The Job Description
1. Job Purpose including main duties and responsibilities:
Work under the guidance of the Forest School Lead using experience and expertise in outdoor activities and Forest School Learning in the Outdoor Environment, in an agreed system of supervision to:
- Help to implement agreed practice with individuals and groups of students, in Forest School sessions.
- Work with the Forest School Lead in the observation, assessment and planning cycle and to manage and prepare resources.
- Engage with and support students learning and generally support students with set activities and independent problem solving.
- Supervise students at all times and this may include lunchtimes as required.
- Accompany teaching staff and students on visits, trips and off-site activities as required.
2. Supervision
- Working under direction/instruction of the Forest School Lead.
3. Creativity and Innovation
- Working as part of a team, the post holder will have opportunities to work creatively with students in a defined framework.
- Contribute to creating an interesting menu of activities for students to experience and learn new skills.
- Encourage students to reach their full potential and seek opportunities for continuous improvement.
4. Contacts and relationships
- Work with a wide of range of people including both pre-16 and post-16 stakeholders.
- Work with teachers and other team members to share information and agree on a recommended course of action.
- Establish productive working relationships with students, providing immediate feedback, whilst acting as a role model.
- Set high expectations for behaviour and learning.
- Be an enthusiastic advocate of creative outdoor learning activities to engage students.
5. Levels of Responsibility
- The post holder must work strictly under the supervision of the Forest School Lead within organisational policies and procedures, assuming shared responsibility for the safety, security, care, and education of students.
- All staff members have a responsibility to ensure that Ofsted requirements are always met.
6. Effects of Decisions
- This role reports directly to the Forest School Lead and all decisions would be made in agreement.
7. Resources
- The post holder takes part in organising the availability and use of general and specialist equipment and other resources, including checking to ensure they are clean, safe and secure for students.
- The post holder must uphold the schools health and safety policies by reporting problems with resources and equipment to senior staff for further action to be taken.
8. Work demands
- Under supervision of the Forest School Lead and SLT, the post holder must promote and uphold Ofsted
minimum requirements at all times.
9. Physical Demands
- Lifting and carrying of equipment and bending and clearing away after sessions are all a daily part of this role, sometimes assisted by students.
10. Working conditions
- Work involves working mostly outdoors.
- The post holder will work in other environments when accompanying students on trips to places of interest, both within the local community and further afield.
11. Knowledge and skills
- This role requires the ability to undertake work in one broad area of activity with students with a basic level of practical knowledge and skills of learning in the outdoor environment.
- A Forest School or Outdoor Activities qualification and experience.
12. Work with students.
- Implementing agreed learning activities and teaching programmes for students with additional needs.
- Monitoring student response to learning activities through observation and assisting in providing evidence on student progress.
- Encouraging students to both interact and work co-operatively as well as develop independence and self-reliance. This includes promoting positive values, attitudes and behaviour.
- Support in creating a physical and emotionally safe learning environment. Thus, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to learn, interact and fulfil their potential.
13. Administration
- Contributing observations on student progress to the organisations MIS system.
- Providing general clerical and administrative support as required for example, by making an entry in an accident log.
14. Liaison
- Being aware of, and complying with, policies and procedures relating to child protection, health safety and security, equality and diversity, confidentiality, and data protection and reporting all concerns to an appropriate person. The setting operates a policy of collective responsibility, towards the safeguarding of all members of the setting and the welcoming of diversity.
- Recognising your own strengths and areas of expertise and using these in the setting.
- Aiding in the promotion and marketing of the provision to prospective parents and members of the community.
15. Other
- Contributing to the overall ethos, work and aims of Expanse Group Ltd.
- A positive approach to continuous professional development, including accessing recommended training and development programmes as identified by senior staff.
Expectations
- As appropriate, the postholders duties must be carried out in compliance with Expanse Groups policies and procedures, located on our website.
Further Statement:
Undertaking any other duties, which may reasonably be regarded as within the nature of the duties and responsibilities of the post as defined, subject to the provision that normally any changes of a permanent nature shall be incorporated into the job description in specific terms
NOTE TO APPLICANTS If you require any aids or adaptations to either our workplace or policies and practices that may assist or enable you to successfully carry out this role, please inform us. This job description is subject to annual review in accordance with the changing nature of learners and institutional need.
The Personal Specification:
Criteria
Essential/ Desirable
Source
Forest School or Outdoor Activities Qualification
Desirable
Application
Experience of supporting young people with an EHCP to achieve personal and academic outcomes in education and/or care setting.
Essential
Application
Working with and supporting learners and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities including those with behaviours that challenge.
Desirable
Interview
Knowledge of the demands of working with external organisations, especially, for example, OFSTED and Awarding Bodies.
Desirable
Interview
Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection and processes in education settings
Desirable
Interview
Understanding of Forest School principles and Curriculum and its learning objectives.
Desirable
Interview
Computer Literate.
Essential
Interview
Proven ability to work with a variety of teams of staff.
Essential
Interview
Evidence of commitment to continuous professional development.
Essential
Interview
Ability to liaise/communicate with a broad spectrum of individuals.
Essential
Interview
Ability to meet deadlines and manage time efficiently.
Essential
Interview
Ability to create strong links with others.
Essential
Interview
Willingness to be adaptable and flexible to meet the needs of service users.
Essential
Interview
Practical outdoor activity skills and the ability to create risk assessments to safely lead on a variety of activities.
Essential
Interview
All successful candidates are subject to the following security checks. Please refer to our Safer Recruitment Policy for further information.
o Verification of the applicant's identity (where that has not previously been verified);
o The receipt of two references (one of which must be from the applicant's most recent employer) which Expanse considers being satisfactory;
o Where the position amounts to "regulated activity the receipt of an enhanced disclosure from the DBS which Expanse considers to be satisfactory;
o Where the position amounts to "regulated activity" confirmation that the applicant is not named on the Children's Barred List/Vulnerable Adult Barred List.
o Verification of the applicant's medical fitness for the role;
o Verification of the applicant's right to work in the UK;
o Prohibition from teaching checks
o Section 128 provisions check (prohibited from managing)
o Online checks (inc. social media and web searches).
o Any further checks which are necessary as a result of the applicant having lived or worked outside of the UK; and
o Verification of professional qualifications which Expanse Group deems a requirement for the post, or which the applicant otherwise cites in support of their application (where they have not been previously verified).
Essential
Checks
If you are interested in applying for this position please follow the link to our job opportunities page and complete the job application provided: https://www.expanselearning.co.uk/job-opportunities/
Should you require any further information or support in applying for this vacancy, please contact [email protected]. Please note that school will be closed for summer break until Monday 24th August, so our response may be delayed during this period.
