Vacancies

—Jobs and volunteering—

 

Learning Guide 

Closing date for applications: 12 noon, Monday 9 December 2024

Permanent – part time, 4 days per week, term time

Are you an educationalist passionate about self-directed, nature-based learning? Do you want to help transform the lives of children and young people? If so, Huckleberries wants to hear from you!

Who We Are
Huckleberries is on a mission to transform the lives of children and young people, by valuing their uniqueness, nurturing their curiosity and creativity, and inspiring a lifelong love of learning.

Our Wild Learning Centre combines our Nurture Farm which helps children experiencing emotional or mental health challenges to recover, flourish, and re-engage with life and learning. Our new Self-directed Learning Centre offers a part time alternative to mainstream education for children struggling to thrive in traditional schools or those who are electively home educated.

The Wild Learning Centre provides a natural outdoor setting where children can develop a lifelong love of learning and environmental stewardship through self-directed learning and connection with nature.  Currently, we work with children aged 5-12 years but plan to grow alongside our children.

The Role
As a Learning Guide, you will help shape the Wild Learning Centre through its start-up phase and beyond. Blending your teaching expertise with your passion for progressive education, you will:

  • Collaborate with the CEO, other Learning Guides, volunteer Mentors, and Learning Support staff to foster children’s autonomy, creativity, and curiosity
  • Support children through the ‘unschooling’ process, guiding them to explore their interests, set learning goals and access resources and collaboration opportunities for their ideas and projects
  • Provide pastoral care and ensure children feel safe, supported and inspired throughout their time at Huckleberries
  • Work fluidly across both our Nurture Farm and Learning Centre, tailoring support to the individual needs of each child.
  • On some days, serve as the Lead Staff Member, taking responsibility for other staff, and the safeguarding and wellbeing of the children and young people in your care.

This is a unique opportunity to move beyond the constraints of a traditional education and embrace a human-centred, relational, and trauma-informed ethos, helping children to thrive and learn on their own terms.

What We’re Looking For
We’re seeking an educationalist who:

  • Is a changemaker, committed to transforming children’s education and pedagogy
  • Believes in progressive, self-directed learning and is willing to “unschool” themselves
  • Is compassionate and empathetic with a deep respect for children and young people
  • Sees the power of nature and connectedness to inspire and heal
  • Has experience working with children and young people, especially those facing emotional or mental health challenges
  • Thinks creatively and collaborates effectively, in a dynamic and growing Charity

Why Join Us?
If you’re disheartened by rising mental health challenges in young people, and the pressure driven approach in mainstream education, this is your chance to make a meaningful difference. At Huckleberries you’ll have the freedom to shape a nurturing self-directed alternative to traditional schooling. Together we’ll inspire children to embrace passion-led learning and fulfil their limitless potential.

Payscale: £35,730 to £43,735 FTE (equates to £18.32 to £22.42ph), depending on experience.

Hours: 4 days per week 7 hours per day,  39 weeks per year (term time). Job sharing will be considered

How to Apply
If you’re ready to inspire life-long learners and make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you.

If submitting a CV, please also complete sections of the application form not covered on your CV to enable your application to be fully considered.

Join Huckleberries and be part of something truly transformative!

 

Learning Support Assistant (Temporary & ad-hoc supply staff)

Closing date for applications: 12 noon, Monday 9 December 2024

Temporary (6 Jan – 14 Feb 2025) then ad-hoc supply staff cover

 

Are you passionate about self-directed, nature-based learning? Do you want to help transform the lives of children and young people? If so, Huckleberries wants to hear from you!

Who We Are

Huckleberries is on a mission to transform the lives of children and young people, by nurturing their uniqueness, curiosity and creativity.

Our Wild Learning Centre combines our Nurture Farm which helps children experiencing emotional or mental health challenges to recover, flourish, and re-engage with life and learning. Our new Self-directed Learning Centre offers a part time alternative to mainstream education for children struggling to thrive in traditional schools or those who are electively home educated.

The Wild Learning Centre provides a natural outdoor setting where children can develop a lifelong love of learning and environmental stewardship through self-directed learning and connection with nature.  Currently, we work with children aged 5-12 years but plan to grow alongside our children..

The Role

As a Supply Cover Learning Support Assistant, you will work closely with our Learning Guides and volunteer Mentors to nurture the emotional well-being, creativity, curiosity, and autonomy of children in our outdoor learning environment. You will:

  • Provide tailored support and pastoral care to children, meeting their individual needs across both our Nurture Farm and Wild Learning Centre.
  • Help create a safe, inspiring space for children to thrive and engage in self-directed learning.
  • Support children through their learning journey, encouraging autonomy, curiosity, and creative exploration.

This role offers a unique opportunity to move beyond the constraints of traditional education and embrace a human-centred, relational, and trauma-informed ethos, helping children to thrive and learn on their own terms.

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking an experienced learning support or outdoor learning specialist who:

  • Is passionate about changing the status quo in children’s education.
  • Believes in progressive, self-directed learning and willing to “unschool” themselves.
  • Is compassionate and empathetic with a deep respect for children and young people.
  • Sees the power of nature and connectedness to inspire and heal
  • Has experience working with children and young people, particularly those facing emotional or mental health challenges.
  • Thinks creatively and collaborates effectively in a dynamic and growing Charity

Why Join Us?

If you’re disheartened by rising mental health challenges amongst young people and the pressure driven approach in mainstream education, this is your chance to make a meaningful difference. At Huckleberries you’ll have the freedom to shape a nurturing self-directed alternative to traditional schooling. Together we’ll inspire children to embrace passion-led learning and fulfil their limitless potential.

Contract Type: Business to business Contract for Services (self employed)

Hourly Rate: £15.22 to £17.77 per hour depending on experience

Hours: This is initially a supply cover contract from 6 January 2025 to 14 February 2025 for 4 days per week, 6.5 hours per day, 36 weeks per year (term time). Job sharing will be considered.  After this date the role will become ad-hoc as required, to cover for staff absences/training.

How to Apply
If you’re ready to inspire life-long learners and make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you.

If submitting a CV, please also complete sections of the application form not covered on your CV to enable your application to be fully considered.

Join Huckleberries and be part of something truely transformative!