English/ ESOL Instructor

Sodexo; Addiewell; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 19,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts across brands

Gym discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Benefits information attached

Job summary

Sodexo Government is seeking an English/ESOL Instructor to join the Learning & Skills team at HMP Addiewell. The role delivers engaging, inclusive education in a secure custodial environment, developing literacy, communication and employability skills to support rehabilitation and resettlement.

You will work with diverse learners, possibly with low literacy or additional learning needs, and may require evening/weekend work.

Responsibilities

• Plan, deliver and assess English and/or ESOL lessons across a range of levels.
• Develop schemes of work, lesson plans and progressive learning materials.
• Differentiate learning to meet varied abilities and needs.
• Carry out initial and diagnostic assessments to identify starting points and support requirements.
• Prepare learners for accredited qualifications and support achievement of learning outcomes.
• Monitor attendance, achievement and progression, reporting concerns.
• Maintain accurate educational records and documentation.
• Build positive relationships with prisoners and encourage engagement with education.
• Collaborate with prison staff and awarding bodies to support progression.
• Contribute to course reviews and quality improvement initiatives.
• Support recruitment and promotion of Learning & Skills opportunities.

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - HMP Addiewell

Pro rata £17,500 - rising to £18,150 after successful probation

Working Hours:

24

Location:

Closing Date:

07/10/2026

Job Category:

Custodial Services

UK Government - Justice

Job Introduction

Evening/Weekend Working: Required where necessary

HMP Addiewell is a high-security establishment focused on helping individuals change the direction of their lives. We support positive change by addressing offending behaviour through targeted programmes and close collaboration with professionals, while providing education, training and employment opportunities that develop practical and transferable skills. We also work with community partners to help individuals build positive futures following release.

About the Role

Are you a passionate English or ESOL educator looking for an opportunity to use your skills to make a meaningful difference?

Sodexo Government is looking for an English/ESOL Instructor to join our Learning & Skills team at HMP Addiewell.

This is an opportunity to deliver engaging, inclusive and purposeful education within a secure custodial environment. You will support learners to develop their literacy, communication and employability skills, contributing to their personal development, rehabilitation and successful resettlement into the community.

You will work with learners from a wide range of backgrounds, abilities and educational experiences, including individuals with low literacy, additional learning needs and varying levels of English language proficiency. Your ability to build positive relationships, adapt your teaching approach and create a supportive learning environment will be essential.

What You'll Be Doing

• Plan, deliver and assess engaging English and/or ESOL lessons across a range of levels.
• Develop schemes of work, lesson plans and progressive learning materials.
• Use inclusive and learner‑centred teaching strategies to develop literacy, communication, confidence and personal development.
• Differentiate learning to meet a wide range of abilities, language levels and additional learning needs.
• Carry out initial and diagnostic assessments to identify learners’ starting points, goals and support requirements.
• Prepare learners for accredited qualifications and support them to achieve their learning outcomes.
• Monitor learner attendance, achievement and progression, reporting any concerns or barriers to learning.
• Maintain accurate educational records, assessment information and other relevant documentation.
• Build positive and professional relationships with prisoners, encouraging those who may be reluctant to engage with education to take their first steps in learning.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, prison staff, allocation teams and external awarding bodies to support learner progression.
• Contribute to course reviews, quality improvement initiatives and action plans.
• Support the recruitment and promotion of Learning & Skills opportunities within the prison.
• Ensure teaching, assessment and quality assurance activities meet relevant standards, guidelines and awarding body requirements.
• Contribute to the wider purposeful activity programme and support the requirements of the SPS contract.
• Attend team and staff meetings, providing feedback and sharing ideas to improve teaching practice and the wider department.
• Work scheduled evenings and weekends where required.
• Undertake any other reasonable professional duties requested by your Line Manager.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for an enthusiastic, resilient and committed educator who can create positive learning experiences for people who may have had challenging experiences of education.

You will ideally have:

• Previous experience working in a teaching, training or learning environment, particularly with challenging or hard‑to‑engage learners.
• A recognised teaching qualification, such as TQFE, PGDE or Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training, or SCQF Level 7 in a teaching, learning or development discipline.
• If you do not currently hold the required teaching qualification, the ability and commitment to work towards it within 18 months of joining.
• A subject qualification or demonstrable expertise in English and/or ESOL.
• An interest in rehabilitation and resettlement and a genuine desire to support individuals to make positive changes.
• Experience working with learners with additional needs, such as SEND, neurodiversity or low literacy.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage people, resources and competing priorities effectively.
• The ability to adapt your teaching style to accommodate different learning styles, abilities and needs.
• Patience, resilience and the ability to remain calm and professional in a challenging environment.
• A commitment to inclusive, learner‑centred teaching and supporting individual development.
• Flexibility to work scheduled evenings and weekends where required.

An ESOL‑specific qualification, such as CELTA, DELTA or an ESOL subject specialism, would be desirable.

What You'll Be Responsible For

As an English/ESOL Instructor, you will help ensure learners receive high‑quality education that meets the requirements of relevant awarding bodies and supports their progression.

You will typically deliver up to four sessions per day, with a maximum class size of 16 learners. Through your teaching, you will help individuals develop the literacy, communication and transferable skills that can support their education, employability and successful reintegration into the community.

Why This Role Matters

Education can be a powerful catalyst for change. In this role, your teaching can help learners build confidence, improve their communication and literacy skills, achieve recognised qualifications and develop skills that can support their future beyond custody.

If you're an educator who wants your work to have a wider social impact and you're ready to bring your expertise, patience and creativity to a unique learning environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Why Sodexo?

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it's a chance to be part of something greater.

You'll belong to a company and team that values you for who you are. You'll act with purpose, make an impact through your everyday actions and have the opportunity to thrive in your own way.

We offer 20+ Sodexo benefits, including:

• Discounts across more than 1,900 brands for online shopping
• Gym discounts to support a healthy lifestyle
• A confidential 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, providing independent support with life's challenges, including emotional, legal and financial advice

For further information about our Sodexo benefits, please see the attached benefits information.

About Sodexo

At Sodexo, our purpose is create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all.

As a global leader in services that improve Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries and serve over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On‑Site Food and Facilities Management Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We're committed to building a workplace for the future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We believe in equal opportunities, celebrate diversity and strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome, can be themselves and can be the best version of themselves.

We recognise that diversity and inclusion is an ongoing journey and welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented backgrounds.

We are a Disability Confident Leader employer. We're committed to changing attitudes towards disability and ensuring disabled people have the opportunity to fulfil their aspirations. We operate a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the role.