The Meadow home education community, based near Bath, is looking for a facilitator to join its team.
The Meadow is a dynamic, self-directed, consent-based home education community nestled on a beautiful seven-acre meadow. The community values creativity, individuality and self-directed learning, with a mission to create an environment where children can explore their interests, develop their strengths and grow into their unique selves, all within a supportive and nurturing community.
They are seeking passionate, energetic and dedicated facilitators to join the team at The Meadow. ‘As a Learning Facilitator, you will play a crucial role in creating a space for young people to direct their own education by choosing or designing their own activities, either individually or collaboratively,’ details the job description. ‘You will ensure social-emotional and physical safety, using consent-based conflict resolution practices and making dynamic risk assessments.
‘Working in a mixed-age environment with young people who are diverse racially, developmentally and temperamentally, you will respond to them all appropriately, kindly and holistically.’
Key Responsibilities:
Passion and Creativity
Infuse your unique passions and creativity to inspire and engage children, enriching their learning journeys and cultivating a lively community atmosphere. Establish a welcoming and respectful environment that radiates vibrancy. Approach each day with enthusiasm and a positive outlook, setting a tone that encourages joyful exploration and meaningful interactions.
Offerings
Provide and facilitate offerings that build on and broaden children’s interests. Encourage exploration, creativity and critical thinking by offering a variety of engaging and inspiring offerings. Tailor them to meet the diverse interests and developmental levels of each child, and create opportunities for both individual and collaborative projects.
Bring your own passions and creativity to inspire and energise the children, making it a fun and dynamic experience. Continuously seek feedback from the children to ensure offerings remain relevant and adapt as needed to support their evolving interests and goals.
Energy and Health
Maintain high energy levels and good health to actively participate in and support the dynamic and physically engaging environment of The Meadow. Participate fully in outdoor and indoor activities, demonstrating enthusiasm and vitality. Prioritise self-care to sustain the physical stamina and mental clarity needed to meet the demands of an active learning community.
Encourage and model healthy lifestyle choices, showing children the importance of physical fitness, nutrition and overall well-being. By staying energised and healthy, contribute positively to the vibrant, lively atmosphere that defines The Meadow.
Playful Engagement
Interact with children in a curious and playful manner, creating a joyful learning environment. Foster a sense of wonder and excitement by actively engaging in activities alongside the children. Use playful interactions to encourage exploration, creativity and critical thinking.
Create an atmosphere which is fun and dynamic, and where children feel free to express themselves and pursue their interests with enthusiasm. By bringing curiosity and playfulness into your interactions, help to cultivate a positive and stimulating environment that inspires children.
Conflict Resolution
Support children in resolving their own conflicts using consent-based practices. Guide them in developing effective communication skills, empathy and mutual respect. Encourage children to listen to each other’s perspectives and collaborate on finding solutions that work for everyone involved.
Model patience, understanding and fairness in all interactions to foster a positive and harmonious community. Facilitate conflict resolution sessions when necessary, ensuring that each child’s voice is heard and valued, and help them reflect on the process to learn and grow from their experiences.
Collaboration
Work collaboratively with other facilitators to build a cohesive community, fostering an environment where children thrive and families feel supported. Engage actively in team meetings, contributing insights and strategies to address tasks and challenges collectively. Be responsible for writing observations of your day after each session. Together with the team, create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere that reflects our commitment to mutual respect.
Effective Communication
Skilfully communicate with the adult community, including parents during drop-off and pick-up, and through meetings as necessary. Maintain open, honest and respectful dialogue with parents to keep them informed about their child’s progress, activities and any concerns that may arise.
Share updates and insights about the children’s experiences on the day, and actively listen to parents’ feedback and perspectives. Ensure clear and timely communication to build strong, collaborative relationships with families, fostering a supportive community where everyone feels included and valued.
Leadership and Meetings
Demonstrate effective leadership by guiding community meetings in a way that encourages participation, collaboration and mutual respect among children and adults alike. Empower children to develop leadership skills by providing opportunities for them to lead meetings, express their ideas and contribute to decision-making processes.
Support and mentor children in understanding the importance of communication, teamwork and responsibility within a community setting. Foster a culture where everyone’s voice is valued, and where children can grow confident in their abilities to contribute meaningfully to the community’s growth and development.
Qualifications
- Passionate about self-directed, consent-based education.
- Experience working with children in educational or community settings
- Committed to the rights and wellbeing of children.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to foster a supportive, inclusive and respectful environment.
- Commitment to continuous improvement and community building.
- Willingness to share personal passions and skills.
- Understanding of the importance of play in child development.
Desirable
- Background in alternative education or experience working in non-traditional educational settings.
- Enthusiasm for collaborative projects and community-building. o Background in mindfulness, psychology or related fields.
- Experience in outdoor education or nature-based learning.
- Dance, Drama,Music, Gymnastic background.
- Experience in a variety of artistic mediums (e.g., painting, sculpture, digital art). o Knowledge of or experience with unschooling or alternative education methods o A person inspired to create a new educational paradigm.
- A commitment to deschooling yourself.
What We Offer
- A supportive and dynamic work environment
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
- The chance to be part of an innovative and growing community
- A beautiful 7-acre setting with ample opportunities for outdoor activities
How to Apply
Please send your CV and a cover letter detailing your interest in The Meadow and how your experience aligns with our philosophy and requirements to email hidden; JavaScript is required Applications will be accepted until 2 August.
The Meadow is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees
Join us at The Meadow and help us create a space where children can thrive, families can connect and learning is a joyful, collaborative adventure
This job advert outlines the role, responsibilities, qualifications and what The Meadow offers, ensuring potential candidates understand the unique environment and philosophy they will be part of.