Amegreen Children's Services
Horticulture & Culinary Lead
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**Horticulture & Culinary Lead – Alternative Provision (SEND) |
About Stable Futures & Juniper House
Stable Futures is entering an exciting new growth phase by launching a brand-new alternative provision site—Juniper House, an alternative provision SEN school. This provision, alongside Haywards Farm and Northcroft School, will enhance transitions and educational opportunities for children aged 5–17 facing significant challenges accessing mainstream education.
To support this expansion, we are creating a groundbreaking Horticulture and Outdoor Culinary department—including polytunnels, growing spaces, and outdoor cooking facilities. This provision will deliver practical, hands-on learning, linking food production, outdoors education, and life skills to re-engage learners and offer clear progression pathways.
We are seeking an experienced, creative, and visionary Horticulture & Culinary Lead to shape the department from the ground up. This is a unique opportunity to develop a therapeutic, industry-aligned educational provision that empowers learners to thrive through experiential learning.
Mission Statement
Stable Futures' alternative provision uses experiential learning, practical skills, and therapeutic support to foster engaging and rehabilitative education for learners who have struggled in mainstream settings. Our mission is to give children meaningful opportunities to build confidence, independence, and life skills while nurturing their passion for learning.
About the Role
You will provide strategic leadership for the Horticulture and Outdoor Culinary Provision, ensuring it operates as a high-quality, career-integrated learning environment. Your role will feature a blend of educational programme design, pastoral care, and sector-specific expertise, with an emphasis on strengthening life skills and SEND-focused interventions.
The position will offer a unique opportunity to:
- Lead the establishment of a pioneering green school department
- Parasitic the curriculum to ensure practical, vocational, and inclusive education
- Work closely with support professionals and pastoral teams to develop a clear progression model
- Bridge the gap between horticulture, cooking, and mainstream education
- Build strong partnerships with industry, food suppliers, and regional blocs
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Core Responsibilities
Provision Leadership & Development
- Lead the day-to-day operations of the new Horticulture & Culinary provision, from polytunnel setup to team management.
- Design and construct an accessible, functional outdoor learning environment, including physically appropriate growing areas and safe cooking spaces.
- Steer the provision’s growth, ensuring alignment with Amegreen Education’s whole-site strategic direction.
- Work with the Centre Manager to integrate provision goals into broader organisational objectives.
- Foster a high-quality, inclusive learning environment with clear progression pathways.
Curriculum Design & Delivery
- Develop a workshops-based curriculum centred on hands-on horticulture, food production, and culinary skills.
- Deliver seasonal, experiential learning programmes, connecting plant grows to cooking and care activities.
- Teach functional life skills (e.g., food hygiene, teamwork, sensory play) alongside traditional SEND curriculum subjects.
- Adapt learning experiences for diverse age groups (5-17) and abilities, including learners with SEND.
- Drive accreditation opportunities (ASDAN, AQA Unit Awards, external vocational partnerships) to support student achievement.
Pastoral Care & SEND Inclusion
- Lead behaviour and SEND strategies, implementing therapeutic approaches (PACE, THRIVE) with staff training.
- Support learners with moderate/severe needs by adapting interventions within outdoor environments.
- Create a supportive, structured environment that encourages mental health and engagement.
Safety & Site Management
- Ensure strict compliance with health & safety regulations, including:
- Risk assessments for tool use, equipment, and cooking areas
- Food hygiene and safeguarding protocols
- Supervise staff training on site-specific safety protocols.
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Partnerships & Wider Development
- Collaborate with external schools, Local Authority teams, families, and industry to promote the provision’s value.
- Engage with SEND advisors and stakeholders to align provision outcomes.
- Explore enterprise opportunities to support work-related learning.
Recording, Accountability & Professional Growth
- Track learner progress, provide regular updates to external referrers/Teaching Staff.
- Maintain detailed records (logs, observations, safeguarding reports).
- Commit to continuous certification (horticulture, food safety, educational practice).
Key Skills & Experience
- Proven leadership in a horticulture/culinary environment across progressive educational settings.
- Experience supporting learners with SEND (Autism, ADHD, emotional wellbeing).
- Curriculum design skills, with expertise in experiential education or work-related learning frameworks.
- Chemistry with food hygiene/safety or equivalent certification.
- Ability to train/develop a team while fostering a supportive, inclusive team culture.
- Knowledge of alternative provision or therapeutic education models is advantageous.
- Attention to therapeutic approaches (e.g. PACE, THRIVE models).
What We Offer
- A stimulating challenge in a creative, fast-growing educational sector.
- Positive role-model environment—opportunities for professional skill-sharing and development.
- Collaborative leadership—close partnership with the Centre Manager and Amegreen’s learning teams.
- Meaningful impact—empowering learners through strong, therapeutic multi-sensory learning.
- Clear progression paths— regulatory compliance & sector certification support.
Applications to be reviewed by [insert deadline] by email to: post@amgreen-send.org
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