Forest School & Horticulture Teacher KS1-4

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Are you passionate about outdoor learning and helping young people thrive beyond the traditional classroom?

Heathermount School is seeking an enthusiastic, creative and committed Forest School & Horticulture Teacher to join our team.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop and deliver high-quality Forest School and Horticulture provision across KS1–KS4, working with autistic children and young people with a range of associated needs.

At Heathermount, we recognise that some of the most powerful learning happens outside the classroom. Our outdoor curriculum provides opportunities for pupils to develop practical skills, independence, confidence, resilience and an understanding of the natural world.

We are looking for someone who can bring this provision to life – creating purposeful, engaging and ambitious learning experiences that meet pupils at their individual starting points while encouraging them to achieve more than they thought possible.

Key Details

• Professional Development: We are committed to supporting the successful candidate through relevant training, professional development and opportunities to further develop our outdoor learning provision.

The Role: What You'll Do

Working across our primary and secondary phases, you will plan and deliver an engaging programme of Forest School, horticulture and outdoor learning that is appropriately adapted to meet the needs of our pupils. Key responsibilities will include:

• Forest School: Planning and delivering progressive Forest School sessions that develop confidence, independence, teamwork, problem-solving and resilience.
• Horticulture: Providing practical horticultural experiences to KS3/4 that enable pupils to develop knowledge and skills through growing, maintaining and caring for plants and outdoor spaces.
• An Ambitious Curriculum: Developing a clear and progressive outdoor learning curriculum across KS1–KS4, ensuring learning builds meaningfully as pupils move through the school.
• Adaptive Teaching: Creating accessible and engaging learning experiences for autistic pupils with a wide range of strengths, needs and learning profiles.
• Learning Beyond the Classroom: Using our school grounds and wider environment creatively to provide meaningful opportunities for exploration, practical learning and personal development.
• Cross-Curricular Learning: Working collaboratively with teaching colleagues to identify opportunities for Forest School and horticulture to complement wider curriculum learning.
• Safe Practice: Ensuring outdoor learning is delivered safely, with appropriate risk assessments, equipment management and safeguarding procedures in place.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who believes that outdoor and practical learning can make a genuine difference to children and young people.

You will need to be enthusiastic, adaptable and able to build positive relationships with pupils who may have experienced barriers to learning in more traditional educational environments.

Essential Criteria:

• Experience of planning and delivering high-quality teaching and learning.
• Strong knowledge, skills or experience in Forest School, horticulture or outdoor education.
• The ability to plan and deliver engaging, purposeful and appropriately adapted learning.
• A commitment to inclusive practice and high expectations for all pupils.
• The ability to build positive and trusting relationships with autistic children and young people.
• A clear commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Desirable Criteria:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or an appropriate recognised teaching qualification.
• A recognised Forest School qualification.
• Relevant horticultural or land-based qualifications or experience.
• Experience of working with autistic children and young people and/or pupils with SEND.
• Experience of teaching across more than one key stage.
• Experience of developing an outdoor learning, Forest School or horticulture curriculum.
• Knowledge of qualifications or accreditation opportunities linked to horticulture, outdoor learning or land-based studies.

How to Apply:

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play. Heathermount School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and carry out their safeguarding responsibilities as per the job description and personal specification for their role.

Any successful applicant will be required to undergo the child protection screening appropriate to the post. For more information about the DBS please see their website

This post is not exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.

Safeguarding Statement

Heathermount School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.We particularly welcome applications from under represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.