Not everyone wants or needs the full Forest School qualification—especially if your primary goal is to run safe, enjoyable fire sessions outdoors. Many settings only want to introduce fire as an occasional activity, rather than run a full Forest School programme.
Here’s how to approach fire safety training without taking the Forest School route.
Summary
Many practitioners don’t realise that Forest School is first and foremost an ethos, not a list of activities or a requirement to use tools and fire. The heart of Forest School lies in child-led exploration, holistic development, connection with nature, and long-term, learner-centred practice. You can begin embedding this approach without needing to take on more advanced elements like tool work or campfires. Our Forest School Award course is designed exactly for this—introducing you to the ethos, principles and mindset of Forest School in a safe, accessible and practical way. It’s perfect for those who want to understand and apply Forest School–inspired outdoor learning without committing to full Level 3 training or using tools or fire. This award helps you confidently bring the philosophy to life in your setting through everyday outdoor practice rooted in play, nature and child-led learning.
1. Choose a Fire-Specific Outdoor Training Course
You don’t need Forest School Level 3 to safely run a fire.
Instead, look for:
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Outdoor fire safety workshops
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Bushcraft fire skills courses
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Early Years outdoor fire safety CPD
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Fire management courses for educators
These focus on:
✓ Building and managing a fire
✓ Creating a safe fire circle
✓ Teaching children fire safety rules
✓ Using appropriate tools
✓ Emergency procedures
This avoids the cost and time commitment of full Forest School training.
2. Ensure Training Includes Early Years or School-Specific Content
Many fire safety courses are designed for adults—not for settings with young children.
Make sure your training covers:
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How to introduce fire to 3–7 year olds
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Fire circle boundaries
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Behaviour management
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Teaching safe stick handling
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Differentiation for mixed abilities
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How to supervise cooking safely
Fire safety around young children is unique—your course should reflect that.
3. Learn Fire Building Techniques Suitable for Education Settings
Some fire-building methods taught in bushcraft courses aren’t appropriate for Early Years.
Ensure you’re taught:
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Simple, low-flame fires
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Log-cabin or teepee fire structures
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How to manage embers for cooking
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Safe lighting methods (e.g., fire steel or matches)
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How to safely extinguish and “leave no trace”
The focus in a school or nursery should be control, not survival skills.
4. Know Your Legal and Setting Requirements
Even with fire safety training, you must meet your setting’s policies.
Check:
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Does your school/nursery allow fire activities?
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Do you need written permission from management?
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Are parents required to be informed?
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What ratio and supervision levels are required?
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Do you need risk assessments approved?
Training is only part of the process—you must be compliant too.
5. Create a Clear Fire Policy for Your Setting
This should cover:
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Who is allowed to run the fire
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Who supervises and how many staff are needed
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Fire circle setup
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Emergency procedures
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Medical considerations
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Weather conditions that affect safety
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Storage of fire equipment
A written policy protects both children and practitioners.
6. Get Confident with Risk Assessments
You’ll need a thorough risk assessment even if fire is a small part of your practice.
Include:
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Hazard identification
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Control measures
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Staff responsibilities
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PPE (gloves, bucket of water, fire blanket)
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Distance expectations
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Additional risks for SEND children
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Slip or trip hazards (especially in winter)
Being able to confidently assess risk is vital for fire leadership.
7. Remember: You Don’t Need to Be a Forest School Leader to Offer Fire Experiences
Fire can be:
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Part of outdoor learning
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Part of a wellbeing session
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A winter warm-up activity
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A cooking activity
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A curriculum-linked science experience
Fire does not = Forest School.
Fire can simply be one part of your wider outdoor practice.
8. Practise Before You Teach
Even after training, practise fire management without children present.
Try:
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Lighting the fire using different methods
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Maintaining a low, controlled flame
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Cooking something simple
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Putting the fire out properly
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Clearing the area safely
Confidence grows through hands-on repetition.
9. Keep Activities Simple
You don’t need complex cooking sessions.
Start with:
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Toasting marshmallows
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Heating warm juice
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Toasting crumpets
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Warming fruit slices
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Making simple popcorn
Simple = safe, controlled, and confidence-boosting.
10. Work as a Team
Even with fire training, don’t run fires alone.
You should have:
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One adult managing the fire
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One supervising the group
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One supporting individual children (if needed)
Teamwork keeps everyone safe and the session smooth.
Additional Tip: Make Sure You Have the Correct Insurance (Birnbeck in the UK)
Even if you’re only planning to run fire sessions and not full Forest School provision, you must have the correct insurance that explicitly covers:
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Open fires
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Outdoor cooking
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Outdoor activities involving heat sources
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Tool use (if applicable)
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Working with children in outdoor environments
In the UK, many standard school or nursery policies do not automatically cover fire activities outdoors, especially if they are child-facing or involve cooking.
Birnbeck Insurance is well known for offering specialist Forest School and outdoor learning insurance, and they provide cover suitable for practitioners who want to run:
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One-off outdoor fire sessions
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Regular outdoor learning activities
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Bushcraft-style experiences
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Campfire cooking
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Tool-based learning
They are one of the few UK insurers that clearly understand the needs of outdoor educators and Early Years practitioners.
Even if you choose another provider, always ensure the policy explicitly covers fires, because many do not.
When checking insurance, ask:
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Does this policy cover fire use with children?
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Does it include outdoor cooking?
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Are there exclusions about heat sources or flames?
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Does this cover me as an individual practitioner, or only the organisation?
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Does this cover activities taking place offsite (parks, woods, rented woodland)?
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Is tool use included if I plan to offer it later?
Carrying out fire sessions without appropriate insurance can invalidate setting policies and leave practitioners personally liable — so this step is essential.