Outdoor Learning Mentor – Forest

Outdoor Learning Mentor – New Forest at Southern Education Trust

£27,274 – £29,071 per annum (actual salary for term-time working £23,340 – £24,878), plus generous sick pay and pension scheme

37 hours per week, Permanent, Term time only

Valid UK Driving Licence for a minimum of 2 years required, plus a willingness to use your own vehicle for business purposes on occasion.

Not a typical mentoring role. A different kind of impact.

When learning moves beyond the classroom and into the outdoors, something powerful happens. Confidence grows, barriers begin to fall, and young people start to see themselves in a more positive way.

Our Adventure Learning team supports pupils who often find traditional education challenging or overwhelming. Many of the young people we work with may feel disengaged from school, have experienced barriers to attendance, or struggle with social, emotional and behavioural needs. For some, education hasn’t yet been a place where they have felt successful or understood.

This is where you come in.

As an Outdoor Learning Mentor, you will play a key role in helping pupils reconnect with learning through practical, hands‑on and outdoor experiences. Working alongside teachers and instructors, you will support pupils both onsite and in a wide range of offsite activities – from bushcraft and paddle sports to climbing and team‑building sessions. You will help create opportunities for pupils to experience success in ways that feel meaningful and achievable to them.

Because before progress can happen, young people need to feel safe, supported and valued. And when they do – those moments matter.

That’s the impact you’ll have.

• Supporting teachers and instructors during outdoor and classroom‑based learning activities
• Working with pupils individually and in small groups to support engagement, behaviour and progress
• Assisting pupils in working towards targets set out in their individual plans
• Helping to deliver and supervise outdoor learning sessions and educational visits
• Building strong, trusting relationships with pupils to encourage participation and confidence
• Supporting the development of social, emotional and study skills
• Working with families, carers and external professionals to support each young person holistically
• On occasion, working 1to1 with EHCP students

• Passionate about supporting young people through practical and outdoor learning approaches
• Patient, empathetic and able to build trust with pupils who may feel disengaged or unsure
• Calm and resilient, with the ability to respond positively to challenging situations
• Adaptable and flexible, able to work across different environments and activities
• A positive role model who encourages confidence, independence and resilience
• A strong team player who works well with colleagues and external partners
• Committed to supporting pupils with a wide range of needs, including SEMH and SEND
• Organised and responsible, with a strong focus on safeguarding, safety and wellbeing
• Motivated by supporting small but meaningful steps of progress in young people’s lives

Extended Learning, part of the Southern Education Trust, designs personalised learning programmes for young people who are currently unable to access education in the traditional way. Our vision, “making lives better,” sits at the heart of everything we do.

We combine academic learning with emotional development, supporting students to rebuild confidence, re‑engage with learning, and take positive steps towards their future.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, this role involves directly working with children and significant contact with children, and therefore we expect all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Please ensure a full work history is completed in your application form including any gaps of employment. Applicants will be required to complete a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for this post prior to commencement.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The Trust is an equal opportunities employer.