risky"
"I'm now much more confident about making links between activities outdoors and learning objectives"
The course programme includes:
- a look at the reasons for learning outside the classroom in lesson time and through play
- hands-on experience of educational activities in the outdoors
- the role of off-site visits to woodland and other outdoor locations
- creative, cross-curricular, outdoor learning
INSET days and twilight sessions for whole school staff can be arranged on dates to suit individual schools.They can be arranged well in advance to coincide with school INSET days.
SECONDARY GEOGRAPHY AND CITIZENSHIP
These courses are suitable for all geography teachers and will be especially valuable for non-specialist teachers of the subject. They will highlight the opportunities for study offered by 
local woodlands and other outdoor locations, including school grounds. One day will focus on subject study work Geography specific aspects of the course will be led by Forestry Commission staff who are also qualified geography teachers.
INSET days and twilight sessions for whole school staff can be arranged on dates to suit individual schools. They can be arranged well in advance to coincide with school INSET days.
If you are interested in arranging a training course at Alice Holt or would like us to come to your school to run an INSET day please contact the Education Manager, Helen Wallace, on 01483 326264. Prices vary according to course content and length of day.
