Farm Assistant - Education Lead (Full Time, All Year Round) at Coombe House School
About this Role
Are you passionate about animal care, outdoor learning andhelping young people thrive?
We are seeking an experienced and motivated FarmAssistant - Education Lead to join our growing therapeutic farm team. Thisis an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in developing and deliveringhigh-quality educational and therapeutic provision within our unique farmenvironment, supporting pupils to build confidence, resilience, independenceand practical life skills through meaningful engagement with animals,horticulture and the natural world.
As the lead practitioner for education on the farm, you willwork closely with the Farm Manager and wider school team to shape and developinnovative learning opportunities that support pupils' personal, social,emotional and vocational development. You will also provide day-to-dayleadership and support to the Farm Assistant (Education) team, ensuring aconsistently high standard of provision across the farm.
About the role
This varied and rewarding role combines educational leadership, practicalfarming and therapeutic learning. Key responsibilities include:
During term time,you will lead practical learning sessions for pupils, helping them developpersonal, social, emotional and vocational skills through meaningful farmexperiences.
About you
We are looking for a passionate and capable individual withexperience in animal husbandry and horticulture, alongside experience workingwith children and young people, ideally within educational, outdoor learning ortherapeutic environments. You will have a strong understanding of howpractical, farm-based experiences can support learning, wellbeing and personaldevelopment, particularly for young people with SEND.
You will be confident planning anddelivering engaging educational activities, building positive relationshipswith pupils, and adapting your approach to meet a range of learning, emotionaland behavioural needs. Strong practical skills in animal care, land managementand site maintenance are essential, together with excellent organisational,communication and record-keeping skills. You will also have the ability tosupport, motivate and develop others, demonstrating positive leadership andcoaching skills.
Ideally, you will hold a TA, LSA,Forest School, Outdoor Learning or equivalent qualification and have experiencesupporting children and young people with SEND. Knowledge of trauma-informedpractice, outdoor learning approaches and accredited vocational learning wouldbe advantageous. Previous experience supervising, mentoring or supportingstaff, volunteers or groups would be highly desirable.
Salary range for 37 hours per week is £25,989 - £28,142per annum dependent upon experience, plus an Additional ResponsibilityAllowance (ARA) of £2,250 per annum. Pay award pending. This is a full time, all year-round permanentposition. Monday to Thursday: 8.30am - 4.30pm Friday: 8.30am - 4.00pm, withoccasional weekend cover and bank holidays on a rota.
About Coombe House
Coombe House is located just outside Shaftesbury and set in 55 acres ofbeautiful countryside. Coombe House School supports children and young peoplewith social communication, emotional and learning needs, all of whom have anEHCP. Our therapeutic farmplays a central role in supporting pupil wellbeing, engagement and achievement.This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the continued development of aunique provision that combines education, therapy, vocational learning andcommunity engagement within a working farm environment.
About Coombe House Farm
Ourfarm is an evolving therapeutic care farm created to support the young peopleof Coombe House School with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)and our local community. It is a space designed with purpose, heart and vision,where learning happens through meaningful, hands-on experiences and where everyindividual is valued, supported and encouraged to grow.
Thesetting is designed to support the social, emotional, educational and mentalhealth needs of those who use it, offering a calm and supportive space whereindividuals can develop confidence, communication skills, independence andpositive relationships. Engagement with animals, nature and routine farm workplays an important role in supporting wellbeing and personal development.
Thefarm began its journey in 2024, starting as a simple idea: to create anurturing outdoor environment where young people could build confidence,develop practical skills and engage in nature-based learning. Since then, thefarm has flourished into a vibrant, developing space shaped by the needs of ourpupils and the passion of our growing team.
Wecurrently steward around 3 acres at the top of the Coombe House site, offeringa safe and contained environment for animal care, horticulture, outdoor tasksand therapeutic activities. In 2025, we expanded to include an additional 4acres of meadowland at the bottom of the site, a beautiful natural area thatsupports biodiversity, wildlife education and soon, beekeeping opportunities.
What we offer:
• A workplace set in beautiful surroundings.
• Competitive salary and benefits.
• Free, confidential employee assistanceprogramme.
• Enhanced Pension Scheme (10% employers'contribution).
• Continuous professional development and training
• Use of leisure facilities (gym and swimmingpool), at specified times.
• Death in Service (3 x salary).
• Supportive leadership team and multidisciplinarycolleagues.
• Wellbeing support, including qualified MentalHealth First Aiders.
This post involves working with children or vulnerableadults and/or having access to significant information about them and will besubject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Interviews tobe held: Ongoing
Please contact Claire Taylor, Assistant HR Manager on 01747449858 for any queries, or Michelle Heywood, HR Manager on 01747 449856, or email hr@coombehouse.org.uk
We are committed to safeguarding and expect everyone who works inour school (and visitors to our school) to share this commitment. We take allsafeguarding and welfare concerns seriously and encourage our pupils to talk tous about any worries they may have. We will always act in the best interests ofthe child. The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protectionscreening, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS.
Are you passionate about animal care, outdoor learning andhelping young people thrive?
We are seeking an experienced and motivated FarmAssistant - Education Lead to join our growing therapeutic farm team. Thisis an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in developing and deliveringhigh-quality educational and therapeutic provision within our unique farmenvironment, supporting pupils to build confidence, resilience, independenceand practical life skills through meaningful engagement with animals,horticulture and the natural world.
