Job Description
Job Title: Outdoor Activity Instructor
Reports to: Wider Curriculum Lead
Contract Type: Full time, permanent
Location: Bishops Stortford
Main Purpose of Outdoor Education
At White Trees we understand and value the potential benefits of outdoor learning, primarily identifying the following as being key:
* Increased physical health
* Enhanced spiritual, sensory, and aesthetic awareness
* The ability to assert personal control and increased sensitivity to one's own well-being
* Enhanced personal and social communication skills
* Develop self-esteem, take personal responsibility, cooperate with and respect the needs of others
* Extend personal horizons through greater appreciation and understanding of the world and its peoples around them
* Understand the need for sustainable relationships between people and their environment
* Enhance practical problem-solving and teamwork skills
* Promote a positive and knowledgeable response towards personal health and well-being
Duties and Responsibilities
Set high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge pupils by:
* Establishing a safe and stimulating environment for pupils, ingrained in mutual respect
* Setting goals that stretch and challenge ALL pupils
* Demonstrating consistently the positive attitudes, values, and behaviour which are expected of pupils – leading by example
Promote good progress and outcomes by pupils by:
* Being accountable for the attainment, progress, and outcomes of the pupils you teach (alongside other staff where applicable)
* Being aware of pupils’ capabilities and their prior knowledge, then planning your teaching to build on these, wrapping the curriculum around the individual pupils
* Guiding pupils to reflect on the progress they have made and their emerging needs
* To report and record pupil’s attainment, progress, and results of assessments within the school’s recording and reporting structure
Demonstrate good subject and curriculum knowledge by:
* Having knowledge of different areas covered in outdoor education, utilising and maintaining pupils’ interest in the subject
* Demonstrating a critical understanding of developments in the subject and curriculum areas
* Demonstrating an understanding of and taking responsibility for promoting good standards of literacy, articulacy and the correct use of standard English, applying cross-curricular links wherever possible in planning and teaching
Plan and teach well-structured lessons by:
* Imparting knowledge and developing understanding through effective use of each session
* Promoting a love of learning
* Reflecting systematically on the effectiveness of sessions and approaches to delivery
* Contributing to the design and provision of an engaging curriculum within outdoor education and/or within a pupil’s individual scheme of work
* Ensuring health and safety of all participants, including writing and maintaining risk assessments for activities and equipment to be used
* Regularly checking and maintaining any outdoor education equipment
Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils by:
* Knowing when and how to differentiate appropriately, using approaches which enable pupils to be taught effectively
* To set clear learning objectives, writing Schemes of work, medium-term planning, and short-term planning
* Ensure pupils you teach have their Individual Learning Programmes updated in line with the school systems
* Having a secure understanding of how a range of factors can inhibit our pupils’ ability to learn, and how best to overcome these – Following strategies/interventions designed by our Wellbeing team
Make accurate and productive use of assessment by:
* To mark, assess and return pupils’ work in line with the school Evidence for Learning system, providing constructive oral and written feedback with clear targets and guidance for future improvement
* Making use of formative and summative assessment to secure pupils’ progress
* Using relevant data to monitor progress, set targets, and plan subsequent lessons
* Giving pupils regular feedback, both orally and through accurate marking, and encouraging them to respond to the feedback
Manage behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe learning environment by:
* Having clear rules and routines for behaviour in sessions, and taking responsibility for promoting good and courteous behaviour whilst travelling to and in public/activity centres
* Having high expectations of behaviour, using our behaviour wave system accordingly to help support our pupils, embracing the culture of ‘catching our pupils being good’
* Leading by example – showing our pupils what we expect from them, positive behaviour and good manners
* Maintaining good relationships with pupils, exercising appropriate authority, and acting decisively when necessary
Professional development and performance appraisal:
* Attend all CPD days and training as required
* Review own professional development and identify training needs
* Take part in the school’s performance appraisal programme and be committed to improving own practice
* Act upon advice and feedback and be open to coaching and mentoring
Fulfil wider professional responsibilities by:
* Making a positive contribution to the wider life and ethos of the school
* Developing effective professional relationships with colleagues
* Taking responsibility for improving teaching through appropriate professional development, responding to advice and feedback from colleagues
* Communicating effectively with parents with regard to pupils’ achievements and well-being
* Sharing in the celebration of success of pupils
* Contributing to, and supporting pupils to contribute to the school’s news communications
* Using school systems in place efficiently and effectively, class-dojo, Cpoms, E4L
Other responsibilities:
* Staff are expected to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct
* Staff may be asked to undertake occasional other, reasonable tasks at the request of their line manager
* The school is committed to the safeguarding of children and all teachers are required to understand and follow any safeguarding policies and procedures that are in place
* Undertake ‘Keeping In Touch’ days during each half term, as arranged with your Site Lead
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Relevant qualifications in certain activities, paddle sports, climbing, archery etc. (or willing to undertake training)
* A good undergraduate degree in chosen subject (Desirable)
Experience
* Experience in working with pupils who have SEMH
* Experience of working within the outdoor education sector
Skills and Abilities
* Ability to create a safe and secure learning environment
* Ability to break down barriers to learning
* Be creative in approach to teaching, utilising pupils’ interests to hook them in and engage them
* Flexible and adaptable
* Effective communicator
* Ability to create a fun, challenging learning environment
* Be organised
* Caring, sensitive and responsive to the needs of our pupils
* Full driving licence
Other requirements
* Commitment to safeguarding children
* Be passionate about teaching and providing the best possible opportunities for all pupils
* A commitment to the school’s ethos and vision
* Resilient and positive
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