Forest School Practitioner

Ref: 001559

The Trustees are looking to recruit to the post of Forest School Practitioner

Samuel Laycock School

Ashton Under Lyne

Scale pts 23-25: £34,434 £36,363 per annum (full time equivalent)

Actual Salary range pro rata: £27,314 £28,843 per annum

SEN Allowance (£1,539 per annum)

September 2026

At Samuel Laycock School we are constantly striving to create the best learning opportunities for every pupil. We aim to provide a specialist, high quality, relevant and balanced education for pupils aged 11-16 who have moderate learning difficulties, autistic spectrum condition and severe learning difficulties. We also tailor the learning experiences for individual pupils’ social and emotional development and communication needs. All children and young people at Samuel Laycock School have an Education Health and Care Plan. You can view our school’s website here. Additionally, please view our promotional video here. In our most recent staff survey, colleagues rated their wellbeing at an impressive 7.09, reflecting our ongoing commitment to creating a supportive and positive workplace.

Samuel Laycock is delighted to be part of the New Bridge Multi Academy Trust (MAT) having joined on 1st April 2022. The Trust is a growing family of schools catering for young people aged 4 to 19 with an EHCP currently in the local authorities of Oldham, Tameside and Rochdale. Samuel Laycock was visited by Ofsted inspectors in October 2024. The school was graded as 'Outstanding' in most areas. You can view our latest Ofsted report here.

The Trustees are looking to appoint an experienced and motivated Forest School Practitioner to join our dynamic, growing and committed staff team.

The successful candidate will have:

• A Forest School Level 3 qualification and an uptodate Outdoor First Aid certificate. Alternatively, candidates who do not yet hold the Level 3 qualification must be willing to undertake it. The school will fully fund this training, provided the candidate signs and commits to a training agreement
• A strong passion for outdoor learning and the delivery of a highquality Forest School provision
• Previous experience of leading, planning and delivering learning activities
• Specific experience/interest in working with pupils with SEND
• High expectations of young people, and a commitment to raising standards of attainment to ensure that they can achieve their full educational potential
• Experience of developing options and alternatives that will support children and young people to engage in the learning process
• Experience of enhancement of pupil progress and raising attainment and achievement in all pupils
• Experience of current assessment practice and the use of data and pupil progress tracking to ensure that all groups of learners achieve
• Experience of managing challenging behaviour
• The emotional and physical resilience necessary when working with challenging young people with a range of complex needs
• The ability to foster positive relationships with other staff, pupils, parents and the wider community
• The willingness to be a team player who can work effectively with all members of the school team
• Be hardworking, organised and proactive in their own professional development.

Areas of responsibility:

• To plan and develop our established Forest School in collaboration with the PE and Outdoor Education lead
• To plan, prepare and facilitate a range of Forest School sessions to pupils aged 11-16
• Ensure Health & Safety requirements are met, including Risk Assessments which are continually checked and updated
• To supervise and support children with varying needs while delivering sessions
• To create and maintain an engaging, fun and supportive environment, demonstrating flexibility in planning and running sessions in response to varying/changing needs of pupils
• To ensure that all sessions are well prepared and risk assessed
• To be aware of and comply with all school Policies and Procedures
• To administer basic first aid as the need arises

This post will be based initially at Samuel Laycock School in Ashton Under Lyne, however, all staff are employed by the MAT and are expected to work at any site within the New Bridge Group if required. Potential applicants are encouraged to visit Samuel Laycock School to see the school in action and an appointment can be arranged by contacting gmather@newbridgegroup.org.

New Bridge MAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must have a commitment to safeguarding young people. This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and references will be sought prior to interview.

This post will be subject to a number of pre-employment checks including an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and proof of right to work in the UK in accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. It will be exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here.

For successful candidates, an online search will be carried out as part of our due diligence in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023

We strive to create a fair and inclusive workplace that is as diverse as the communities we serve. We positively welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Salary: Scale pts 23-25: £34,434 £36,363 per annum (full time equivalent)

Actual Salary range pro rata: £27,314 - £28,843

SEN allowance: £1,539 per annum

Hours of work: 34 hours per week/ Term Time only + 5 days (195 days)

Based: Samuel Laycock School, Broadoak Road, Ashton Under Lyne

Commencing: September 2026

Status: Permanent

Closing Date: Wednesday 17 June 2026 9am

Interviews: w/c Monday 22 June 2026

School Information: Gilly Mather mailto:helen.wilson@samuellaycockschool.org gmather@newbridgegroup.org

Completed application forms via email to: recruitment@newbridgegroup.org