Special Needs Jobs In The UK

There are many children, young adults and even adults in the UK with special needs that deserves a teacher that cares about them and their education. If you are that teacher, and you’re looking for a NEW challenge, you can find many jobs teaching those with special needs. With a little more work on your side, taking more classes and attending more workshops and conferences you can become qualified to work with them. You must have a clear understanding of their disability, whether it is physical or otherwise. Attending the regular one (1) year statutory induction for a new teacher is required as is taking additional courses through the Department of Education approved institutes. You can find these courses needed by going to the local Teaching Agency. You must also obtain the following to be a Special Educational Needs (SEN) teacher;

-Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)

-School-centered initial teacher training (SCITT)

-Bachelor in Education (BEd)

-BA or BCs with QTS

For those wanting to work with children/young adults/adults with disabilities you must pass a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check before being hired. You are also required to complete a minimum of 35 hours a year of continuing professional development.

There are also other requirements needed from teacher who wish to work with those that are disabled. These requirements are essential, and include (but are not limited to) a commitment to work with those with special needs; problem solving skills; team skills; flexibility; positivity; patience and a sense of humor.

A Special Educational Needs (SEN) teacher is specifically hired to work with children and young adult and adults whom need a little extra help and support to complete their educational goals successfully. The types of disabilities that these children and young adults and adults may have can range in severity. This includes but is not limited to physical disabilities that may confine them to a wheelchair, speech and language disabilities such as cleft lip and cleft palate that impairs their speech or dyslexia which makes math and reading difficult, they may have a mental disability like Autism, or a sensory disability like deafness or blindness, they may have behavioral problems, be emotionally troubled or a combination of these disabilities. It is required that all SEN know sign language in order to be qualified. Keep in mind that not all SEN teachers work with disabled individuals, some work with those that need advanced classes or that are gifted students.

Teaching those with special needs is very often challenging and may involve many different skills. You must have the ability to teach individuals or small groups either in the classroom or outside the classroom setting. An SEN must also be able to grade work carefully, prepare lessons, know resources needed to help in the education of the disabled individuals, be able to teach sign language, braille or lip reading and behavior management.

It is very important to a SEN to be in close contact with other teachers or special educators that are involved with the individual as well as the parents, social workers and whatever therapist they work with such as speech and language therapists or educational psychologists. This is one of the most important aspects of being an SEN because working as a team with these other individuals gives you the ability to do the best possible job and design the most effective educational plan for the student.

As an SEN you are required to work the usual school day hours, 9am to 3:30pm, Monday through Friday. You are also placed on a salary and occasionally receive bonuses and additional allowances.

Being a Special Educational Needs Teacher (SEN) is the most challenging job any teacher can have BUT it is also the most rewarding. Watching the disabled children/young adults and adults reach their milestones and knowing what strength they have inside that pushed them to do it, knowing that you had a part in helping them reach their goals makes your job and all of the struggles worth every minute of it.