Location
This course takes place here:
AbSafe Aberdeen
Absafe,
Campus Three,
Bridge of Don,
Aberdeen,
UK
A course of 12 training days over a 12 month period based in Aberdeen
This course takes place on the following dates:
This course takes place here:
AbSafe Aberdeen
Absafe,
Campus Three,
Bridge of Don,
Aberdeen,
UK
Watch Terri Harrison and Dawn Ewan exploring The Certificate in Outdoor Practice. Watch now
The course has been specifically designed to extend the understanding and expertise of practitioners and teachers/TAs who have at least 2 years experience in early years practice. The course is also very suitable for those holding a nationally recognised level 3 qualification but with less experience in practice.
So as to complete the implementation aspect of the qualification, you will need to be working or on placement with children from 2 to 6 years in any private, voluntary or maintained early years setting, school or childminding service.
In general the course spans 12-14 months.
An example of a standard delivery of the full award would be one training day per month then to return to your setting to implement gained knowledge and experience. In this way you would complete a unit every month, a module every 4 months and complete the whole certificate over a 12 month period.
For Privately commisioned courses - This can be done over a shorter timescale but it is very important to allow enough time between each unit before moving on.
Employing a coaching approach, the course supports you to gradually develop a firm basis of understanding and competences in a long-term, incremental and stepped way. The structure allows you to gradually develop your own expertise across the year, providing a slow, regular and manageable approach.
Utilising a blended mix of face-to-face experiential sessions, in-person or online discussion and analysis sessions and guided study, you will be supported to work things out for yourself. Constructive observation, implementation and evaluation in your own setting’s outdoor space ensures that new understandings become embedded into your practice and are maintained. We aim for this training to work for everyone and to involve actual development of your setting’s outdoor provision and practice.
Undertaking the Certificate in Outdoor Practice will:
The qualification is content focused, incorporates active learning and supports collaboration and gradual progress. The course is:
Making a difference for practitioners and children.
The Certificate in Outdoor Practice from Outdoors Thinking has an enabling approach with the following ongoing impact and outcomes for practitioners, managers and settings:
Our course in England is accredited by Open College Network West Midlands.
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Creative
Passionate
Curious
I love the peace I find outdoors, connecting with tiny and huge things, feeling part of something inter-connected and vast. I always feel at home outdoors, I feel free and I always get my best ideas when I'm walking somewhere wild.
I can't possibly choose between two, so I'll tell you about them both. I remember the first time I walked into the patch of woodland where I subsequently opened my setting. It felt so right - peaceful, grounded and homely. I now love watching the children and staff play and connect with the woodland and with one another. It's now the hub of a vibrant community, shaped and led by those who play there and I couldn't be more proud.
So many things!!! The whole team are incredibly passionate, dedicated and inspiring, it's a real joy to work with them, and learn from them. We are incredibly fortunate to have an incredible amount of support for outdoors and play in Scotland and I'm looking forward to working alongside participants to witness the changes in practice and environment that will unfold.
Playful
Dedicated
Nurturing
My love for nature comes from my father, a Welshman with a passion for the hills. Growing up in Birmingham, I didn't see much greenspace or much of him during the week but at weekends he would take all of us on long drives to where we could walk and experience natural spaces. He used to say the hills were his 'church' and he helped me to experience awe and wonder for the natural world.
Welcoming new children to Nature Nurture and watching them discover and explore natural spaces. I love sharing those 'wow' moments with children when they experience awe and wonder too.
I am excited about working with our inspiring Outdoors Thinking team and helping to support growth and positive change in Scotland's nurseries and schools. I'm excited about the enormous potential Scotland affords for children's healthy and happy development and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to work with teachers, practitioners, local authorities and leaders in education on realising this potential.
It is an immersive course and the pedagogy is immediately relevant to the participants' daily practice. Its inspiring and affirming and the slow and unhurried approach is as restorative for participants as it is for the children in their settings.