Forest School HLTA in Chelmsford

We are a 3 form entry primary school from Reception to Year 6, which also includes a 52 place Nursery. Harris Primary Academy Chafford Hundred (HPACH) is a successful academy that was judged outstanding in every category in our March 2025 Ofsted inspection. We are a sister school to Harris Primary Academy Mayflower and Harris Academy Chafford Hundred, along with the other Academies in the Harris Federation. We work very closely together and share the very best practice and leadership knowledge and capacity to make the education we offer outstanding.

Our shared belief is that children thrive when they feel consistently happy and safe at school and our commitment to excellence is encapsulated in our vision statement: "Excellence, Every child, Every day." Our Core values of: Community, Resilience, Respect, Responsibility and Kindness underpin everything that happens at Harris Primary Academy Chafford Hundred. They are our foundations and we have a clear expectation that all adults, as well as children and staff, model and respect these values both inside and outside the academy.

Our team are committed to every child, and aim to develop confident and creative learners who leave the academy ready for secondary and the world ahead of them. We proudly celebrate our children’s diversity and achievements, from both school and at home. Whether they are learning English and Maths, Latin or Mandarin, competing in sports, or discussing their dream occupations, we do whatever it takes to ensure our pupils gain the confidence to aspire and flourish in life.

At HPACH, we work tirelessly to make sure that every child comes to recognise their own potential. As a result of the exceptional practice at our academy every single day, our children achieve outstanding outcomes each year and we are incredibly proud of them. Alongside academic achievement, we want our academy to be a safe and caring space for children who are excited and happy to come to school every day to learn, grow and develop. We offer many opportunities for our parents and the local community to share in our students' learning and encourage our parents to attend academy events.

Summary

We are seeking an enthusiastic and skilled Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) Forest School. We are particularly interested in candidates who bring a specialism in Forest School to enriching our curriculum and inspiring pupils through creative and engaging learning experiences. The actual salary for this role will be £27,354.43-£28,575.22 (38 weeks per year, 37.5 hours per week). We will also consider applications for four days per week (actual salary £21,883.54-£22,860.18).

Main Areas of Responsibility

• Teaching primary-age children, including those with SEN, the Forest School curriculum.
• Planning, preparing, delivering and assessing a range of CPD lessons, PPA cover, extra-curricular club sessions and other related programmes, all designed to enhance the school’s Forest School Provision.
• Ensuring all equipment associated with the Forest School session is correctly set up, maintained, stored and returned on completion of the Forest School session.
• Establishing constructive relationships and communicating with external agencies as required.
• Leading agreed enrichment activities.

Qualifications & Experience

• GCSE (or equivalent) in English and Maths – Grade C or above.
• HLTA qualification.
• Experience of delivering Forest School sessions to young people aged between 5 and 11 in a school environment.
• Knowledge of the Level 3 Forest School Qualification and ability to deliver the Forest School curriculum throughout.
• The ability to encourage and inspire young people through the Forest School provision.

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level. In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation. Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date.