Training Courses
AT MUDDY FEET® WE INSPIRE EDUCATE AND ENGAGE!
We offer innovative and research-based capacity building, short training courses and accredited training pathways to meet your needs.
We ensure that all tutors are professionally qualified, experienced and are part of a wider national training network that ensures all course standards are upheld.
We deliver training in various locations and we are friendly and supportive. Students are also able to access discounts and online resources.
Muddy Feet runs practical training courses throughout Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire.
The accredited courses are recognised by the Institute of Outdoor Learning and the Forest School Association. The courses are accredited by the Awarding Body Agored Cymru.
You can feel safe in the knowledge that the course you enrol on is delivered to the highest standards.
Thank you for a great course, the combination of your training expertise, the learning by doing and the idea exchange with other students was really powerful!
Jone, L2 Curriculum-based Outdoor Learning Student, 2018
Alex made me feel at ease and built my self-confidence with tools myself but also confidence with running my own sessions in the future.
Alex was a fantastic trainer- a good mix of theory and games to split up the sessions
Inclusive, friendly, professional
Forest School Leadership Course feedback, September 2021
How to identify the learning pathway for you?
Firstly understand what aims you have long term and what resources you have, how will your sessions be delivered and who will benefit?
Forest School is
- Long term with the same children (min programme 6 weeks, usually once a week 2 hrs blocks)
- High staff to child ratios (2:16)
- Small groups (max 16)
- Child-led
- Not directly curriculum-linked
- Risky activities such as tools and fire
- Free play
- Delivered by trained practitioners (L3 Forest School leadership)
- Holistic learning
- Reflective learning
- Experienced based
The Forest School Association defines Forest School as;
“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.”
Curriculum-based Outdoor Learning is
- Curriculum linked e.g. maths, literacy, science, art, music
- Teaching outdoors
- Using what space you have
- Whole class
- Using free or low-cost natural resources
- Can be a one-off event or a long term programme
- Can varying lengths of time e.g. 10, 20, 30 mins, I hour, I day
- Holistic learning
- Reflective learning
- Experienced based
The Institute for Outdoor Learning regards teaching outdoors as;
” improves attainment, increase engagement, develops wide-ranging skills including problem-solving skills, communication skills and resilience. Outdoor learning provides endless opportunities for experiential, contexted based and applied education.”
Outdoor Learning is at its most potent when it is interwoven within the formal school curriculum.
By taking a holistic view of all the environments available – from the schoolyard to mountain tops – we can maximise the learning potential of such spaces and our students”
Both approaches should be considered, planned and developed as a whole-school approach to ensure the approaches are embedded and meet school objectives.
The approaches are not exclusive and can be delivered together.
We offer training and support pathways in forest school / outdoor learning and can design a personalised approach.