Leading Coastal School - Level 3
Start Date: Various
- Length 1 Week
- Study Short Course
- Location Carlisle College
More about the course
Gain vital skills for employment as a Coastal School Leader.
This course offers the opportunity for learners to demonstrate practical skills, understanding and knowledge that have been identified as required to lead groups in a Coastal School setting including coastal ecosystems, risk management and activity planning.
This course will teach you how to lead outdoor learning sessions on the coast, covering topics such as coastal ecology, weather and tides, risk management, shelter and fire building, and activity planning.
How often does this course run?
This course runs once per year, between April-June.
Dates for 2026 are:
Monday - Thursday (Week commencing 15th June)
Monday- Thursday (Week commencing 22nd June)
Please note this course is weather dependent.
Entry requirements
Applicants must be 19+ and hold a relevant Level 2 qualification.
What will I achieve?
Upon successful completion of this course you will achieve a NOCN Level 3 Certificate in Leading Coastal School.
What will I learn?
- Understanding the principles of Coastal Schools and how they differ from Forest Schools
- Knowing how to build shelters and fires on the beach using natural materials
- Knowing how to manage risks and hazards on the coast, such as tides, weather, wildlife and pollution
- Knowing how to identify and use natural resources on the beach, such as shells, seaweed, rocks and sand
- Knowing how to observe and evaluate outdoor learning outcomes
- Knowing how to plan and facilitate outdoor activities that are engaging, playful and educational for different age groups and abilities
How is the course taught?
- Practical sessions
- Written tasks
How am I assessed?
- Observations
- Demonstrations
Where can I progress?
On successful completion of this course you can progress onto additional study programmes or into employment opportunities.
Course Costs
Course cost is £500.
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Meet the Care Team
Vicky Johnston
Head of Curriculum for Care ServicesI have been at Carlisle College for 12 years. I started as in Early Years Level 3 course tutor, I then went on to be Quality Manager, Curriculum Team Manager for Health, Care and Services, and am now Head of Curriculum for Care Services. I am also a safeguarding officer for the department and the college's wellbeing ambassador. In industry, I have worked in a variety of roles including a Nanny and Community Nursery Nurse, before going on to own and manage my own nursery for 12 years. I was also an OFSTED inspector in Early Years. I love my job because I can help learners achieve their goals and every day is so different!
Vicky White
Science Tutor within CareI am a Science lecturer within the Care department. I teach on Access to HE Health, Level 3 Health and Social Care, and GCSE Biology. I have worked at the college for 12 years, and have over 15 years of teaching experience, having been a Science teacher since 2009. I have also previously worked in a Microbiology food testing laboratory. One thing I love about my job is getting students to where they need to be.
Jo Knighton
Early Years TutorMy career experience has been within early year settings working with children between the ages of birth – five years old. As a nursery practitioner I enjoyed developing relationships with children and their families, to help support their learning and development, I found this really rewarding. It was a natural progression for me to then move into management, enabling me to lead staff and create a safe, stimulating environment for the children. Academically, I have a BA (Hons), Early Years Professional Status (EYFS) and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). As much as I enjoyed working within the industry, I also wanted to be able to pass my knowledge on to our learners and inspire the next generation of practitioners.
Georgina Robinson
Early Years Tutor / AssessorI am an Early Years Tutor/Assessor and have been working at Carlisle College for 18 months. I have experience as a Special Attachment Welfare Assistant, Teaching assistant, Nursery Manager, Yoga Teacher, and Mum! One thing I love about my job is the variety, no two days are the same!
Suzanne Sunderland
Early Years TutorI have been part of Carlisle College for 10 years in a variety of teaching and assessing roles. I currently teach Level 2 and Level 3 Early Years Educator courses. Before working at Carlisle College I had a successful childminding business, was a deputy manager in a private nursery, and was an Early Years adviser for the Local Authority. I am passionate about developing outstanding experiences for young children and their families, to nurture learning and development. Through all my previous experience, I can pass on my knowledge to learners and inspire new practitioners.
Rachel Marshall
Progress Coach and Safeguarding LeadI have worked at the college for 14 years and I currently look after all the support needs for students in the Care department. This includes all safeguarding concerns both in the Care department and across the college. I also look after all of the care experienced/cared for students. One thing I love about my job is supporting the students with their wellbeing.
Mhairi Beattie
Early Years AssessorI've worked at Carlisle College since 2013 teaching and assessing across Early Years and Teaching Assistant courses. I started my Early Years journey as a nanny at home and abroad and also fulfilled roles as a play worker and childminder. I then went on to work as an Early Years NVQ Assessor and delivered vocational pathways in Early Years before coming to Carlisle College. One thing I love about my job is being part of the learner's journey and helping them grow.
Andrew Russell
Maths TutorI have taught Mathematics for 35 years in a variety of schools in the North East and have been teaching Mathematics at Carlisle College for the past 5 years.
Claire Goffin
Early Years TutorI have almost 30 years of experience in education. Starting out as a Teaching Assistant before completing my NNEB and qualifying as a Nursery Nurse. After a couple of years, I decided to complete my degree and gain Qualified Teacher Status. In my early career, I taught Early Years and KS1 before teaching KS2. I have been an Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion where I was DSL and SENDCo for a number of years. I worked within an academy as an Associate Headteacher across three primary schools - here I delivered the NPQML/SL courses. Finally, I have supported a school as an Acting Headteacher. I love education and I'm really passionate about it, particularly in ensuring that our next generation of educators are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need, both professionally and personally.
Chloe Notman
Health and Social Care TutorI have been working at Carlisle College since June 2024. I currently teach Steps, Level 2 Pathways to Care, and Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care. I have 9 years of experience in Health and Social Care, working in a variety of services such as learning disability, mental health, dementia, and day care services. I am a qualified Primary School Teacher. One thing I love about my job is watching students progress, flourish, and become more confident in their skills and abilities.
Danielle Lawrence
Access to HE: Humanities and Social Sciences TutorI have worked at the college for 4 and a half years in various teaching roles. Before coming to the college, I studies Criminology and Social Science at the University of Cumbria. One thing I love about my job is meeting all the students and seeing them apply and expand their knowledge.
June Abraham
Health & Social Care TutorMy background is within the NHS and Cumbria County Council. I qualified as a Registered Nurse in 1996 and worked on a busy Surgical Unit at the West Cumberland Hospital for 15 years before then moving on to a Rehabilitation Unit where I worked as a Senior Nurse. This then led me to work for the commissioning & development team within the Cumbria Primary Care Trust and Cumbria County Council where I worked within a team developing services for individuals with long-term conditions, such as Multiple Sclerosis, Arthritis, Parkinsons, Motor Neurone Disease, etc. More recently I have worked at the Cumberland Infirmary on the Emergency Surgical Assessment Unit, which assisted me to update my clinical skills. Throughout my job as a Health and Social Care Tutor, my aim is to pass on my life and professional experience to the potential workforce of the future whilst continuously being taught new skills myself.
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