Forest School Assistant

Hours: Full time (8am-4pm Monday, Wednesday - Friday, 8-5pm on Tuesdays) term time only

Start date: November 2026

Your new school

Gretton School welcomes autistic children and young people aged from 5-19 years old, as weekly boarders or as day learners.

Every learner at Gretton has a diagnosis of Autism, and the ability to learn at or above the level of their mainstream peers, but require a specialist setting in order to achieve their remarkable potential.

As autism specialists, we understand that consistent daily routines and staffing helps to keep anxiety at a minimum and ensures that our learners feel safe and confident in their surroundings.

We have a high staff to learner ratio and classes are small and personal - we know each of our learners really well and employ the best strategies to support them in their everyday school life.

A broad curriculum, an emphasis on holistic development, and the development of life and social skills, means that we are able to bring out the best in all our learners, and to provide them with opportunities to flourish.

At whatever stage a young person joins Gretton, we will ensure they are happy and prepared to make the most of the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life.

Your new role

As Forest School Assistant, you will work closely with the Forest School Leader to support the delivery and development of an engaging Forest School programme. You will help create a safe, stimulating and inclusive outdoor learning environment where students can build confidence, resilience and practical life skills.

Key responsibilities will include:

Supporting the day-to-day delivery and smooth running of Forest School sessions and outdoor learning activities.
Assisting with the management and maintenance of the Forest School site to ensure it remains safe and accessible.
Helping pupils develop practical outdoor skills, including fire lighting, tool use, construction and woodland activities.
Supervising learners and ensuring their safety, wellbeing and engagement at all times.
Supporting activity planning, learner progress tracking and record keeping.
Implementing behaviour plans, risk assessments and safeguarding procedures effectively.
Working collaboratively with colleagues to create positive learning experiences tailored to individual needs.
Providing observations and feedback to support pupil development and achievement. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working outdoors, values relationship-based practice and wants to make a genuine difference to the lives of autistic children and young people.

What you'll need to succeed

To be successful in this Forest School Assistant role, you will ideally have:

A Level 2 or Level 3 Award for Forest School Assistants, or the willingness to complete the qualification.
A Paediatric First Aid Certificate and Food Hygiene Certificate, or willingness to undertake training.
GCSE Maths and English at Grade 4 (or equivalent).
A minimum of one year's experience working within a school environment.
Knowledge and understanding of autism and the ability to adapt activities to meet individual needs.
Excellent communication, teamwork and behaviour management skills.
The ability to motivate, encourage and inspire children of different ages and abilities.
The resilience, patience and physical capability to work outdoors throughout the year.
A commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and delivering high-quality outdoor education. Experience within Forest School provision, specialist education, sustainable woodland management or outdoor learning environments would be highly advantageous.

What you'll get in return

In return, you will join a welcoming and dedicated team where collaboration, wellbeing and professional development are highly valued. You'll have the opportunity to build a rewarding career in specialist education while supporting young people to develop confidence, independence and essential life skills through outdoor learning.

Benefits include:

Starting salary of £23,242.
Full-time, term-time only working pattern.
Ongoing training and development opportunities, including Forest School-related qualifications.
The opportunity to work in a specialist autism setting with small groups and high levels of support.
A collaborative and supportive team culture.
The chance to make a lasting impact on the educational and personal development of young people.Safeguarding recruitment statement

Gretton School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff to share this commitment, applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service. We aim to be a fair employer and are committed to equal opportunities. Gretton School does not discriminate against employees on the basis of gender, ethnic origin, disability or age.

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Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed