Forest School Lead - St Nicholas First School

WMJobs; Wolverhampton; On-site; GBP 11,000 - 12,000; Part time

Job summary

St Nicholas First School is seeking a dedicated Forest School lead to join our support staff team. This post focuses on outdoor learning and child-led activities in a woodland setting, to develop confidence, resilience and a love of nature.

You will plan, deliver, and evaluate Forest School sessions in collaboration with teaching staff, ensuring safety and inclusivity while supporting curriculum objectives. The role is 20 hours per week during term time, with start date 2 November 2026.

Qualifications

• NB All candidates must hold the relevant Forest School accreditation.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver engaging Forest School sessions for groups of children.
• Promote children's wellbeing, confidence, resilience, and independence.
• Ensure the safety and welfare of all participants through risk assessment and site management.
• Develop and maintain the Forest School area and resources.
• Collaborate with teaching staff to support curriculum objectives through outdoor learning.
• Encourage environmental awareness, conservation and respect for nature.
• Monitor and celebrate children's progress and achievements.
• Maintain safeguarding, health and safety, and inclusive practice.
• Provide a minimum of 3 Forest School Clubs per week.

Skills

Forest School accreditation

Job description

St Nicholas First School, Codsall.

St Nicholas First School is seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Forest School lead to join our support staff team. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in children's learning journey within our supportive school community, part of Codsall Multi Academy Trust.

The Role at a Glance

Location: St Nicholas First School,

Salary Grade 5, Point 7: £26,403 (FTE)

Actual Salary £14.14 per hour

Hours: Mon – Friday 12:30 – 4:45pm (3 days a week 12.30-4.45pm, 2 days a week 12.30-4pm – days negotiable)

20 hours per week, Term Time only including Teacher training days

Contract: Permanent

Start Date: Monday 2nd November 2026

About The Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic, nurturing, and passionate Forest School Practitioner to join our team and inspire children through outdoor learning experiences. This is an exciting opportunity to help children develop confidence, resilience, independence, and a love of the natural world through engaging, child-led activities in a woodland environment.

Working closely with teaching staff, you will plan, deliver, and evaluate high-quality Forest School sessions that support children's personal, social, emotional, and educational development. You will create a safe, stimulating, and inclusive outdoor learning environment where children are encouraged to explore, take supported risks, solve problems, and develop their understanding of the world around them.

The successful candidate will be committed to promoting wellbeing, fostering curiosity, and helping every child reach their potential. They will have strong communication skills, a positive attitude, and the ability to build excellent relationships with pupils, staff, parents, and the wider community.

This role offers the opportunity to make a significant contribution to our school's commitment to outdoor learning and holistic child development, ensuring that every child can benefit from meaningful experiences beyond the classroom.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver engaging Forest School sessions for groups of children.
• Promote children's wellbeing, confidence, resilience, and independence.
• Ensure the safety and welfare of all participants through effective risk assessment and site management.
• Develop and maintain the Forest School area and resources.
• Work collaboratively with teachers to support curriculum objectives through outdoor learning.
• Encourage environmental awareness, conservation, and respect for nature.
• Monitor and celebrate children's progress and achievements.
• Maintain high standards of safeguarding, health and safety, and inclusive practice.
• Provision of a minimum of 3 Forest School Clubs a week.

NB All candidates must hold the relevant Forest School accreditation. Please do not apply unless you have this.

Key Dates

• Closing date:13/10/26
• Start date: 14/12/2026 or as soon as possible

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

St Nicholas First School and Codsall Multi Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff to share this commitment.

Safeguarding and Pre-employment Checks

• Enhanced DBS disclosure
• Satisfactory references
• Online social media checks
• Other pre-employment safeguarding checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Unfortunately, if you have not been contacted by 15.10/26 please assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

All posts involving direct contact with children are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. However, amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013 & 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected'. These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview. You may be asked for further information about your criminal history during the recruitment process. If your application is successful, this self-disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure & Barring Service before your appointment is confirmed.

Codsall Multi Academy Trust 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.

Contact Us

St Nicholas First School

Part of Codsall Multi Academy Trust

Email: [e-mail]

Phone: [phone]