Horticulture/Environmental Education Instructor

Job Description

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four*Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one dayless a week (or equivalent).If the trial is a success, we’ll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join #teamOFG!Job Title: Horticulture/Environmental Education InstructorContract: Full Time, Permanent, Term Time OnlyHours:40 hours per week: Monday – Friday 8.30am – 4.30pmSalary:£22,000 - £25,000 per annumInterviews: Interviews will be held on Friday 14th July 2023This is an exciting time to join Waterloo Lodge School as we open our new horticulture area.About usWaterloo Lodge is an independent specialist day school for boys and girls aged from 11 to 18, catering for pupils with a wide range of needs in Lancashire, Manchester and surrounding areas. Our dedicated team work together to ensure successful outcomes forpupils who often arrive at the school with a troubled view of education and life.We pride ourselves in steering pupils in the right direction, nurturing aspiration to progress them academically and socially, to encourage them to take pride in their achievements. Socially, we build condence in our students, so they are able to have agreater understanding of the wider community in which they live.We are part of the Acorn Care and Education and can promise you plenty of challenges, and a rich variety of opportunities to develop your career.Acorn Education & Care is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education and residential care for vulnerable pupils and young people. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches thatprovide measurable outcomes for those in our care.Job Purpose:To raise pupil’s educational achievements whilst effectively supporting their independent learning and progress in relation to horticulture. To prepare, lead, and record activities relating to our horticulture area. To be responsible for supplies and equipmentand assist in implementing health and safety requirements on a daily basis. To look after and maintain the chickens and any other animals we may introduce to the area.Areas of Responsibilities and Key Tasks:

• To plan and deliver sessions around horticulture and environmental education to small groups of up to six pupils, and intervention sessions with one to three pupils when required.
• To contribute to the monitoring of pupil progress in this area, and within personal development
• To oversee the school’s horticulture area, promote its development and usage
• To be a part of the wider school community, offering engaging activities and being part of our school team
• To contribute to the effective safeguarding and wellbeing of all pupils
• To provide support to classes with horticulture activities including assisting with lessons when required
• To ensure that the horticulture areas are clean, tidy, well equipped and maintained and to report any maintenance faults.
• To ensure that the horticulture areas meet health and safety standards, undertaking tidying and cleaning as required.
• To prepare the horticulture area ready for lessons.
• To support pupils working in the horticulture area
• This work includes digging and lifting as well as working outside in all weathers.

Main Duties

• Health and safety of the Horticulture area and the pupils
• Responsible for promoting Safeguarding in line with procedures
• To teach relevant and appropriate horticulture qualifications
• To develop and maintain schemes of work for subjects taught
• To plan and prepare lessons.
• To research and develop new topics, identify and create teaching materials (for use in horticulture and in the classroom in bad weather)
• To assess and mark pupils work accurately within timescales
• To prepare reports on individual pupil progress and performance
• To provide information relating to pupils and progress for annual reviews if required
• To oversee the work of the Learning Support Assistants in the Horticulture area
• To complete administrative tasks relating to courses
• To ensure the horticulture area is safe and secure at all times
• To contribute and attend team meetings
• To manage pupil behaviours in line with school policies
• To participate in any training and development for the role
• Undertaking overall responsibility for plant husbandry
• Manage pest, disease and weed control
• Organise produce growth and harvest for use in the school kitchen
• Promote healthy lifestyles and physical activity in the horticulture area
• Motivate pupils
• Ensure all equipment is correctly maintained, including PPE for pupils

Experience:You should have experience of working outdoors and preferably have a relevant qualification or be willing to work towards this.Why join Acorn Education & CareBenefitsYour health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives ofothers.We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All successful applicants will be subject to a fully enhanced DBS.