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How to start your career in special education

What do I need to do to work in special education?

If you are considering working within Special Education, it is very important that you gain as much information as you can, either from online sources, or by talking to special education providers. On top of this, finding volunteer placements in an area you feel most suited to will help you see what skills you already have that are useful within education, and then what you need to work on. After volunteering for a few weeks, you might surprise yourself and realise that you want to work in a different role, and so it is a good idea to approach all volunteering opportunities with an open mind.

As you will see below, there are many ways of meeting the standard requirements for particular jobs in special education. It is equally important however to know that within any job in education, you will be constantly learning and improving your practice. Therefore after you are trained, be prepared to learn so much more on a daily basis, and to attend extra courses and training throughout your career. What will help you as well, is to create a strong professional network of peers who can help you in challenging and problematic situations, and whom you can share advice and learning with, on a regular basis.

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Is a job in Special Educational Needs (SEN) for me?

Taking a role within special education is often a big, life changing step, and many people find supporting those with special needs extremely fulfilling and rewarding. On the whole, those who work within SEN education, develop their instructional skills, understanding of child development, and creative problem solving talents to find new ways to help the person succeed and meet their full potential. Other common traits in a candidate who can succeed within these roles include strong communication and listening skills, being able to adapt your plans and approaches to specific needs, to remain calm but assertive, good team skills, patience, self-motivation and a passion to help all children reach their potential.

No two days will be the same within any role in special education, and you can make a huge difference to the lives of many people.

How to become a SEN teacher

There are many ways you can enter into teaching special needs students. Traditionally, many teachers start out by volunteering at schools, both mainstream and SEN based, and some even become teaching assistants first. However, in terms of training, key routes include a university course, a PGCE to follow your BA degree, an apprenticeship and a school placement scheme. Whichever course you choose, the scheme will include options on teaching children with SEND. It is also a basic requirement that you pass English and Mathematics tests, and can pass a DBS check to start your course.

It is essential that whatever volunteering or training you undergo, you get experience of and feel confident in completing these particular tasks:

  • Providing instructional support for students
  • Planning and carrying out activities that create a balanced programme of instruction
  • Maintaining an optimal learning environment for all students through behavioural management
  • Working with parents, teachers, social workers and other external professionals
  • Managing student records and preparing reports on progress
  • Preparing data for school reports
  • Establishing clear objectives for lessons, units, and projects
  • Participating in staff development, curriculum development, and other professional opportunities
  • Modifying and adapting the curriculum based on particular instructional techniques and technologies identified as best practice
  • Employing educational strategies and techniques to reinforce learning and meet the various needs of students with different disabilities
  • Following and updating each pupil's individualized education programme (IEP) to promote their overall educational, physical, social, and emotional development

How to become a SEN teaching assistant

To start on this pathway, it is essential that you gain some experience of working with young people and children with SEND. This may mean volunteering at a school, youth club or holiday scheme, or finding paid work within any of these settings. It is also possible that if you have a bachelor's degree you can sign up to a teaching agency, and they will find both long term or temporary paid teaching assistant and 1:1 placements for you.

To qualify as a SEN teaching assistant you can work towards a college course, an apprenticeship, or apply directly to a school for training. It does not matter if the placements you are given are in a mainstream school or not, as many people use the qualifications they have gained to help them move into SEND schools.

If you want to develop your skills further, you can take an extra course and become a higher level teaching assistant (HLTA). Your school should help you with this training and support you in contacting reliable providers.

As a teaching assistant you need to be resilient and hardworking, and to succeed in this role you must have experience of and feel comfortable to:

  • Work 1:1 or with small groups of children
  • Support the emotional and social wellbeing of pupils
  • Carry out intervention sessions and strategies
  • Follow, adapt and even create your own group work plans
  • Support with behaviour management
  • Participate in staff development, curriculum development, and other professional opportunities such as learning British Sign Language or Makaton
  • Create resources for the class room and for planned work

How to become a SEN support worker

You can train for this role through variety of routes which include a college course, an apprenticeship and a direct application to a care provider. Also, building up experience in your own time by volunteering at a care home, charity, hospital or hospice will put you in good stead for your training. It is also important to remember that time spent caring for someone in your own family also counts as having experience in a caring role.

To become a care or support worker you can develop your skills by training in particular SEND areas, like autism awareness and communication skills, including sign language. You can study for further qualifications too, such as a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care, or a degree in social work or nursing if you choose to specialise in a particular area.

A support worker or care worker needs to have experience of and develop their skills in supporting:

  • Families who have new caring responsibilities
  • Discussions with other health and social care professionals
  • Washing and dressing
  • Leisure activities and outings
  • Weight monitoring and recording any concerns
  • Prescribed medications management
  • Emotional and practical support to children and young people
  • Food preparation and help with eating
  • Physical and mental wellbeing through activities
  • A person's interests and needs
  • Household jobs, like washing clothes and shopping

We hope that this list was informative, but it is by no means exhaustive. There are many more areas within Special Education that you can work for, and so for more inspiration and opportunities please check Senploy's jobs board at: https://www.senploy.co.uk/

Here are some more useful links:

Looking for SEN Jobs? Click here to search our current roles

Updated: Feb 24

 

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