Forest School Assistant - Part-time

St Paul's CE (VC) Primary School, Swanley

• Ref:KCC886-3010-39S
• Posted:09/02/2020
• Pay:Voluntary
• Start Date:ASAP
• App Close Date:02/03/2020 at 09:00
• Interviews:TBC

Advert

We would like to appoint a Forest School Assistant who can support exciting Forest School and outdoor learning activities with our Forest School Teacher, for 2 days a week.

We are looking for a dedicated and proactive individual who enjoys working with children and can share their love of the Forest School and learning in the outdoors as a built in part of our curriculum. You will help run regular, accessible and engaging forest school activities, under the leadership of our Forest School Lead, on site for groups of children from Reception to Year 6. You will contribute to assessment and liaise with class teachers to support children/s academic progress and emotional well-being. A Forest School qualification would be preferable but not essential as all qualifications for Forest School, up to Level 3, will be paid for.

You will need: A creative approach to the outdoor curriculum and deliver learning in exciting ways. Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills. A commitment to working as part of a team. The ability to support planning and resourcing structured outdoor learning opportunities for EYFS, KS1 and KS2. To liaise with school staff to plan and deliver outdoor learning. The ability to maintain the forest school area.

We can offer you a welcoming and supportive staff team, personalised CPD and children who behave well and really want to learn. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Visits to the school are encouraged and welcome – Contact Gerry Simmons on 01322 664324 or office@st-pauls-swanley.kent.sch.uk

This role requires a DBS disclosure. The role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Information about the school

St Paul’s Church of England (VC) Primary School, Swanley Village, has an enviable reputation as a welcoming, caring and high-performing primary school at the heart of its community. The school was judged Good by Ofsted in January 2020 and Good in its SIAMS inspection in 2019, reflecting the strength of its provision and its distinctive Christian ethos. More recently, inspectors highlighted the school’s caring community, high expectations and strong personal development for pupils. ()

The school is proud of its Christian heritage and seeks to weave Christian values through everyday life. Inspired by the vision of “Life in all its fullness”, the school aims to nurture confident, compassionate and resilient young people who are ready to make a positive contribution to society.

St Paul’s is a small village primary school with approximately 107 pupils organised across four mixed-age classes, with around 15 pupils in each year group. Demand for places consistently exceeds the number available, reflecting the school’s strong reputation locally.

The school offers a broad and engaging curriculum and places great importance on enriching pupils’ experiences beyond the classroom. Pupils benefit from a wide range of sporting opportunities, extra-curricular activities and high-quality instrumental music tuition. Outdoor learning and physical activity are strongly valued, with access to mountain bikes, dedicated tracks and specialist sports coaching helping pupils develop confidence, teamwork and resilience.

Our children are delightful and enthusiastic learners, and the school benefits from highly supportive and aspirational families. We work closely in partnership with parents and carers to nurture self-belief and inspire a lifelong love of learning, encouraging all pupils to become capable, responsible members of their community.

The school is set in beautiful surroundings with well-maintained and fully equipped facilities, providing an excellent environment for learning and development.

St Paul’s is part of The Compass Federation, alongside St Edmund’s Church of England Primary School in West Kingsdown and Dunton Green Primary School in Sevenoaks. The federation works collaboratively to ensure the very best outcomes for all pupils under the shared vision of “One Child. One Chance.” This reflects a collective commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind in our quest to provide the very best primary education.

The federation also works closely alongside MAST (Medway Anglican Schools Trust) as part of its wider school improvement partnership.

Compass Federation is committed to supporting and developing its staff. Clear professional pathways exist for all colleagues, regardless of role or career stage, with a strong focus on high-quality professional development and collaborative working.

Staff wellbeing is taken seriously. Benefits for staff include:

• SimplyHealth healthcare for all staff • Blue Light Card eligibility • Wellbeing days • Free EV charging • A progressive and supportive approach to menopause and periods • Paid attendance at events for staff members’ own children • A common-sense and supportive approach to work and life balance

Through access to counselling, high-quality training and CPD, wellbeing initiatives and a strong culture of support, we aim to ensure that staff feel valued, happy and proud to be part of our school community.

Job Contact Information

• Name:Mr Ben Hulme
• Address:School Lane, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7PJ
• Telephone: (01322) 664324
• Email: office@st-pauls-swanley.kent.sch.uk