CPD

Continuous Professional Development - CPD

CPD can take many forms, both formal and informal. It might include:

  • Attending an IFSA annual or regional gathering, where CPD opportunities are built into the programme.
  • Volunteering at another Forest School to develop skills and share practice.
  • Completing a course related to one or more of the six Forest School principles, such as craft, child development, ecology, woodland skills or foraging.
  • Participating in workshops, peer learning, mentoring or other relevant professional development.

Outdoor First Aid – REC3

Forest School Leaders must hold an up-to-date outdoor first aid qualification. We recommend a 16-hour outdoor-based first aid course, generally provided as a Remote Emergency Care 3 (REC3) course. There are several providers offering REC3 courses throughout Ireland.

Safeguarding – Children First

Forest School Leaders should also have up-to-date appropriate safeguarding training. The Children First e-Learning

Programme is available through Tusla.

View programme →

Upcoming CPD

Find details of upcoming CPD opportunities, workshops and Forest School events here.

Previous CPD

You can also access recordings and resources from previous CPD sessions through the IFSA YouTube channel.

Research

See our list of recent research into Forest School in Ireland.

Curricular Links

Early Years: https://ncca.ie/en/early-childhood/

Primary: Forest School principles and practices are intertwined with the redeveloped Primary Curriculum Framework . We are working to map the overlaps and exciting opportunities which Forest School can play in the embedding of the specifications of the new Primary Curriculum Framework.

This graphic shows how well Forest School Links with the Primary Curriculum (1999).