Horticulture Lead

Amegreen Children’s Services; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Brand-new provision from day one

Career development opportunities

Company pension

Free onsite parking

Free lunch provided during term time

Employee wellbeing support

Job summary

Amegreen Education is launching a brand-new horticulture provision at Juniper House, Reading, for learners aged 11-18 with SEND. As Horticulture Lead you will design and run practical programmes, create outdoor spaces, and mentor staff to deliver therapeutic learning through horticulture.

You will work closely with the Centre Manager and leadership team to build a flagship provision. A passion for safeguarding and inclusive education is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in horticulture, gardening, landscaping or related land-based field.
• Experience working with children or young people, ideally in education, SEND or Alternative Provision.
• Excellent practical horticultural knowledge.
• Ability to engage and motivate learners through hands-on activities.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• A calm, patient and nurturing approach.
• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operation and ongoing development of the horticulture provision.
• Design productive growing areas including polytunnels, raised beds, allotments and outdoor learning spaces.
• Support and develop a team of Learning Mentors.
• Design and deliver engaging horticulture programmes.
• Teach planting, propagation, cultivation and harvesting.
• Develop seasonal growing programmes.
• Promote sustainability and biodiversity.
• Support occasional cooking of produce grown as part of life-skills learning.
• Adapt activities for learners with SEND.
• Deliver ASDAN/AQA Unit Awards where appropriate.
• Maintain health and safety and safeguarding.
• Build partnerships with schools, families and local organisations.

Skills

Practical horticulture knowledge

Experience with children/young people

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Safeguarding commitment

Leadership / team development

Job description

About Us

Stable Futures is entering an exciting new phase of growth.

As part of Amegreen Education, we are opening a brand-new Alternative Provision to support our new secondary SEN school, Juniper House. The provision will provide therapeutic, practical and engaging learning experiences for children and young people who have found it difficult to access mainstream education.

We're looking for an experienced Horticulture Lead to establish and develop an exciting new horticulture provision from the ground up. You'll create productive growing spaces, develop engaging outdoor learning experiences and inspire young people through practical horticulture.

This is far more than gardening - it's about helping young people build confidence, develop life skills and reconnect with education through meaningful outdoor learning.

Alongside horticulture, learners will occasionally prepare and cook produce they have grown, helping to develop independence, healthy eating habits and practical life skills.

The Role

As Horticulture Lead, you will lead the development and day-to-day running of our new horticulture provision, creating a safe, engaging and inspiring environment for learners aged 11-18.

You'll design and deliver practical learning programmes focused on horticulture, environmental education and outdoor learning while supporting children with SEND and SEMH needs to develop confidence, resilience and independence.

Working closely with the Centre Manager and wider leadership team, you'll help establish a flagship provision that combines therapeutic education with practical horticultural experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operation and ongoing development of the horticulture provision.
• Design productive growing areas including polytunnels, raised beds, allotments and outdoor learning spaces.
• Support and develop a team of Learning Mentors.
• Design and deliver engaging horticulture programmes.
• Teach planting, propagation, cultivation and harvesting.
• Develop seasonal growing programmes.
• Promote sustainability and biodiversity.
• Support occasional cooking of produce grown as part of life-skills learning.
• Adapt activities for learners with SEND.
• Deliver ASDAN/AQA Unit Awards where appropriate.
• Maintain health and safety and safeguarding.
• Build partnerships with schools, families and local organisations.

About You

• Experience in horticulture, gardening, landscaping or another land-based industry.
• Experience working with children or young people, ideally in education, SEND or Alternative Provision.
• Excellent practical horticultural knowledge.
• Ability to engage and motivate learners through hands-on activities.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• A calm, patient and nurturing approach.
• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Why Join Amegreen Education?

• Be part of an exciting brand-new provision from day one.
• Make a genuine difference to the lives of children and young people.
• Extensive CPD and career development opportunities.
• Supportive leadership team.
• Opportunity to shape and grow your own department.
• Company pension.
• Free onsite parking.
• Free lunch provided during term time.
• Employee wellbeing support.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All posts are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, online searches, and satisfactory reference checks in line with our safer recruitment policy. We follow robust recruitment and selection procedures to ensure that the people we appoint are suitable to work with children.