Reading Support Specialist
| Posting date: | 11 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £16 per hour |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 10 April 2026 |
| Location: | HMP Whatton, Nottingham NG13 9FQ |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Bhuku Ltd |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: | Whatton1 |
Summary
Job post summary
Pay: £16.00 per hour
Job Description:
Reading Support Specialist
Location: HMP Whatton, New Lane, Whatton, Nottingham, NG13 9FQ
Employer: Bhuku Ltd
Contract: 12-Month Fixed Term Contract
Start Date: 1 April 2026 (subject to security clearance)
Hours: 37 hours per week - Monday - Thursday 0800-1700 & Friday 0800 - 1300
Prison Delivery Regime Hours:
Monday–Thursday: 08:15–11:30 & 13:45–16:30
Friday: 08:15–11:45
Salary: £15 per hour
⸻
About the Role
Bhuku Ltd is seeking an experienced and motivated Reading Support Specialist to deliver a prison-wide literacy support programme at HMP Whatton, a Category C adult male training prison in Nottinghamshire.
This is not a traditional classroom teaching role. We encourage applicants who are new to education, as well as experienced. You will coordinate and deliver a whole-prison reading support service, working closely with Education, the Library, CIAG, Rehabilitation services and the prison’s Neurodiversity Support Manager.
You will support learners who are not currently in education, deliver 1:1 and small group interventions, promote reading culture across the prison, and track measurable progress for 200–300 learners annually.
This is a highly impactful role focused on improving reading confidence, engagement and progression into education, vocational training and employment pathways.
⸻
Key Responsibilities
You will:
Identify prisoners with reading needs in collaboration with the education provider.
Deliver targeted 1:1 reading support.
Facilitate small group sessions (5–10 learners).
Conduct reading surveys and identify learner goals.
Develop tailored reading materials beyond standard worksheets.
Produce and distribute bespoke learning resources.
Provide self-study packs during regime restrictions.
Promote reading across the prison through outreach and marketing materials.
Track learner progress, starting points and destinations.
Produce monthly management information reports.
Provide case studies evidencing impact.
Attend monthly Quality Improvement Group (QIG) meetings.
Support Ofsted inspection readiness and reporting aligned to the Education Inspection Framework.
Work in a trauma-informed manner, supporting neurodiverse and LDD learners.
Collaborate with prison departments to ensure effective learner allocation and progression.
⸻
Who We Are Looking For
You will be:
An experienced literacy practitioner with strong phonics and reading intervention knowledge.
Confident delivering 1:1 and small group support.
Experienced working with adults who may have low confidence, trauma histories or learning difficulties.
Skilled in trauma-informed and neurodiverse practice.
Comfortable managing a large caseload (200–300 learners annually).
Strong in record-keeping and data tracking.
Able to work flexibly within a prison regime.
Confident collaborating across multiple departments.
⸻
Essential Requirements
Proven experience delivering adult literacy support.
Experience working with learners with LDD or neurodiverse needs.
Strong understanding of reading development and progression.
Ability to work independently within a secure environment.
Willingness to complete full prison vetting and induction (including Key Holder training).
⸻
Desirable
Experience working in a custodial environment.
Experience aligning delivery to Ofsted EIF.
Experience producing learning materials.
Experience tracking learner progression data.
⸻
Security Clearance
This role is subject to full Ministry of Justice security vetting. Candidates with existing clearance are encouraged to apply.
Vetting can take up to 8 weeks. Employment will be conditional upon successful clearance.
⸻
Why Join Bhuku Ltd?
Bhuku Ltd specialises in innovative, rehabilitative education programmes across custodial settings. We focus on measurable impact, trauma-informed practice and sustainable learner progression.
This role offers the opportunity to shape reading culture across an entire prison and directly contribute to reducing reoffending through literacy improvement.
Work Location: In person
Pay: £16.00 per hour
Job Description:
Reading Support Specialist
Location: HMP Whatton, New Lane, Whatton, Nottingham, NG13 9FQ
Employer: Bhuku Ltd
Contract: 12-Month Fixed Term Contract
Start Date: 1 April 2026 (subject to security clearance)
Hours: 37 hours per week - Monday - Thursday 0800-1700 & Friday 0800 - 1300
Prison Delivery Regime Hours:
Monday–Thursday: 08:15–11:30 & 13:45–16:30
Friday: 08:15–11:45
Salary: £15 per hour
⸻
About the Role
Bhuku Ltd is seeking an experienced and motivated Reading Support Specialist to deliver a prison-wide literacy support programme at HMP Whatton, a Category C adult male training prison in Nottinghamshire.
This is not a traditional classroom teaching role. We encourage applicants who are new to education, as well as experienced. You will coordinate and deliver a whole-prison reading support service, working closely with Education, the Library, CIAG, Rehabilitation services and the prison’s Neurodiversity Support Manager.
You will support learners who are not currently in education, deliver 1:1 and small group interventions, promote reading culture across the prison, and track measurable progress for 200–300 learners annually.
This is a highly impactful role focused on improving reading confidence, engagement and progression into education, vocational training and employment pathways.
⸻
Key Responsibilities
You will:
Identify prisoners with reading needs in collaboration with the education provider.
Deliver targeted 1:1 reading support.
Facilitate small group sessions (5–10 learners).
Conduct reading surveys and identify learner goals.
Develop tailored reading materials beyond standard worksheets.
Produce and distribute bespoke learning resources.
Provide self-study packs during regime restrictions.
Promote reading across the prison through outreach and marketing materials.
Track learner progress, starting points and destinations.
Produce monthly management information reports.
Provide case studies evidencing impact.
Attend monthly Quality Improvement Group (QIG) meetings.
Support Ofsted inspection readiness and reporting aligned to the Education Inspection Framework.
Work in a trauma-informed manner, supporting neurodiverse and LDD learners.
Collaborate with prison departments to ensure effective learner allocation and progression.
⸻
Who We Are Looking For
You will be:
An experienced literacy practitioner with strong phonics and reading intervention knowledge.
Confident delivering 1:1 and small group support.
Experienced working with adults who may have low confidence, trauma histories or learning difficulties.
Skilled in trauma-informed and neurodiverse practice.
Comfortable managing a large caseload (200–300 learners annually).
Strong in record-keeping and data tracking.
Able to work flexibly within a prison regime.
Confident collaborating across multiple departments.
⸻
Essential Requirements
Proven experience delivering adult literacy support.
Experience working with learners with LDD or neurodiverse needs.
Strong understanding of reading development and progression.
Ability to work independently within a secure environment.
Willingness to complete full prison vetting and induction (including Key Holder training).
⸻
Desirable
Experience working in a custodial environment.
Experience aligning delivery to Ofsted EIF.
Experience producing learning materials.
Experience tracking learner progression data.
⸻
Security Clearance
This role is subject to full Ministry of Justice security vetting. Candidates with existing clearance are encouraged to apply.
Vetting can take up to 8 weeks. Employment will be conditional upon successful clearance.
⸻
Why Join Bhuku Ltd?
Bhuku Ltd specialises in innovative, rehabilitative education programmes across custodial settings. We focus on measurable impact, trauma-informed practice and sustainable learner progression.
This role offers the opportunity to shape reading culture across an entire prison and directly contribute to reducing reoffending through literacy improvement.
Work Location: In person