Equine Teaching Assistant
Location: Poole
Salary: £13.68 - £16.12 per hour (Depending on Experience)
Start Date: Immediate
Contract Type: Full Time/Part Time

Are you passionate about working with young people and have a love for horses?

GSL Education are looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic Equine Teaching Assistant to support students in Poole. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys working outdoors, supporting learning, and has experience or interest in equine care and education. Ideally, you will hold a valid driving licence and be willing to drive as part of the role.

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. 

The Role:

As an Equine Teaching Assistant, you will play a vital role in supporting students with their educational and personal development through equine-based learning. You will be working closely with teaching staff and learners, encouraging engagement, resilience, and confidence while ensuring the welfare of the animals is maintained.

Responsibilities of an Equine Teaching Assistant:

• Assisting students during equine lessons, providing one-to-one and group support.
• Supporting teaching staff with lesson delivery, ensuring sessions run smoothly and safely.
• Helping students with practical tasks such as grooming, feeding, mucking out, and tacking up horses.
• Supervising students during riding sessions and ensuring all safety guidelines are followed.
• Encouraging students to develop teamwork, responsibility, and problem-solving skills through equine activities.
• Monitoring students’ progress and providing feedback to the teaching team.
• Supporting students with SEND or additional needs to fully access equine learning programmes.
• Ensuring the health, welfare, and daily care of the horses are upheld at all times.
• Assisting in the preparation and maintenance of stables, arenas, and equipment.
• Promoting a positive and inclusive learning environment that motivates students.

Equine Teaching Assistant Skills & Requirements:

• Experience working with young people, ideally within an educational or animal care setting.
• Knowledge or experience in equine care, riding, or stable management.
• A valid driving licence and willingness to drive is highly desirable.
• Ability to build positive relationships with students and staff.
• Patience, enthusiasm, and a commitment to supporting students’ development.
• Strong awareness of safeguarding and child protection.

Why choose GSL?

• Competitive pay rates.
• A dedicated consultant offering ongoing support and career guidance.
• Flexible working options to suit your availability.
• Opportunities to gain valuable experience.

To work with GSL Education as an Equine Teaching Assistant, you should:

• Have the right to work in the UK.
• Have an up-to-date CV with two relevant references from within the last 2 years.
• Have a DBS registered to the update service or be happy to apply for one with GSL Education.

Please be advised that this role requires a strong knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and child protection, and 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, independent recruitment agency, GSL Education are committed to providing quality teaching and support staff across the UK.

For more information or to register your interest in the "Equine Teaching Assistant" 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.