Outdoor Learning & Land-Based Education Specialist (AP / SEMH)

Alternative Provision in Blackpool seeking an Outdoor Education & Land-Based Mentor. Small groups (2-4 pupils), equine therapy, local farms & DofE. Up to £33,000. Location: Blackpool & The Fylde Coast, Lancashire (FY postcodes) Position Type: Full-Time, Temporary-to-Permanent Salary: Up to £33,000 per annum upon permanent appointment (competitive equivalent daily rate during the initial temp-to-perm transition).

About the Setting

Our Alternative Provision (AP) supports secondary-aged learners across Blackpool who experience Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties, trauma, or school disengagement. We step away from desk-bound schooling to deliver relational, nature-based education. In partnership with local working farms, equine assisted therapy centres, and expedition routes across Lancashire, we use land-based skills and outdoor challenges to build self-worth, emotional regulation, and accredited qualifications. Rather than managing large classes, our practitioners work with micro-groups of just 2 to 4 pupils, supported at all times by dedicated pastoral mentors.

The Role

We are seeking an active, grounded, and resilient Outdoor Education Specialist to lead practical field, farm, and expedition activities on a temp-to-perm contract. You do not need traditional teacher status (QTS). We are looking for hands‑on mentors‑such as DofE leaders, equine/animal care practitioners, outdoor pursuit instructors, or farm-based youth workers‑who excel at co‑regulating young people through real‑world, purposeful activity.

Key Responsibilities

• Equine & Animal-Assisted Engagement: Support safe animal handling, stable management, and sensory co‑regulation at partner equine therapy yards and local working farms.
• Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE): Guide small groups through Bronze and Silver DofE modules, including navigation, campcraft, volunteering, and outdoor expeditions.
• Micro-Group Mentoring: Work with focused groups of 2 to 4 pupils, embedding functional English, maths, and problem‑solving into hands‑on outdoor tasks.
• Farm & Land-Based Skills: Facilitate practical conservation, horticulture, fencing, livestock care, and countryside maintenance projects.
• Positive Behaviour & De‑escalation: Apply trauma‑informed practices, consistent boundaries, and low‑arousal strategies to de‑escalate anxiety and emotional deregulation.
• Off‑Site Safety: Maintain risk assessments and pastoral logs during minibus transport, visits, and expeditions.

Who We Are Looking For

• Practical Experience: Background in outdoor education, DofE expedition leadership, farm work, equine‑assisted learning, Bushcraft, or Forest School delivery.
• SEMH & AP Aptitude: Empathy, patience, and confidence working alongside neurodivergent learners (ADHD, ASC) or pupils with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
• Ratio Focus: Enjoyment of working closely with intimate cohorts of 2 to 4 students where genuine relational trust can be built.
• Driving Licence: A full UK driving licence (experience driving a school minibus or towing is highly advantageous for off‑site trips).
• Safeguarding: Commitment to child protection and safer recruitment standards (an Enhanced Child Workforce DBS on the Update Service will be required prior to start).

What We Offer

• Salary: Up to £33,000 per annum (pro‑rata / D.O.E.) upon permanent transition.
• Micro‑Ratios: Dedicated group sizes capped at 2 to 4 students, eliminating large‑classroom behaviour fatigue.
• Clear Route to Permanent: A structured 12‑week agency transition offering immediate start stability.
• Dynamic Work Environment: Variety across coastal trails, partner stables, local farms, and community conservation sites across the Fylde.

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