As the lead practitioner for education on the farm, you willwork closely with the Farm Manager and wider school team to shape and developinnovative learning opportunities that support pupils' personal, social,emotional and vocational development. You will also provide day-to-dayleadership and support to the Farm Assistant (Education) team, ensuring aconsistently high standard of provision across the farm.
About the role
This varied and rewarding role combines educational leadership, practicalfarming and therapeutic learning. Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the planning, delivery, evaluation and continuous development of farm-based educational and therapeutic programmes.
- Providing day-to-day supervision, mentoring and support to Farm Assistant (Education) staff.
- Developing engaging learning resources, schemes of work and practical activities that maximise the farm as a learning environment.
- Delivering meaningful educational experiences that promote pupil wellbeing, confidence, resilience, independence and vocational skills.
- Supporting the delivery and assessment of accredited Land-Based Studies programmes.
- Monitoring, recording and reporting on pupil engagement, progress and outcomes.
- Coordinating referrals into farm-based provision and helping to ensure programmes meet individual pupil needs.
- Maintaining high standards of animal care, welfare and husbandry.
- Contributing to horticultural projects, site development and the ongoing enhancement of the farm environment.
- Supporting community engagement through events, workshops, volunteer programmes and open days.
- Ensuring all activities are delivered safely and in line with safeguarding, health and safety and biosecurity requirements
During term time,you will lead practical learning sessions for pupils, helping them developpersonal, social, emotional and vocational skills through meaningful farmexperiences.
About you
We are looking for a passionate and capable individual withexperience in animal husbandry and horticulture, alongside experience workingwith children and young people, ideally within educational, outdoor learning ortherapeutic environments. You will have a strong understanding of howpractical, farm-based experiences can support learning, wellbeing and personaldevelopment, particularly for young people with SEND.
You will be confident planning anddelivering engaging educational activities, building positive relationshipswith pupils, and adapting your approach to meet a range of learning, emotionaland behavioural needs. Strong practical skills in animal care, land managementand site maintenance are essential, together with excellent organisational,communication and record-keeping skills. You will also have the ability tosupport, motivate and develop others, demonstrating positive leadership andcoaching skills.
Ideally, you will hold a TA, LSA,Forest School, Outdoor Learning or equivalent qualification and have experiencesupporting children and young people with SEND. Knowledge of trauma-informedpractice, outdoor learning approaches and accredited vocational learning wouldbe advantageous. Previous experience supervising, mentoring or supportingstaff, volunteers or groups would be highly desirable.
Salary range for 37 hours per week is £25,989 - £28,142per annum dependent upon experience, plus an Additional ResponsibilityAllowance (ARA) of £2,250 per annum. Pay award pending. This is a full time, all year-round permanentposition. Monday to Thursday: 8.30am - 4.30pm Friday: 8.30am - 4.00pm, withoccasional weekend cover and bank holidays on a rota.
About Coombe House
Coombe House is located just outside Shaftesbury and set in 55 acres ofbeautiful countryside. Coombe House School supports children and young peoplewith social communication, emotional and learning needs, all of whom have anEHCP. Our therapeutic farmplays a central role in supporting pupil wellbeing, engagement and achievement.This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the continued development of aunique provision that combines education, therapy, vocational learning andcommunity engagement within a working farm environment.
About Coombe House Farm
Ourfarm is an evolving therapeutic care farm created to support the young peopleof Coombe House School with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)and our local community. It is a space designed with purpose, heart and vision,where learning happens through meaningful, hands-on experiences and where everyindividual is valued, supported and encouraged to grow.
Thesetting is designed to support the social, emotional, educational and mentalhealth needs of those who use it, offering a calm and supportive space whereindividuals can develop confidence, communication skills, independence andpositive relationships. Engagement with animals, nature and routine farm workplays an important role in supporting wellbeing and personal development.
Thefarm began its journey in 2024, starting as a simple idea: to create anurturing outdoor environment where young people could build confidence,develop practical skills and engage in nature-based learning. Since then, thefarm has flourished into a vibrant, developing space shaped by the needs of ourpupils and the passion of our growing team.
Wecurrently steward around 3 acres at the top of the Coombe House site, offeringa safe and contained environment for animal care, horticulture, outdoor tasksand therapeutic activities. In 2025, we expanded to include an additional 4acres of meadowland at the bottom of the site, a beautiful natural area thatsupports biodiversity, wildlife education and soon, beekeeping opportunities.
What we offer:
• A workplace set in beautiful surroundings.
• Competitive salary and benefits.
• Free, confidential employee assistanceprogramme.
• Enhanced Pension Scheme (10% employers'contribution).
• Continuous professional development and training
• Use of leisure facilities (gym and swimmingpool), at specified times.
• Death in Service (3 x salary).
• Supportive leadership team and multidisciplinarycolleagues.
• Wellbeing support, including qualified MentalHealth First Aiders.
This post involves working with children or vulnerableadults and/or having access to significant information about them and will besubject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Interviews tobe held: Ongoing
Please contact Claire Taylor, Assistant HR Manager on 01747449858 for any queries, or Michelle Heywood, HR Manager on 01747 449856, or email hr@coombehouse.org.uk
We are committed to safeguarding and expect everyone who works inour school (and visitors to our school) to share this commitment. We take allsafeguarding and welfare concerns seriously and encourage our pupils to talk tous about any worries they may have. We will always act in the best interests ofthe child. The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protectionscreening, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS.