Job description
Job Title: Equine Teaching Assistant (TA)
Location: Wareham
Salary Range: £13.68 - £16.12 per hour (Depending on experience)
Start time: Immediate
Contract: Full-Time, Permanent
Are you passionate about horses and helping others? Do you want to make a positive impact on the lives of students with special educational needs? If so, GSL Education are on the lookout for an Equine Teaching Assistant to join a welcoming school in Wareham.
About the School: The school is an education setting based for 16 – 25+ years old with Special Educational Needs. It is based on 350 acres of beautiful Dorset countryside. The school operate enterprise activities and vocational teaching methods to bridge the gap between education and employment for young people and adults with SEN in Dorset and the local area. The school focuses on vocations like horticulture, agriculture, equine skills and animal care as well as many more, to enrich the lives and education of its pupils.
Responsibilities of the Equine Teaching Assistant (TA):
- Support Vocational Learning: Assist in delivering equine-related vocational lessons, including horse care, riding, grooming, and stable management, tailored to meet the individual learning needs of students with special educational needs (SEN).
- Promote Independence and Confidence: Help students build essential skills for independence, fostering confidence through hands-on equine activities while encouraging personal growth and development.
- Provide Practical Assistance: Support students in the maintenance and care of the equine facilities, ensuring the safety and well-being of both students and animals.
- Collaborate with Educators and Therapists: Work closely with teachers, therapists, and support staff to deliver a personalised curriculum that combines practical equine skills with key life skills to bridge the gap between education and employment.
- Facilitate Enterprise Activities: Assist students in engaging with enterprise-based activities such as running a small business involving the horses, providing opportunities for students to gain valuable vocational experience.
- Encourage Social and Communication Skills: Support students in developing communication and teamwork skills through group equine activities and collaborative projects.
- Promote Emotional Well-being: Use the therapeutic benefits of equine-assisted learning to support students’ emotional regulation and personal development, creating a positive and inclusive learning environment.
- Ensure Health and Safety: Uphold the highest standards of safety in equine activities, ensuring students adhere to appropriate guidelines and maintain a safe environment for both themselves and the animals.
Requirements of the Equine Teaching Assistant (TA):
- Experience with Equine Care and Handling: A solid understanding of equine care, including grooming, riding, stable management, and general horse welfare, is essential. Previous experience working with horses in a practical setting is highly desirable.
- Understanding of Special Educational Needs (SEN): A background in working with young people or adults with special educational needs, particularly those aged 16-25+, is preferred. Knowledge of how to adapt lessons to suit the diverse learning needs of students is crucial.
- Passion for Teaching and Mentoring: A genuine passion for working with students in a vocational setting, particularly in equine and animal care. You should be enthusiastic about supporting students in developing essential life skills through hands-on learning.
- Strong Communication Skills: The ability to communicate effectively with students, staff, and other professionals. You should be comfortable offering support, guidance, and encouragement to students both individually and in group settings.
- Patience and Empathy: An empathetic approach to working with students who may have varying learning and emotional needs. Patience is key in creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
- Teamwork and Collaboration: Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with teachers, therapists, and support staff to ensure students receive a holistic educational experience.
- Health and Safety Awareness: A good understanding of health and safety protocols, especially when working with animals. You should be able to support students in maintaining a safe and secure environment for both themselves and the animals.
- Willingness to Learn and Develop: A desire to develop professionally within the field of special education, with the opportunity for ongoing training and development in both SEN and equine education.
- Flexibility and Adaptability: Ability to adapt to the varying needs of students and changing circumstances, offering flexibility in teaching methods and approach to accommodate different learning styles.
- UK Driving Licence: A valid UK driving licence and a willingness to drive are essential for this role.
- DBS: Have an updated CV and an enhanced DBS registered to the update service (or be willing to apply for one).
If you are an enthusiastic and compassionate ‘Equine Teaching Assistant (TA)’ ready to inspire and support students in their learning journey, we encourage you to apply and join our client school in Wareham.
Please be advised that this role requires a strong knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and child protection and that successful applicants must satisfy all background safer recruitment checks; including providing an enhanced DBS certificate registered on the update service or completing an application for a new check.
As an ethical, inclusive, and independent recruitment agency GSL Education are committed to providing quality teaching and support staff in schools across the UK.
For more information or to register your interest in the ‘Equine Teaching Assistant (TA)’ role, or to be considered, please click ‘apply now’ to submit your full and up-to-date CV, and one of our dedicated consultants will be in touch.