JOB DESCRIPTION
Fixed term until December 2026 in the first instance

ROLE TITLE:

Senior Instructor for Alternative Learning (Gateway)

REPORTING TO:

Cathy Leamon – Steps2Work/Outside and Active Programme Manager

LOCATION:

Gateway Community Garden - Reigate

HOURS:

SALARY:

21 Hrs p/wk for 41 weeks of the year (term time plus 2) Tues, Weds & 1 other day

£14,727 (£15.05 p/hour)

DIRECT REPORTS:

At least 1

CLOSING DATE:

22/10/25

INTERVIEW DATE: TBC

Surrey Care Trust is a local charity that helps people to improve their skills for life, work and learning through
counselling, education, mentoring and volunteering. Our programmes support disadvantaged families in improving
their chances in life. Through our programmes we are enabling people throughout Surrey to overcome the
disadvantage of low skills, poor educational achievement, limited opportunities and tough financial circumstances.

We offer a broad range of programmes - support for families and their children at our Spelthorne Family Centres;
offering vulnerable and challenging young people an alternative approach to education at our STEPS learning centre;
a free and independent youth counselling service for young people aged 16 – 25; mentoring young people and
adults to help them gain confidence and make positive changes; improving mental health and wellbeing through
Steps2Work Wellbeing and our nurture through nature programme at Gateway and Outside and Active; working to
bring the community together and taken action on local issues with our Stanwell Community Group project;
supporting 18-24’s into employment through Steps2Work in Woking; and creating a different environment for
people to learn new skills and give something back to society on our Swingbridge Community Boats.

Surrey Care Trust is invested in supporting those young people 14-16 that are not in education, or not suited to full
time school provision, by delivering Alternative Provision based at our award-winning Gateway Community Garden
in Reigate.  Students will be referred via Surrey County Council, Local Schools and Colleges. We are implementing
this programme following a very successful year of supporting this age group back into a school setting.  By the very
nature of the setting where the school day will take place it is therapeutic and allows space in an outdoor
environment during good weather and covered space in the colder weather for a variety of horticulture based
activities and learning, along with crafts, wellbeing, woodwork, and gardening to take place.

We will be delivering ASDAN qualifications and units over the 2 days that the students attend.

Our Vision
We are the local charity working with volunteers, to make Surrey a place where vulnerable people have the
opportunities, skills and support they need to achieve their potential.

Our Mission

HR1.ISO.V5

We are breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage in Surrey by equipping vulnerable people with the skills and confidence
they need to change their lives, and their futures.

Overall purpose of the role

A Senior Instructor role responsible for the teaching, development and daily operation of Surrey Care Trust’s
Alternative Provision on site at Gateway Community Garden. Leading staff to facilitate teaching and learning and
support for pupils aged 14 – 16, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), the key
duties include overseeing the SEN policy, coordinating provision with staff and external agencies like health and
educational services, managing records, and working closely with young people and parents to ensure personalized
support plans and educational outcomes for students.  You will line manage a small team to support the
implementation of the programme and liaise with the Gateway Community Garden team to ensure a cohesive
approach to the activities, plan sessions, work towards ASDAN qualifications with your students.

Duties and Responsibilities

•  Coordination of Provision:

•

o

Overseeing and planning of day-to-day delivery of teaching and learning and support for students and those
with SEND, ensuring effective use of resources, working towards all students gaining ASDAN qualifications
Preparing lessons and schemes of work to meet qualification outcomes.
Linking in with the awarding body requirements and external verifiers for assessment of student portfolios.
Explore innovative ways to facilitate teaching and learning that best meet student needs.
Identify, organise and set up appropriate resources and ensure they are used efficiently and safely for the
activities that the student will undertake in the setting.
Staff Support & Development:
Advising and training your team on supporting all students and those with SEN, including effective teaching
strategies and behaviour management.
Liaison with Parents and Professionals:
Working collaboratively with parents, external professionals (e.g. schools, Educational Psychologists, Speech
& Language Therapists), and local authorities to provide continuity of support.
Ensure safeguarding procedures and records are kept and maintained, ensuring any safeguarding concerns
are dealt with appropriately.
•  Record Keeping and Monitoring:

•

Maintaining comprehensive and up-to-date records of all pupils and those with SEND provision, overseeing
Safeguarding and ensuring appropriate Health and Safety procedures are adhered to whilst monitoring
students’ progress and engagement.

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL

DESIRABLE

Education, Training and Work Qualifications

Teaching qualification/certificate with experience of
teaching
Experience of teaching and supporting children/adults
with additional needs, with knowledge of how their
needs may need to be addressed
Good standard and level of education with excellent
written and verbal English

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent.

SENCO qualification or previous experience as a SENCO

Degree

Relevant Experience

Planning and delivering of curriculum activities
including experience of using/creating lesson
plans/schemes of work
Experience of leading groups and confident in
presentation and teaching small groups and 1:1
Keen gardener/understanding of horticulture and
experience and willingness to work outdoors in all
weather
Experience of dealing effectively with complex situation
involving families and young people

 Experience in a school setting and working with SEN
students

  Ability to hold difficult conversations confidently and
effectively

  Woking in a horticultural setting

Dealt with safeguarding issues and worked
with/supported complex families

Knowledge

Safeguarding Training and recognising the importance
of safeguarding and keeping children safe.

Knowledge and understanding of how young people
learn and how to motivate them
SEN knowledge/experience and how best to support
young people with a range of needs

 Knowledge of current education legislation,
framework, best practice, national trends and
innovation
Safeguarding experience
Examples of innovative teaching and learning and how
these can engage students
Worked with SEN children and experience of adapting
techniques to best support them.

Skills and Expertise

Excellent communication and organisational skills to
plan and prioritise workload and meet targets

Strong problem solving and interpersonal abilities

Ability to analyse and evaluate data to identify student
needs and appropriate strategies to overcome barriers
to learning.

Excellent attention to detail

Experience of qualifications assessment and
planning/working towards assessment criteria

Ability to lead and work effectively within a team

Experience of staff management

Strong IT skills with regular experience of using Word,
Outlook, Excel etc

Enhanced DBS is required and will be undertaken by Surrey Care Trust.

Car driver as travel will sometimes be required for meetings at Schools, Colleges and for networking

Health & Safety
All staff must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) to
ensure that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees, volunteers,
beneficiaries and visitors.

General
This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties, but it is intended to give a general indication of the range of
work undertaken and will vary in detail in the light of changing demands, growth and priorities with the Trust.

For an initial discussion about this role please contact Cathy Leamon – cathy.leamon@surreycaretrust.org.uk
and/or 07730570305

To submit an application please complete an application form and send it to recruitment@surreycaretrust.org.uk
– Closing date for applications is 22/10/25