Job Description

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We are looking for talented, enthusiastic and motivated freelance Forest School Leader who can help us in providing alternative provision Forest School sessions in local schools across Hampshire.

  

The successful candidate will be talented at delivering small group, bespoke Forest School learning and offering pastoral support to children struggling in mainstream education.

 

The role focuses on smaller settings, personalized learning, and therapeutic support to improve behaviour, social-emotional health, and academic outcomes. Our alternative provision nurture groups are crucial for re-engaging learners and supporting their social and emotional health. 

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• Key Skill Sets: Patience, empathy, creativity, adaptability and resilience.

• Passionate about the outdoors and connecting people to nature and committed to protecting the environment.

• Experience working with children with additional need, positive behaviour management skills and strategies, has an understanding of trauma informed and unmet needs approach, SEND, or youth work.

• Creating bespoke, tailored learning plans and providing authentic pastoral support.

• Ensuring high-quality, safe, and safeguarding-compliant provision.

• Goals: Building trust, boosting confidence, self-esteem and resilience, supporting executive functioning skills and zones of regulation.

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Requirements​​

• Leaders must have a Forest School Level 3 qualification

• A current outdoor First Aid qualification

• A full, clear DBS check.

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CPD-At Canopy Forest School we believe it is important to be reflective practitioners and so we use a development and growth plan to help us outline current skills and knowledge, future goals, and the steps that need to be taken to achieve these goals. If possible we will help you to fund courses and training. 

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We offer a unique and fun work environment and our team is dedicated to connecting children to the outdoors, growing, exploring and learning ways to live sustainably. We support each other with the planning and implementation of our sessions and have fully paid half termly staff meetings. Every term leaders are paid to write reports that are shared with the schools and parents. 

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About us​​

Connection, Growth, Exploration, Sustainability

Canopy Forest School is a mobile Forest School which works with a number of local schools and nurseries in South Hampshire. We deliver a range of Forest School programmes including: after-school clubs, nurture groups and adult well-being and craft workshops. Canopy Forest School has a relaxed atmosphere and a strong sense of community. We offer high quality inclusive, outdoor Forest School education and provide safe, nurturing, and nature-rich environments for children, young people and families. 

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Canopy has a strong ethos, mission and set of values upon which all of our work is based. At the moment we are going through the process of becoming a Community Interest Company because we have a genuine desire to make a positive impact for those in need of the therapeutic benefits of nature and are passionate about connecting our local community to nature.  We work very closely with students who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) and use nature as a bridge for those who may be facing difficulties and struggling to thrive in traditional Educational settings.  Our aim is to bring people together and support emotional resilience through meaningful time in nature. We provide a wide range of nature based crafts, skills and are a supportive learning community. The experiences that we offer promote well-being, build confidence, and foster lifelong connections with the natural world.

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We believe in providing a classroom with no walls.

Where the sky is the limit.

Nature is the teacher and imagination, play and discovery the curriculum. 

Self-esteem, wellbeing, deep connections and a sense of wholeness and joy are the learning outcomes.