Outline Curriculum Proposal for Level One: Forest Schools Skills AwardColeg Sir Gar, Ammanford

Forest School Course

• Entry Level: Forest Schools Entry Level

• Level One: Forest Schools Skills Award

• Level Two: Assistant Forest Schools Practitioners Award

Background to forest school

• Originated in Sweden in the 1950s• Brought to UK in the 1995 by Bridgewater

college

Rationale

Forest Schools offer children, young people and adults the opportunity to discover how to achieve, how to grow in confidence and how to develop self esteem by hands-on learning experiences in local forests and woodlands.

(Video clip from Forest Schools website)

Geographical Location for the Course

Coleg Sir Gar Campus: Ammanford, Carmarthenshire

Catchment Area

Coleg Sir Gar, Ammanford Campus

Cluster groups

The Proposal • Carmarthenshire LEA

State Primary Schools: 123   State Secondary Schools: 15    State Schools Overall:138

• Swansea LEA State Primary Schools: 91    State Secondary Schools: 16 State Schools Overall: 107

• Ceredigion LEA State Primary Schools: 65    State Secondary Schools: 7    State Schools Overall:72

• Neath LEA State Primary Schools: 73   State Secondary Schools: 15 State Schools Overall: 88

• Family centres• Day Nurseries• Mudiad ysgolion Meithrin• PPA• Voluntary organisations• SEN centres• SEN schools• Communities first areas• Sure Start organisations

Aims and Objectives of the Course• Self Awareness• Self Regulation • Intrinsic motivation • Empathy • Good social communication skills • Independence • A positive mental attitude, self-esteem and

confidence

Key Factors impacting on Curriculum Design

• Steep Analysis

STEEP

What are the drivers affecting our course?SocialTechnologicalEconomicalEnvironmentalPolitical

Social drivers• Economic Deprivation• Bilingualism• Social inclusion

Technological drivers

• Information Technology• Internet

Economic drivers

• Initial Course Funding• Cost to customers

Environmental drivers

• ESDGC – education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship

Political• Legislation• Widening Participation• Foundation Phase• Estyn

Entry Requirements

• Students will need previous experience of working with children but need have little or no experience of working in the outdoors

Validation

• Validated Leader to provide copy of certificate to awarding body (OCR)

Information for Students

• Course Venue, Duration and Timing

• Coleg Sir Gar, Ammanford Campus• 3 consecutive days• 9am – 3.30pm

Funding

• Colegau Cymru• Students will pay £200 per 3 day

course• No registration fee unless late

enrolment

Assessment

• Planning a suitable session in the forest appropriate to individual student’s area of interest or employment

• Reflective Journal of 1,500 words to be handed in 2 weeks after completion of course

Evaluation and Feedback Procedures

Costings

Marketing

• Local newspaper based advertisements

• Flyers• Written information

sent to local primary schools and interested parties

• Example of a flyer• Staff visits to

organisations• Official opening• E-mail

Further Development

Level 1

Level 3

Level 1

Level 2

Level 4

Students in Coleg Sir

Gar

Teachers in local

primary schools

Newly trained Forest

School Practitioner (to

teach Forest School

initiatives to teachers

and Child Care students

New practitioner able to teach at levels 1 and 2

New practitioner ‘s

personal development

progresses to a

Practitioner Trainer