Part-Time Alternative Provision Coach – 18 Hours | Term Time
Cambridge Area | Monday, Tuesday & Friday
Potential to grow into additional hours / full-time work
Change lives through movement.
Pay
£15.00 per hour during 3-month probation
£17.50 per hour upon successful completion of probation
Up to £20.00 per hour for proven high performers through progression
Hours
18 hours per week, term time
Monday – 6 hours
Tuesday – 6 hours
Friday – 6 hours
Each working day consists of:
- 5 hours working directly within the Alternative Provision
- 30 minutes preparation and planning before delivery
- 30 minutes protected time afterwards for reports, recording and follow-up work
There is potential for additional paid work on Wednesdays and Thursdays across Cambridgeshire and our wider school partnerships.
For the right person, there is a genuine opportunity for this role to develop beyond the initial 18 hours and potentially into a full-time position as our Alternative Provision work continues to grow.
Contract: PAYE
Start: As soon as possible, subject to safer recruitment checks
About EcoCoach CIC
EcoCoach CIC is a national award-winning Community Interest Company delivering specialist Alternative Provision for children and young people who can struggle to access mainstream education.
Our work is movement-led, trauma-informed and structured.
We work with children who need calm adults, clear boundaries, consistency and an approach that recognises that successful Alternative Provision is built around relationships as much as activities.
This is not mainstream PE.
It is regulated, relational and purposeful intervention, using movement, sport and practical activity as tools to engage young people, build trust and support progress.
The Role
We are looking for somebody to take responsibility for an established Alternative Provision placement three days per week.
Your core working days will be Monday, Tuesday and Friday, providing consistency for the child and the setting.
You will spend five hours each day working within provision, alongside protected paid time for preparation, planning, recording and reporting.
The role involves working with children and young people who may have SEND, SEMH needs, disrupted experiences of education or significant barriers to accessing mainstream schooling.
You will use movement, sport and practical activity to help build relationships, support regulation, increase engagement and work towards agreed outcomes.
You will not be expected simply to turn up and deliver activities.
You will be expected to understand the child, plan appropriately, adapt your approach, record what is happening and contribute evidence of progress.
A Route Into Alternative Provision
This could be an excellent opportunity for an experienced sports coach, youth worker or education professional who wants to develop their career within Alternative Provision.
You do not necessarily need to arrive as an experienced AP practitioner.
We can provide training and support around our approach, trauma-informed practice, reporting and Alternative Provision delivery.
What we cannot teach as easily is the right character for the work.
We need somebody who is dependable, calm, able to build relationships and comfortable taking responsibility.
Most of Your Week Will Focus On
- Building trust with children and young people
- Delivering structured movement-led Alternative Provision
- Supporting emotional regulation and engagement
- Establishing clear, consistent boundaries
- Responding calmly when situations become challenging
- Planning sessions around the needs of the individual
- Recording meaningful session information
- Contributing towards EHCP, SEMH and placement outcomes
- Working professionally with schools, families and other professionals
- Working independently to a high standard
This is not a role for somebody who needs constant supervision.
You will have support, but you will also be trusted to take ownership of the provision you are responsible for.
What You'll Be Doing
- Delivering 1:1 and, where appropriate, small-group Alternative Provision sessions
- Using movement, sport, games and practical activity to support engagement and regulation
- Developing positive, professional relationships with children
- Applying trauma-informed and child-led principles
- Holding boundaries with consistency and calm authority
- Planning and adapting sessions around individual needs
- Recording key observations and evidence of progress
- Completing high-quality session reports
- Contributing evidence linked to EHCP and SEMH outcomes where appropriate
- Communicating professionally with the EcoCoach team and partner settings
- Upholding safeguarding expectations without compromise
- Travelling to additional venues where agreed
Essential Requirements
- Experience working with children or young people
- The ability to build positive relationships while maintaining professional boundaries
- A calm and grounded presence
- Confidence managing challenging situations without escalating them
- Reliability and strong personal organisation
- Ability to work independently and take ownership of your work
- Full UK driving licence
- Access to your own vehicle
- Willingness to travel within Cambridgeshire for additional work where agreed
- Enhanced DBS, or willingness to obtain one
Desirable
- Alternative Provision experience
- SEND or SEMH experience
- Experience supporting children who struggle within mainstream education
- Trauma-informed practice
- Youth work or mentoring experience
- Sports coaching or physical activity background
- Play Their Way familiarity
Pay & Progression
Our progression structure is designed to reward people who consistently demonstrate the standards required to work with vulnerable children and young people.
£15.00 per hour during your 3-month probation.
£17.50 per hour following successful completion of probation.
Progression of up to £20.00 per hour is available for colleagues who demonstrate sustained high performance.
Progression will consider:
- Reliability and attendance
- Professional conduct
- Quality of relationships with children
- Boundary-setting and management of challenging situations
- Safeguarding practice
- Quality of planning and reporting
- Consistency of delivery
- Ability to work independently
- Feedback from partner settings
- Evidence of positive outcomes for children
We reward standards, not promises.
Additional Hours & Career Development
The immediate priority is appointing somebody who can commit consistently to the 18-hour Monday, Tuesday and Friday provision.
However, this does not have to remain an 18-hour role.
Additional work may be available on Wednesdays and Thursdays across Cambridgeshire and through other EcoCoach school and Alternative Provision partnerships.
As EcoCoach continues to develop its Alternative Provision work, there may be an opportunity for the right person to increase their hours significantly and potentially progress towards a full-time role.
That progression will be based on performance, organisational need and available provision.
This Role Is Right for Someone Who
Shows up.
Does what they say they are going to do.
Builds relationships without losing boundaries.
Stays calm when somebody else is struggling.
Takes ownership rather than waiting to be told what to do.
Can use movement as a way of reaching a child rather than simply delivering a sports session.
Wants to develop professionally within Alternative Provision.
Understands that vulnerable children need adults around them who are steady, consistent and dependable.
If you want responsibility, meaningful work and an opportunity to build a career within Alternative Provision, we'd like to hear from you.
Job Types: Permanent, Part-time
Pay: £15.00-£20.00 per hour
Benefits:
Experience:
- Sports Coaching/Play Working or Care: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person
