Animal Care Tutor in Cheadle

As one of the UK's best employers, we believe in putting people at the heart of everything we do. We are looking for an experienced and proactive Animal Care Tutor to join Inscape House School. Together we make a difference, develop and learn, and support each other. Every day with us is different, but our mission remains the same: To champion the rights, needs and ambitions of the people we support - they are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that everyone deserves a chance to learn and space to thrive and that the right education can change lives. You’ll help break down barriers to education for young people, helping them learn and grow at their own pace.

The Role

Inscape House School is recruiting for a tutor to deliver Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) and teach animal care, welfare, and related work experience skills to students within our secondary provision. The Animal Assisted Intervention Tutor will design and deliver accessible, meaningful and aspirational animal-care and AAI-based learning opportunities, including accredited qualifications such as BTEC and/or ASDAN in Animal Care (or similar). Inscape House School is a non-maintained ASC specialist day school for children and young people aged 5 to 19 years. It is part of the Together Trust, a charity that has been providing care, education and support in the Northwest of England since 1870. The post holder will be a member of Inscape House School on the Cheadle campus.

Hours: 37.5 Hours Contract - Permanent

Location: Inscape House School, Cheadle, Stockport

Reports: Deputy Head Teacher

Responsibilities Include but are not exhaustive:

• Teaching: Work flexibly and adapt teaching strategies to ensure animal care and AAI content is accessible, inclusive, and responsive to individual learner needs. Embed Tier 1 universal support strategies within practical animal-care and AAI sessions to meet the diverse needs of learners with autism. Deliver accredited qualifications, including BTEC and/or ASDAN programmes in Animal Care (or similar), and support learners to build evidence for assessment portfolios.
• Management of Staff: Effectively deploy Education Assistants (EAs) to facilitate learning, ensuring that all support positively impacts on the development of every pupil’s independence. Work with colleagues to support students to plan, carry out and reflect on animal care routines and structured AAI activities.
• Curriculum Knowledge: Have a secure knowledge of animal care, animal welfare and husbandry practice, and associated curricula (e.g. BTEC/ASDAN Animal Care or similar). Be able to foster and maintain pupils’ interest in your preferred key stage and subject, and address misunderstandings. Demonstrate an understanding of and take responsibility for promoting high standards of functional literacy, articulacy, and the correct use of Standard English and Numeracy within the context of animal care (e.g. care plans, observations/record sheets, measuring feed, timetables and routines).
• Accurate and productive use of assessment: Know and understand how to assess pupil progress, including appropriate statutory assessment requirements. Make use of formative and summative assessment to secure pupils’ progress. Use progress data to monitor progress, set targets and plan subsequent lessons.
• Professional Communication: Attend and contribute to pupils’ review meetings and multi-disciplinary team meetings. Work with pupils, families and the multi-disciplinary teams to identify pupil centred goals. Demonstrate skill in communicating with pupils with autism and a range of physical, cognitive, and communication difficulties.
• Training: Comply with the school’s mandatory training requirements. Attend conferences and meetings including professional shows as required. Attend external and internal training courses as agreed for continual professional development and meeting appraisal objectives. Read current literature on autism and special educational needs and to disseminate information to the rest of the staff team.

About You

• Experience in animal care/animal welfare (e.g. kennels, stables, farms, rescue, shelters, zoos, veterinary environments, or education-based animal provision).
• A recognised teaching qualification (PGCE, CertEd) QTS/QTLS.
• Vocational Qualifications: A Level 3 (or higher) qualification in Animal Care, Animal Management, Animal Science, Equine Management, or a related subject (or equivalent substantial industry experience).
• Evidence of relevant training such as animal welfare, safe handling/restraint, infection control, risk assessment, and/or Animal Assisted Intervention practice.
• Experience of successful work with pupils displaying challenging behaviour.
• Ability to identify, clarify, prioritise and solve problems as they arise.
• The ability to use information technology to communicate with others, track academic progress and share planning and resources.
• Knowledge of Safeguarding and Keeping Children Safe in Education.
• Knowledge and understanding of strategies for inclusion and equal opportunities.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety expectations affecting children and adults across the school.

Benefits

• Eligible for Teachers’ Pension Scheme and its associate Death In Service benefit.
• Occupational sick pay and family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
• Reward and Discount platform offering discounts at high street shops, travel, insurances etc.
• Eligibility to apply for Blue Light card.
• Proud to be a real living wage employer.
• Refer a friend scheme, be rewarded for recommending a friend to work with us.
• Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including apprenticeship qualifications.
• Long service awards including cash gifts and extra holiday.
• Promotion of Wellbeing across the organisation including Mental Health First Aiders offering wellbeing support from trained colleagues and free weekly yoga session in person or online.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme for you and adults at your home.

Applications are very welcome from all regardless of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation, trans status or socio-economic background. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments for disabled people. We positively encourage applications from those with lived experience.

If there is any part of your lived experience you want to keep confidential in some way please talk to the Recruitment or HR shared service teams and we will do what we can to support you.

This role will expire 31st May - Please do apply soon as we have the right to close the role early. The Together Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support and expects all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Safeguarding checks will be undertaken for the successful candidate in line with our safer recruitment policy, including an Enhanced DBS check (at no cost to yourself). This role will involve regulated activity.