Outdoor & Forest School Instructor
| Posting date: | 06 October 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £27,000 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 24 October 2025 |
| Location: | Leigh, Greater Manchester |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Acorn Care and Education |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 291699FAJ |
Summary
How would you like to get paid for five days, but only work four?
At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.
That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.
Our school will adopt the 4DWW once we have a full team in place — and with the rollout already underway across the wider Group, now is the perfect time to join #teamOFG.
Job Title: Outdoor & Forest School Instructor
Location: The Holden School, Leigh WN7 4SB
Salary: Up to £27,000.00 per annum depending on experience (not pro rata)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 08:30 - 16:00 (Tuesday until 16:30)
Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only
Start date: November 2025
UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.
As part of our continued growth, we are thrilled to offer a fantastic opportunity for an Outdoor & Forest School Instructor to join our close-knit and passionate team at The Holden School, part of Acorn Education.
About the Role
Are you passionate about the outdoors and the power of nature to transform lives? Do you believe in helping children and young people develop confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning through hands-on, outdoor experiences?
Join The Holden School as an Outdoor & Forest School Instructor and become a vital part of a forward-thinking, nurturing environment where emotional development and experiential learning are at the heart of everything we do.
We’re looking for someone who can bring energy, imagination, and compassion to this unique role, working with children and young people with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs, including those with autism, ADHD, and other learning differences.
In this highly rewarding position, you will:
Design and deliver a broad range of outdoor learning activities in line with Forest School principles and tailored to meet the individual needs of our pupils
Encourage curiosity, teamwork, problem-solving, and self-directed learning through structured and unstructured outdoor experiences
Create a safe, inclusive, and stimulating outdoor environment where pupils can thrive emotionally, socially, and physically
Support children in developing resilience, self-regulation, and confidence through nature-based activities
Establish clear boundaries and routines to promote positive behaviour and emotional safety in outdoor sessions
Collaborate with the Outdoor Learning Lead, teaching staff, and pastoral teams to integrate outdoor learning into the broader curriculum
Assist with the planning, delivery, observation, and assessment of pupil progress
Supervise pupils during outdoor free time and provide support during lunchtimes as needed
This role is ideal for someone with Forest School training, outdoor education experience, or a strong interest in working creatively with children in natural environments.
Who we are looking for:
We’re looking for someone with a love for the outdoors, a practical skillset, and the emotional intelligence to support young people with complex needs.
Essential:
Experience delivering or assisting with outdoor learning or Forest School sessions
A commitment to the ethos of Forest School and experiential, nature-based education
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Understanding of SEMH, autism, and/or special educational needs
Ability to remain calm, positive, and proactive in dynamic or challenging situations
Strong behaviour management and the ability to set and maintain clear boundaries
A flexible, team-focused approach and a willingness to adapt
Desirable:
Experience working in special education or with children with behavioural needs
Skills in bushcraft, gardening, outdoor cooking, wildlife, conservation, or similar
About Us
The Holden School is an independent specialist day school for boys and girls aged from 5 to 16, catering for pupils with a wide range of needs in Lancashire, Manchester and surrounding areas. Our dedicated team work together to ensure successful outcomes for pupils who often arrive at the school with a troubled view of education and life. We are a Therapeutic Led, Trauma Informed School providing individualised curriculums for our students supported by our Class Teams, our Pastoral Team and our own Therapists.
We pride ourselves in steering pupils in the right direction, nurturing aspiration to progress them academically and socially, to encourage them to take pride in their achievements. Socially, we build confidence in our students, so they are able to have a greater understanding of the wider community in which they live.
Acorn Education is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.
We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.
Benefits
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:
Life Assurance
Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
“Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
Cycle to Work Schemes
Electric Car Purchase Scheme
Critical illness cover
At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.
That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.
Our school will adopt the 4DWW once we have a full team in place — and with the rollout already underway across the wider Group, now is the perfect time to join #teamOFG.
Job Title: Outdoor & Forest School Instructor
Location: The Holden School, Leigh WN7 4SB
Salary: Up to £27,000.00 per annum depending on experience (not pro rata)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 08:30 - 16:00 (Tuesday until 16:30)
Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only
Start date: November 2025
UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.
As part of our continued growth, we are thrilled to offer a fantastic opportunity for an Outdoor & Forest School Instructor to join our close-knit and passionate team at The Holden School, part of Acorn Education.
About the Role
Are you passionate about the outdoors and the power of nature to transform lives? Do you believe in helping children and young people develop confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning through hands-on, outdoor experiences?
Join The Holden School as an Outdoor & Forest School Instructor and become a vital part of a forward-thinking, nurturing environment where emotional development and experiential learning are at the heart of everything we do.
We’re looking for someone who can bring energy, imagination, and compassion to this unique role, working with children and young people with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs, including those with autism, ADHD, and other learning differences.
In this highly rewarding position, you will:
Design and deliver a broad range of outdoor learning activities in line with Forest School principles and tailored to meet the individual needs of our pupils
Encourage curiosity, teamwork, problem-solving, and self-directed learning through structured and unstructured outdoor experiences
Create a safe, inclusive, and stimulating outdoor environment where pupils can thrive emotionally, socially, and physically
Support children in developing resilience, self-regulation, and confidence through nature-based activities
Establish clear boundaries and routines to promote positive behaviour and emotional safety in outdoor sessions
Collaborate with the Outdoor Learning Lead, teaching staff, and pastoral teams to integrate outdoor learning into the broader curriculum
Assist with the planning, delivery, observation, and assessment of pupil progress
Supervise pupils during outdoor free time and provide support during lunchtimes as needed
This role is ideal for someone with Forest School training, outdoor education experience, or a strong interest in working creatively with children in natural environments.
Who we are looking for:
We’re looking for someone with a love for the outdoors, a practical skillset, and the emotional intelligence to support young people with complex needs.
Essential:
Experience delivering or assisting with outdoor learning or Forest School sessions
A commitment to the ethos of Forest School and experiential, nature-based education
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Understanding of SEMH, autism, and/or special educational needs
Ability to remain calm, positive, and proactive in dynamic or challenging situations
Strong behaviour management and the ability to set and maintain clear boundaries
A flexible, team-focused approach and a willingness to adapt
Desirable:
Experience working in special education or with children with behavioural needs
Skills in bushcraft, gardening, outdoor cooking, wildlife, conservation, or similar
About Us
The Holden School is an independent specialist day school for boys and girls aged from 5 to 16, catering for pupils with a wide range of needs in Lancashire, Manchester and surrounding areas. Our dedicated team work together to ensure successful outcomes for pupils who often arrive at the school with a troubled view of education and life. We are a Therapeutic Led, Trauma Informed School providing individualised curriculums for our students supported by our Class Teams, our Pastoral Team and our own Therapists.
We pride ourselves in steering pupils in the right direction, nurturing aspiration to progress them academically and socially, to encourage them to take pride in their achievements. Socially, we build confidence in our students, so they are able to have a greater understanding of the wider community in which they live.
Acorn Education is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.
We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.
Benefits
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:
Life Assurance
Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
“Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
Cycle to Work Schemes
Electric Car Purchase Scheme
Critical illness cover