Income tax cuts for over-50s – a welcome initiative for sen educators
Published 13th March 2023
Back in December, Rishi Sunak’s government announced it was considering proposals to give over-50s tax breaks for getting back into work after a career brea k.
Around nine million people in the UK are now ‘economically inactive’ according to government figures , and around 2.2 million are on out of work benefits.
A report by ONS recently warned that a wave of early retirement during the Covid crisis was largely to blame for the number of economic inactive Britons increasing by 565,000 people since the start of the pandemic.
It’s hoped that using the tax system could see a greater use of tax-free allowances, with ministers reportedly keen to see over-50s returning to work made entirely exempt from income tax for up to year. The Prime Minister is said to be anxious that economic growth could be held back this year if the government can’t reduce inactivity, which has been contributing to worker shortages across various industries, including education.
Could the over-50s be the answer to the SEND skills gap?
Back in December, a survey by The Observer and Sendco Solutions revealed that almost every state school in England is struggling to provide proper support for children with special educational needs because of insufficient support staff.
More than half of SEND coordinators polled (57%) said they were trying to recruit teaching assistants and application rates were low, or that candidates were all unsuitable. Some schools admit they are being forced to hire applicants who are not suited to the job of supporting children with complex needs, simply so that they have another adult in the classroom.
How to get into SEND teaching
Faced with a cost-of-living crisis it’s likely that the potential of a tax-free income will be tempting for many over-50s – and a career in education is a brilliant option to consider.
Age is no barrier to education. In fact, it’s an industry that benefits hugely from more life experience. More than ever, children and young people need skills and experience back in the classroom and over-50s could offer the ideal solution.
Whether you’re an ex-teacher or not, there are several routes to getting into SEND teaching. If you have qualified teacher status (QTS) , there’s usually very little extra training required.
Check out our current teacher roles available here.
If you’ve never taught before, the government’s Get into Teaching site is packed with resources to help guide you.
SEND teaching is extremely rewarding and there are a range of roles available with varying levels of income and flexibility, including tutors, teaching assistants and teachers.
If you’re keen to learn more, get in touch and we can explore potential options today.