Equip yourself with powerful tools to help you to improve outcomes for yourself and students who display challenging behaviour. Up to date research and best practice guidelines for working in the outdoors form the basis for this nature-based practice CPD course.

Who is the course aimed at:

Anyone wanting to deepen their understanding of ‘behaviour’ expressed by learners (of any age) and how working outdoors within a natural space can be a catalyst for change. The course is suitable for Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Early Years Practitioners, Outdoor Educators, Forest School Practitioners, Home School Educators and Play Workers.

Course outline:

This 2 day course will unpick theory, look at real life case studies, outdoor activities and chats round the fire! The days will be participatory and crammed full of tips, ideas and activities that can be used in any natural setting. There will be time and space to consider specific issues that participants may be encountering with specific individuals in their care. Importantly the course will encourage participants to look at themselves and ways of self-regulating in order to regulate other learners in the groups we work with in the outdoors.

We will also be exploring how natural world setting can be essential for emotional regulation. The underlying ethos/methodology of the course is one of problem solving through difficulties and working with learner centred and ecological centred practices.

The course will cover:

• What do behaviours communicate and reframing how we see and re-language so called challenging behaviour…framing our own challenges.
• What does anxiety, ‘stressed behaviour’ and socially/ecologically engaged behaviour look like.
• Why outdoors? – Exploring behaviour through a ‘needs’ lens, distilling how the natural world can meet needs in a moment of stress?
• Interventions & De-escalation – ways of working with behavior
• How to work with various ‘needs’ from neuro-typical through to various ‘attachment’ needs, including ASD, sensory attachments and many other ‘labels’!
• Working with brain, body and place – how the nervous system works. Co-regulation and self-regulation – the essential body based approaches…how to attune and resonate with both the natural world and other humans in our groups
• Self- care – Looking after ourselves
• Working in partnership with our client groups and organisations

Accreditation option

For those wishing to follow the course accreditation an extra cost of £50 is required for submission assessment and certification.  This is a level 3 award which requires:

1. Evidence of  application of some of the strategies explored on the course to the programmes people may be facilitating.
2. Presenting reflections on behavioural constructs and what effects positive relationships with individuals we work with
3. Reflections on any behavioural policies participants are working with.

This normally means an extra 16 hours of self study and reflection with deadlines for submission of course work is normally 6 months after the course.  Evidence can be presented in a number of ways; written, drawn, aural, video for example. 

Please let us know if you want to take up this option when booking. 

* rates for individuals / voluntary-charitable organisations / businesses