Job Description
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Level 2 Forest School Assistant
At Woodend Farm School we believe every child deserves a quality first education, regardless of background or need. We believe that school should be an environment where a child feels safe, secure and is provided with nurture by professionals that are invested in them. We believe in developing positive and trusting relationships. Our values are grounded in a determination to be the change we want to see in the world, through passion, commitment and integrity. We want to plant seeds of kindness and compassion in a generation that will help them develop resilience and hope to fulfil their own destinies. Our success therefore will be measured by the impact we have on the children we work with.
As a Forest School Assistant you will work alongside the Forest School Leader to deliver Forest Schools for children aged from Year 1 to Year 11.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- To work under the instruction/guidance of the Forest School Leader to undertake work/care/support programmes to enable the day-to-day delivery and smooth running of the Forest Schools programme and provision.
- To love working with children of all ages and to be a positive role model.
- Work within the parameters given by the Forest School Leader and Woodend Farm School
- To understand and have a love of the outdoors.
- Set up and clear away Forest School before and after sessions, carry out daily checks, andtool checks and maintenance. Follow all safety procedures and risk assessments to keep yourself, staff and children safe.
- Follow and maintain routines, boundaries and rules to ensure safety and promote positive behaviour. Work with the Forest School leader to supervise and provide support for learners when needed, ensuring safety and access to learning meeting learners' individual needs.
- To promote learning in the outdoor environment, the ethos of Forest School and the Forest school principles as well as outdoor learning. To understand the importance of Holistic development and well-being for our learner's development.
- To be aware of individual children's RMP'S, EHCP and management plans, to contribute to their individual development and to carry them out appropriately.
- Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all children and staff, making sure that everyone has equal opportunities for learning and play our Forest School is for everyone.
- Join in and encourage children to interact with peers and staff engaging in activities led by the Forest School Leader as well as child-led activities. Offer children support and encourage children to act independently as appropriate.
- To enjoy working in a team, share ideas and encourage each other. To be able to listen to others and adapt your practice if needed. To be keen to share knowledge and work with staff and learners to learn more.
- To help the Forest School leader to maintain the Forest School area and contribute to the continual growth, improvement and positivity in the natural environment of our Forest School. To be versatile and flexible, the job sometimes has other roles such as looking after the animals and other areas of Thrive site.
- To adhere to all relevant policies, guidance, and procedures, and report safeguarding appropriately.
- To help theForest School leader with keeping records of participants' emergency contact details, permission forms,medical needs and any other necessary documentation
- To help the Forest School leader, as required, with monitoring children's responses to learning activities through observation, Journals, assessment, andreport writing so that we can provide feedback and evidence of the children's holistic development, individual learning and progress.
- To engage in continuous professional development CPD attending training and courses where necessary making sure that your training is up to date.
- To carry out all other such duties as may from time to time be determined by your line manager, Forest School leader, WOODEND FARM SCHOOL, Thrive provision.
Person Specification
Experience
- Experienced in working with children in education.
- Ability to motivate and inspire children across a range of ages, abilities, andstages of development and have the ability to understand and support our learner's individual development and needs.
- To be clear, confident and fair, promoting positive behaviour appropriate to the age of the individual child, ability, needs and understanding, in line with the promoting positive behaviour for learning policy.
Knowledge
- Level 2 Award for Forest School Assistants (Desirable or willing to achieve)
- A good general education (Essential)
- Hold a current Paediatric First Aid Certificate, (or be willing to undertake the training)
- Hold a Food Hygiene Certificate (or be willing to undertake the training).
- An understanding of Health & Safety requirements and welfare issues of working with children from reception to year 13. Knowledge, understanding and practical experience of working in a Forest School provision or similar setting.
- Knowledge and practical understanding of child development and pedagogy.
- Knowledge/willingness to gain knowledge, understanding and practical experience of sustainable management and learning and play within the outdoor environment.
- Able to work independently and to manage own time efficiently.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Ability to work individually and as part of a team.
Person Specifics
- Ability to think creatively and adapt activities to allow all learners to be included and a commitment to equal opportunities for all learners.
- Someone who has a Love of the outdoors and nature.
- Someone enthusiastic, self-motivated, and Fun with a can-do attitude.
- Excellent role model for learners, staff and volunteers.
- Forest school involves many physical activities as well as moving and handling, so youneed to have a good level of physical fitness and be energetic, be Willing to work out of doors, on uneven surfaces and in unpredictable weather conditions.
- Be willing to follow "The Forest School approach for staff and volunteers"
- Be playful, join in and have fun!
- Allow activities to be pupil-led.
- Encourage curiosity and exploration by offering a choice of different activities.
- IT IS THE PROCESS THAT IS IMPORTANT, NOT THE PRODUCT
- Use open-ended questions following the Thrive approach I'm wondering. I'm noticing. I imagine?
- LISTEN and encourage listening.
- Treat each pupil as an individual.
- Act as a POSITIVE ROLE MODEL
- Encourage pupils' self-development and focus on the positives.
- TAKING RISKS IS GOOD. Maintain safe boundaries so that staff and pupils can safely enjoy participating in Forest school activities. If you're not sure ask the Forest school leader.
- If a pupil is struggling to engage or showing signs of dysregulation, offer them support with the activity or allow them to engage in an alternative activity or time away from the session if needed, helping them to think about feelings and help them think about positive solutions.
- LOVE MUD! LOVE PUDDLES! AND ENCORAGE CURIOSITY AND EXPLORATION!!
Benefits:
Company Pension
Onsite Free Parking
Extensive training opportunities - Thrive, Safeguarding and Essex Steps
Term-time only contract.
Free uniform
Option for free lunches
Private healthcare after 1 years' service