Forest School Instructor

Outcomes First Group; Frome; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Wellbeing support

Flexible benefits

Health & insurance

Job summary

Acorn Education, part of Outcomes First Group, is seeking a Forest School Instructor at Wessex Lodge School to plan and deliver therapeutic, child-centered outdoor sessions across three sites.

You will work with pupils including those with additional needs, adapt activities for accessibility, manage risk, and help grow the outdoor learning provision with staff and volunteers.

Qualifications

• Passionate about outdoor learning and Forest School practice.
• Experience working with children and young people, including SEND settings.
• Ability to engage pupils of varying ages and abilities.
• Calm, fair and confident in managing behaviour positively.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver engaging Forest School sessions across three sites.
• Encourage resilience, independence, creativity and problem-solving outdoors.
• Support pupils with additional needs to access meaningful learning in nature.
• Lead and coordinate support staff and volunteers during Forest School activities.
• Complete and review risk assessments to ensure safe practice.
• Maintain tools, equipment and resources to high standards.
• Monitor pupil engagement and wellbeing, provide feedback to colleagues.
• Help grow and develop Forest School provision across the school community.

Skills

Outdoor education

Forest School

Safeguarding

Risk assessment

Team leadership

Communication

Job description

Do you believe the best lessons happen around a campfire, beneath the trees, and through hands-on experiences in the great outdoors? At Wessex Lodge School, we're looking for an enthusiastic and inspiring Forest School Instructor to help our pupils discover confidence, resilience and a lifelong connection with nature. This is far more than an outdoor education role. It's an opportunity to ignite curiosity, nurture wellbeing and help children and young people realise what they're truly capable of. As our Forest School Instructor, you'll plan and deliver engaging, therapeutic and child-centred Forest School experiences that support pupils' emotional, social and educational development. You'll work closely with pupils with a range of additional needs, adapting activities to ensure every child can access and enjoy the outdoors safely and successfully. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and develop Forest School provision across three school sites, with the potential to take on lead responsibility for the continued growth and development of outdoor learning within Wessex Lodge School. Whether it's den building, woodland crafts, tool work, nature exploration or problem-solving challenges, you'll help pupils discover strengths they never knew they had.

• Planning and delivering engaging Forest School sessions that inspire curiosity and confidence
• Encouraging resilience, independence, creativity and problem-solving through outdoor experiences
• Supporting pupils with additional needs to access meaningful learning opportunities in nature
• Leading and coordinating support staff and volunteers during Forest School activities
• Completing and reviewing risk assessments to ensure safe and effective practice
• Maintaining tools, equipment and outdoor resources to the highest standards
• Monitoring pupil engagement, wellbeing and progress, providing feedback to colleagues
• Championing the growth and development of Forest School provision across the school community

We're looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about the transformative power of Forest School and outdoor learning
• Experienced in working with children and young people, ideally within educational or SEND settings
• Skilled at engaging pupils of different ages, abilities and confidence levels
• Creative, adaptable and committed to ensuring every child can succeed
• Calm, fair and confident in managing behaviour positively
• An excellent communicator who thrives both independently and as part of a team
• Organised and confident in managing risk and maintaining high standards of safety
• Enthusiastic about developing and leading Forest School provision across multiple sites
• Full UK Driving Licence
• Learning at Wessex Lodge goes far beyond the classroom. Our outdoor spaces across all three sites offer meaningful opportunities for pupils to regulate, connect and engage. These environments, whether it be out in the community or time with animals, are key to helping our children feel calm, confident and curious.

Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people's lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact. We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the sixth year running.

We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• "Your Wellbeing Matters" - mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
• Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
• Hundreds of UK and international discounts
• Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support