Job Title: Outdoor Education Mentor / Forest School Practitioner (Alternative Provision)
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Location: Burnley & Surrounding East Lancashire (BB10 / BB11 / BB12)
Contract Type: Full-Time, Temporary-to-Permanent
Salary: Up to £33,000 per annum upon permanent appointment.
Swap the Scout Hut or Forest Clearing for a Purposeful School Career
Are you an active Scout Leader, Guide Leader, Forest School Leader, Bushcraft Instructor, or Outdoor Pursuits Coach looking for full-time, stable daytime work doing what you love?
You do not need Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or traditional classroom experience. In an Alternative Provision (AP) setting, practical leadership, outdoor resilience, fire-lighting, shelter building, and the natural ability to connect with young people outside four walls are ten times more powerful than a textbook.
We are recruiting an Outdoor Learning & SEMH Mentor to join our specialist Alternative Provision school in Burnley. You will work with Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 learners (ages 11-16) who struggle in traditional mainstream schools due to social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs, ADHD, autism, or trauma. Using outdoor tasks, woodland projects, and experiential learning, you will help them rebuild self-worth, emotional regulation, and teamwork.
Why Scout & Forest School Leaders Excel in Alternative Provision
Natural Co-Regulation: The outdoors is the ultimate low-arousal environment. Whittling a stick, tending a fire, or navigating a trail naturally calms a deregulated nervous system far better than a noisy corridor.
Micro-Group Ratios: You aren't herding a class of 30. You will work with micro-groups of 3 to 6 pupils, supported in the woods and grounds by experienced pastoral teaching assistants.
Balanced School Hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday. No weekend camp shifts, no late evening scout hut meetings, and 13 weeks of school holidays every year. xsabvtc
Clear Route to Permanent: A structured 12-week agency transition offering immediate placement security, weekly PAYE pay, and a direct path to a permanent school contract up to £33k.
Key Responsibilities
Hands-On Outdoor Sessions: Plan and lead practical woodland tasks-including bushcraft, safe tool use (bow saws, billhooks, whittling), fire craft, camp cooking, shelter building, and nature conservation.
Nurture & De-Escalation: Apply consistent, calm boundaries and low-arousal techniques to support pupils experiencing frustration, a...
Forest School & Scout Leader to Outdoor AP Mentor | Burnley employer: Tradewind Recruitment Careers
Tradewind Recruitment is an exceptional employer for teachers seeking a fulfilling role in Barnet primary schools. With a strong commitment to professional development, a collaborative work culture, and transparent pay structures, we empower educators to thrive in their careers while making a meaningful impact on students' lives. Our focus on personalised learning and support for diverse needs ensures that every teacher can contribute to a vibrant educational environment.
Contact Details:
Tradewind Recruitment Careers Recruitment Team
