Forest School Association

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Forest School Association Join Us We aim to provide a nationwide base for Forest School Practitioners and those interested in Forest School. A day playing in the woods is a good day.

The Forest School Association is the professional body and UK wide voice for Forest School, promoting best practice, cohesion and ’quality Forest School for all‘. Forest School is an inspirational process, that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees. Forest School is a specialised learning approach that sits within and compliments the wider context of outdoor and woodland education. We play, whittle, make crafts, build dens, watch the seasons go by, jump in mud and cook around the fire.

An Invitation for FSA members to share your practiceAt the ‘Connect with your Community’ event at the FSA National Confe...
08/10/2026

An Invitation for FSA members to share your practice

At the ‘Connect with your Community’ event at the FSA National Conference, we invited our members to share short case studies of their practice with us.

Whenever we gather, one thing is always clear: we all value hearing the voices of other Forest School Leaders who face similar situations and challenges.

We’ve created a simple Google Form inviting you to share a 200–300 word case study about one aspect of your work. It might be how you have recruited volunteers, how you engage with parents/carers, how you approach Forest School in secondary schools, after-school provision on dark evenings, or something else entirely!

We’d love to hear from you and involve you in the learning community we are building.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyEDZ0G-MB2XHfAxrcndFswdXIHLquGS5p50gfJDjfvXw2VQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=104512427932069756363

What were the FSA Registered and Endorsed Trainers getting up to in Walesby?Each year, FSA Registered and Endorsed Fores...
08/10/2026

What were the FSA Registered and Endorsed Trainers getting up to in Walesby?

Each year, FSA Registered and Endorsed Forest School Trainers come together on the day before the National Conference for a day of shared CPD. This year, 17 trainers gathered at Walesby for a programme planned around their current needs and priorities.

A long practical session was focused on play structures and equipment, with trainers sharing and working with kit including slacklines, ropes, pulleys, carabiners, hammocks, straps and swings. This provided an opportunity to refresh and develop practical competencies ahead of teaching revised course content.

The group also explored one of the new assessment criteria through a standardisation exercise, shared examples of what has been working well in training practice, and took part in a Nature-Well coaching session. Time was also spent reflecting on priorities and planning activity for 2027 that will continue to strengthen Forest School training practice and support trainers across the scheme.

The day also gave us an opportunity to recognise Sarah Lawfull, who was part of the original pilot cohort of trainers joining the scheme a decade ago. Sarah is now stepping away from Forest School training to pursue other, closely related professional interests, and we were pleased to be able to mark her considerable contribution to the trainer community.

We would like to express our gratitude to this remarkable group of people for sharing their considerable wisdom, experience and skills so openly, and to Maria Sprostranova and Harriet Menter, who co-planned and facilitated the day with Nell Seal.

Nell Lee
Coast and Forest Education
Lily Horseman | Forest School | Play | Nature
Carol Middleton
Kinda Education
Charlotte's Wood Suffolk
𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗟𝘁𝗱
Dawn Preston
Suffolk Wildlife Trust

Christopher Phillips Wishart
Kat Soutar
Dorset Forest School Training
Forest School Training | Outdoor Learning | Nature & Health
Nature of Learning
Maria Sprostranova🌿GreenWise People🌳
Scotswood Garden
Where The Fruit Is

Safeguarding: info for FSLs working in schools/colleges in EnglandWe think Forest School practitioners need to know abou...
08/10/2026

Safeguarding: info for FSLs working in schools/colleges in England

We think Forest School practitioners need to know about the current statutory safeguarding guidance relevant to theri sertting/role.

Two key documents have been updated in 2026:

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 - This is statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England, published by the Department for Education in September 2026. It includes guidance on safeguarding responsibilities, safer recruitment, volunteers, allegations and concerns, online safety and child-on-child abuse.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6aba40e0fceb6fb3a650127d/Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2026.pdf

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 - This is statutory guidance on multi-agency working to help, protect and promote the welfare of children, published in March 2026.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69fb1c28d0e316a40f269a5b/Working_together_to_safeguard_children_2026_a_guide_to_multi_agency_working.pdf

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Forest School Leaders and other adults in Forest School settings can become trusted adults. To practise responsibly, we ought to check that we are working from current guidance, following best practice, and ensuring that our policies and procedures reflect both.

A HUGE AMOUNT OF GRATITUDE TO OUR EMBER CREW VOLUNTEER TEAM.Thank you, truly, for everything you gave to Embers: The Pow...
04/10/2026

A HUGE AMOUNT OF GRATITUDE TO OUR EMBER CREW VOLUNTEER TEAM.

Thank you, truly, for everything you gave to Embers: The Power of Play.

Before delegates arrived, you were already there — carrying, building, decorating, problem-solving, making signs, creating cosy corners, moving things, finding solutions and helping transform the site into somewhere that felt warm, welcoming and ready to receive people.

