Lead Tutor (Sports)
New Meaning Centre: NMT Berkshire (Reading)
Employer: New Meaning Training (NMT)
Type: Permanent, Full Time, All-year-round
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Schedule: Monday to Friday 08:30 – 16:30
Salary: £33,000 - £50,000 (Salary negotiable and based on experience)
Job Reference: BERSTS022601RW
Introduction
Are you ready to lead a team and shape the experience of young people who need education to be different?
We are looking for a Lead Tutor (Sports) to oversee our Sports pathway in Reading. This is a leadership role with responsibility for supporting tutors, maintaining quality, developing excellent practice and helping young people progress towards adulthood, employment and independence.
Whilst sport is an important part of the pathway, this is not a PE teacher role. We use sport, movement and practical activities to build confidence, resilience, communication skills and emotional regulation in young people who may have struggled in mainstream education.
You could be an experienced tutor, teacher, sports coach, youth worker or team leader who is ready to take the next step. What matters most is your ability to lead people, build positive relationships and help young people who need structure, consistency and encouragement to succeed.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and support a team of tutors, teaching assistants and learning support assistants within the SETPD pathway
- Contribute to and oversee the planning of SETPD sessions, schemes of work and curriculum design
- Deliver engaging SETPD sessions with a sport, movement or activity‑based focus, modelling trauma‑informed, relational practice
- Support learners to develop employability and life skills such as routines, goal setting, self‑management and positive attitudes to work
- Work 1:1 and with small groups, adapting sessions to different needs, abilities and confidence levels
- Encourage regular attendance, participation and engagement, reinforcing the link between effort and progression
- Guide and support tutors in embedding Functional Skills Maths and English within practical learning
- Build strong, trusting relationships with learners, using trauma‑informed approaches and supporting staff to do the same
- Coach staff on behaviour support strategies and lead responses to hard‑to‑engage learners
- Maintain accurate records relating to learner progress, engagement and development, and support staff in doing the same
- Contribute to learner induction, reviews and progression planning, supporting staff with paperwork and processes
- Work appropriately with parents/carers, support services and external agencies where required
- Reflect on your own practice, engage in leadership CPD and support the development of your team
You will have:
NB: You do not need to meet every requirement to apply. If you bring the right leadership qualities, values and experience supporting young people, we will support you with training and development.
- A recognised teaching or tutoring qualification (e.g. Level 3 Award in Education & Training)
- Experience working with young people aged 16–25, particularly those with SEND and/or SEMH needs
- Experience leading, supervising or mentoring staff (education, youth work, coaching or care)
- A natural ability to build rapport and motivate disengaged young people
- Confidence using movement, activity or practical approaches as tools to support engagement and wellbeing
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a calm and consistent leadership style
- A flexible and adaptable mindset, able to respond to learner and staff need
- Openness to trauma‑informed, relational practice and willingness to model this for other
- Strong organisational skills, including planning, record‑keeping and supporting others to stay on track
- Emotional resilience, patience and a reflective leadership approach
- Willingness to learn, develop new skills and engage in ongoing CPD
- Experience delivering or supporting Functional Skills English and Maths (Entry Level–Level 2)
- Experience planning structured sessions, schemes of work or curriculum content
- Experience completing learner records, assessments or qualification paperwork
- Experience tracking learner progress against EHCP outcomes or programme targets
- Experience supporting other staff to develop their practice
- Confident use of digital systems for learning, tracking or reporting
A full UK driving licence and access to a business‑insured vehicle About Us
New Meaning Training (NMT) offers education with a difference. We are a post 16 training and education provider dedicated to helping young people aged 16–25 discover their strengths and develop the confidence and skills to earn their own living.
This academic year New Meaning Training will have well over 300 young people from Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, and Berkshire. Many of these learners are referred by secondary schools, pupil referral units, and Special Education Needs settings.
Our journey began in 2015 with the opening of our first centre in High Wycombe, originally known as “Toolshed.” Ten years on, NMT continues to grow. In Berkshire we’re fortunate enough to have expanded into a second building in Reading to create a quieter space for Creative Art & Design, Achieve Lifeskills and Transition learners. And in our main building we have Construction Multiskills, Sports and Boost Workskills. All incorporate functional skills qualifications in Maths and English, along with tutorials and enrichment sessions to support our well-rounded approach. We also provide a ‘Transition Support’ programme for young people with EHCPs who are not yet ready for a learning setting.
NMT tailors its programmes to meet the needs of its learners, considering Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. We comprehensively apply the principles of a Loving Care Approach (Trauma Informed Practice) to ensure all young people receive the support they need to thrive.
Why work for New Meaning Training?
Generous annual leave
- 20 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
- Up to 10 additional “gifted” days off each year (taken during school holiday periods)
- Annual leave increases with length of service, up to a maximum of 24 days
Pension
- Auto enrolment into The People’s Pension‑enrolment into The People’s Pension
- 5% employee contribution with 3% employer contribution
Blue Light Card
- Access to hundreds of national discounts (retail, food, travel, days out)
- Admin fee fully reimbursed by NMT
Service recognition
- Additional annual leave as a thank you for long service‑you
- Gift rewards at key milestones (e.g. 5 and 10 years)
Wellbeing benefits
- Annual flu vaccination voucher (paid for by NMT)
- Birthday gift voucher to celebrate your day
Sustainable travel schemes
- Cycle to Work scheme (salary sacrifice)
- Electric Vehicle scheme via Octopus Energy (salary sacrifice)
- Green Travel to Work initiatives with rewards for taking part
A supportive, values led workplace‑led workplace
- Strong focus on staff wellbeing, development, and collaboration
- Training and CPD supported as part of your role
- The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in young people’s lives
How to Apply & Safeguarding
To apply, please visit newmeaning.training/careers. To be considered for this role, you must fill in our mandatory online application form and attach a CV to complete your submission.
New Meaning Training is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and adhere to our safeguarding and professional conduct policies.
- Checks: This post involves regulated activity and is subject to an Enhanced DBS check (including a Children’s Barred List check) and satisfactory professional references.
- Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA): This role is exempt from the ROA 1974. Applicants must disclose all convictions and cautions that are not ‘protected’ under the Exceptions Order 1975 (as amended 2013 and 2020). For guidance on which offences are ‘filtered’ and do not need to be disclosed, please refer to the DBS filtering guide.
Pay: £33,000.00-£50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free flu jabs
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
- Store discount
Work Location: In person
