Forest School Practitioner

Location: St Ives, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, Cambridgeshire, PE27 5JL
Contract Type: Full-time
Contract Length: Permanent
Hours: 40 hours per week
Salary: £13.00 - £13.70 per hour (£27,248 - £28,715.20 fulltime 40 hour per week equivalent)

Benefits:
Birthday Off, 6 fully paid sick days, Cashback Healthcare Plan, Retail Discounts, Recognition & Reward, 50% Childcare Discount, 24/7 Virtual GP Access, 24/7 Counselling Support, Discounted Gym Membership, Personal Financial Advisor Access, Pension Discovery, Learning Platform Access

Join the Kindred Family – A Place to Grow, Thrive, and Make a Difference

Imagine a world where every day is filled with outdoor adventures, creativity, and nature exploration. At Kindred Nurseries, we believe in creating a vibrant, nurturing environment where children thrive through meaningful outdoor learning experiences.

Due to a new opportunity, we’re excited to welcome a Forest School Practitioner to our friendly and dedicated team in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. This role is perfect for someone passionate about outdoor learning, child-led exploration, and helping children build confidence, curiosity, and resilience through nature-based experiences.

At Kindred, work is more than just a job — it’s a place where you feel valued, supported, and inspired. In fact, 91.71% of our team would recommend Kindred as a great place to work.

What You’ll Need

Essential:

• A recognised Forest School qualification (or willingness to work towards one)
• A passion for outdoor learning and child-led play
• Sound knowledge of safeguarding and child protection
• Ability to create engaging, safe, and inclusive outdoor learning environments
• Strong communication and teamwork skills

Desirable:

• Experience working within early years or childcare settings
• Paediatric First Aid qualification
• Experience planning and delivering Forest School sessions

What You’ll Be Doing

Responsibilities:

• Lead and deliver inspiring Forest School sessions that encourage exploration, creativity, and learning through nature
• Plan and risk assess outdoor activities in line with Forest School principles
• Support children’s physical, emotional, and social development through outdoor play
• Work collaboratively with the nursery team to embed outdoor learning into the wider curriculum
• Maintain a safe, stimulating, and inclusive outdoor environment
• Build positive relationships with children, parents, and colleagues
• Uphold Kindred’s policies and procedures at all times

Safeguarding is a shared responsibility to protect children, parents, and staff from harm.

Why Join Kindred?

At Kindred, we’re more than a nursery group — we’re a family.

• Supportive Culture – Strong relationships, teamwork, and a genuine sense of belonging
• Career Development – Clear progression pathways, structured training, and mentorship
• Work-Life Balance – Structured working hours and flexible shift options
• Competitive Pay & Benefits – Regular salary benchmarking and generous benefits
• Award-Winning Family – A company that values recognition, growth, and team success

Our Recruitment Process

• Interviews: Rolling interviews
• Expected Start Date: ASAP

Our process includes:

• A video interview followed by a face-to-face interview with a stay and play at the nursery
• A fully supervised ‘Stay and Play’ session to observe you working with children
• Background checks including references, DBS, and qualification verification, in line with our Safer Recruitment Policy

Ready to Start Your Kindred Journey?

To apply for the Forest School Practitioner position, please click the Apply button, complete the application form, and include your CV along with a short cover letter explaining your interest in the role.

We aim to respond to all applicants within 2–5 working days. Thank you for considering a career with Kindred.

As part of our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in our care, the successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check.

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