And then, throughout the weekend, they kept the embers glowing.

They welcomed people, answered questions, helped with directions, supported workshops, carried equipment, solved problems, made spaces feel safe and friendly, and stepped in wherever they were needed.

The delegate feedback has spoken again and again about how welcoming, friendly and helpful the volunteers were, and about the sense of being supported and part of something special. That is no small thing.

A particularly huge thank you to FSA Sussex local group Wild Tea crew https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1ELag91ikG/?mibextid=wwXIfr

You created something really special in the Ember Hive — a place to pause, have a cup of tea, eat cake, breathe, chat, reconnect and simply be for a while. The warmth you brought to that space was felt by so many people.

And a huge thank you too to for helping us say thank you properly.

So much heart, care and love went into creating the most beautiful bespoke keepsakes for our volunteers — a real labour of love, made especially for the people who gave so much of themselves to the weekend.

To every member of the Ember Crew, thank you for your time, energy, patience, humour, flexibility and generosity.

For noticing what needed doing.

For finding a way when things didn’t quite go to plan.

For the early starts, the late finishes and all the little things most people will never know happened.

You helped make the conference feel like more than an event.

You helped make it feel like a community.

Thank you for keeping the embers glowing.

Embers: The Power of Play
FSA National Conference 2026

Community ForestSchool FSAConference2026

Every proper conference needs a lectern… ours just needed some loose parts, a bit of imagination and absolutely no gaffa...
02/10/2026

Every proper conference needs a lectern… ours just needed some loose parts, a bit of imagination and absolutely no gaffa tape.

Here’s Matt Harder, Chair of the FSA, sleeves rolled up and building one from materials generously provided by Muddy Faces UK Muddy Faces.

For me, this captures so much of the spirit of Embers: The Power of Play — resourcefulness, creativity, experimentation, collaboration and people quietly making things happen for one another.

A pile of loose parts became something crucial. An idea became a solution. And somewhere in the middle of it all was play, curiosity, problem-solving, collaboration and that willingness to just get stuck in.

Thank you, Matt, for all the visible and invisible ways you supported the conference.

And thank you to Muddy Faces for the loose parts that helped us create, adapt, make and play across the weekend.

A lectern built from loose parts feels pretty fitting for a conference about the power of play.

Embers: The Power of Play
FSA National Conference 2026

LooseParts MuddyFaces BehindTheScenes Community OutdoorLearning

28/09/2026

We do love a ceilidh-a huge thank you to Kettlehawk for bringing the Meeting House to life with music, dancing, laughter and all the wonderful chaos that makes a conference ceilidh such a special tradition.

And did you know? Kettlehawk composed music especially for us for Embers: The Power of Play. That made the evening feel even more special.

Thank you for helping us celebrate, connect and end the day with full hearts, tired feet and plenty of smiles.

An FSA Conference tradition we absolutely love.

Community PlayMatters

Need any help or support during the weekend ? The day is finally here! We are so looking forward to welcoming you to Wa...
25/09/2026

Need any help or support during the weekend ?

The day is finally here! We are so looking forward to welcoming you to Walesby Forest for the FSA National Conference 2026: Embers — The Power of Play.

From 25–27 September, we’ll gather for a weekend filled with play, community, learning and connection.

If you need any support or directions during the weekend, please look for one of our wonderful Ember Crew volunteers wearing a purple hi-vis jacket. They will be happy to help.

A huge thank you to every one of our volunteers for the time, hard work, creativity, care, energy and community spirit they have brought to the conference. So much has been happening behind the scenes to prepare the site and create a warm welcome for everyone—and it is very much appreciated.

Safe journeys. We’ll see many of you in just a few hours, and we look forward to welcoming more of you tomorrow!

24/09/2026

WHAT’S IN NELL’S CAR?

Meet Nell Seal, the FSA’s Schemes Coordinator, who is packed and ready for the conference!

In her video, Nell gives us a look inside her very full car and shares helpful reminders about what to bring to Walesby Forest.

Don’t forget your reusable mug and plate for tea and cake, a sitting mat for outdoor sessions, and anything else you’ll need to stay warm and comfortable for a weekend in the woods.

Watch Nell’s video for more conference essentials.

Just one day to go. We can’t wait to welcome you to Embers: The Power of Play!

23/09/2026

MEET FSA TRUSTEE RICHARD SMITH

Richard is already here with us at Walesby Forest, working hard behind the scenes to help bring the conference site together.

He has been supporting us with health and safety, putting up lights and making sure everyone on the build team is working safely and looking after themselves.

Richard is very much looking forward to welcoming you to the FSA National Conference. If you spot him over the weekend, do stop and say hello!

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Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00

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+441228564407

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