St John's College School - Forest School Teacher- part time, maternity cover

Cambridgeshire
St John's College School
Part-time | Maternity

Summary

A dedicated, well-qualified and inspirational Forest School Teacher is required for half a term from 3rd September 2025 – 24th October 2025. The post is part time, teaching Forest School to Reception aged children one day a week.

Detail

Overview

St John’s has long enjoyed a national reputation for the exceptional quality of education and care it provides. Further details of the School’s unique ethos and aims are included at the end of this document and on the School’s website www.sjcs.co.uk .

A dedicated, well-qualified and inspirational Forest School Teacher is required to work within this School for half a term from 3rd September 2025 – 24th October 2025. The post is part time, teaching Forest School to Reception aged children one day a week.

Outdoor learning is particularly important in the Reception age group and the aims and ethos of the Forest School approach are integrally linked to our play-based learning approach. We have a small wooded area within the school where our Forest School sessions currently take place. Each of our two Reception classes of up to 20 children is taught ‘Forest School’ for half a day, supported by a Teaching Assistant.

Although the post is for one day a week, we are seeking someone who is willing to collaborate with the Reception teaching team as sharing understanding of the children, their needs and their experiences is fundamental to successful teaching and learning. The Forest School teacher should actively seek to collaborate with colleagues.

The line manager for the Forest School Teacher is the Head of the Junior Department with support from the BH Academic Lead (Pre-Prep).

Job Description

The responsibility for the Reception curriculum falls to the Early Years co-ordinator, supported by specialist teaching staff and, in the Pre-Prep (Reception to Year 2) at Byron House, by the Pre-Prep Academic Lead.

The role of Forest School Teacher includes the following:

Curriculum

· Developing programmes of study that are appropriate to the differentiated needs of children in each age group.

· Contributing to curriculum development within the Forest School teaching.

· Supporting with revising and updating Curriculum Summaries as appropriate.

· Contributing to the planning and monitoring of children’s learning.

· Collaborating with the Outdoor Learning co-ordinator on wider curriculum developments

Reporting, Assessment and Monitoring

· Feeding back observations about the children to the class teachers regarding their development and emotional well-being.

· Acting on advice regarding strategies to support the individual needs of children.

· Where appropriate, feeding back comments to class teachers that might be included in reports or meetings with parents.

· Completing written observations on the children using the EYFS software

Resources

· Budgeting: presenting budget requests, with appropriate curricular justification, to the EYFS co-ordinator.

· Management of stock and resources: helping to care for the resources available, keeping them organised and well maintained.

Staff, Pupil and Subject Development

· Attending such training, within the School term or during the children's holidays, as is deemed by the School's management to be in the teacher's and the School's best professional interests.

· The monitoring and communication of pupils' performance within the subject, ensuring that children are supported in reaching the required goals.

· Contacting the class teacher with regard to matters of concern and ensuring a high level of positive communication.

General

· Teachers must at all times promote and safeguard the welfare of children they are responsible for or come into contact with and to adhere to and ensure compliance with the school’s Child Protection procedures and staff guidance.

All members of staff are required to:

· Prioritise the pastoral care for the children in addition to teaching duties

· set aside adequate time to prepare for a new term or tidy up after a term has ended

Terms of Employment

The role is fixed term, from 3rd September 2025 – 24th October 2025, for one day a week (20%).

The School is committed to providing the best possible training for staff, through a programme of internal training days and through the funding of external training. A successful candidate’s training needs will be considered as part of the School’s comprehensive and supportive induction programme.

Remuneration

The Salary will be £10,094 per annum (which is 20% of a full time salary on our teaching scale).

Applications

A handwritten letter of application should be sent with a fully completed application form to recruitment@sjcs.co.uk, to arrive no later than 1st September 2025.

References will be taken up and short-listed candidates will then be invited to visit the School for the final interview procedure, which will involve tours of the School, meetings with various members of staff, the teaching of an observed lesson and interviews, which will include questions related to safer recruitment.

Interviews will take place on the week beginning 1st September 2025, though we reserve the right to interview earlier and to appoint as soon as a successful candidate has been found.

All reasonable interview expenses will be reimbursed by the School.

St John’s College School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

All appointments are subject to a criminal background check and proof of qualifications in accordance with the requirements of the Children Act.