Special educational needs teacher job profile

SEN teaching is a rewarding career and having some experience of working with children can help you to take the first steps into teacher training

As a special educational needs (SEN) teacher, you'll work with children and young people who need extra support, or require a tailored learning programme, to help them reach their full educational potential.

You may work with pupils who have physical disabilities, sensory impairments (e.g. hearing or visual), speech and language difficulties, specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, conditions such as autism, or social, emotional, and mental health needs. Some pupils may have a combination of these difficulties.

You may also work with highly able pupils who need to be challenged further than the standard curriculum allows.

A key aspect of working in this field is identifying individual needs and adapting to each student, as well as creating a safe, stimulating and supportive learning environment.

Responsibilities

As an SEN teacher, you'll need to:

teach individuals or small groups of pupils within or outside the class
prepare lessons and resources
mark and assess work
develop and adapt conventional teaching methods to meet individual pupil need
use special equipment and facilities, such as audiovisual materials and computers, to engage students and enhance learning
use specialist skills, such as teaching Braille to pupils with visual impairments or sign language and lip reading to students who have hearing impairments
collaborate with the classroom teacher to define appropriate activities for the pupils, and adapt curriculum lesson plans accordingly
assess children with learning difficulties and work with colleagues to identify individual pupils' special needs
work with the head teacher and governing body to ensure that the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 are met in terms of reasonable adjustments and access arrangements
liaise with other professionals, such as social workers, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and educational psychologists
work closely with parents and guardians
organise and supervise learning outside the classroom in activities such as community visits, school outings or sporting events
assist severely disabled pupils with personal care/medical needs
carry out administrative tasks, including updating and maintaining records of pupils' progress
attend statutory annual reviews or other related meetings, such as Looked After Child reviews, regarding students with an SEN - this may involve reviewing education, health and care (EHC) plans
attend in-service training
manage behaviour.

Salary

New entrants to teaching in England start on the main salary scale, which rises incrementally from £31,650 to £49,084 (2024/25 academic year). Enhanced pay scales apply for teachers working in or near London.
As an SEN teacher, your starting point will depend on your employer, qualifications and level of responsibility. Consideration may be given to pre-entry experience and you'll receive an additional allowance of £2,679 to £5,285, is awarded for having responsibility for SEN children.
After gaining experience and expertise, teachers who reach the top of the main scale can apply to be assessed for progression to the upper pay scale. This ranges from £45,646 to £49,084. Salaries for lead practitioners can rise to £76,050, and up to £85,509 in London.
In Wales, the main pay scale for classroom teachers ranges from £32,433 to £44,802. The upper pay scale is £46,446 t £49,944, and the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) allowance is £2,728 to £5,379. Lead Practitioners in Wales earn £50,902 to £77,382.
In Scotland, the new entrants' starting salary is £33,594, plus any payments made through the Preference Waiver Payment (PWP) scheme, rising incrementally to £50,589.
New entrants' salaries in Northern Ireland start at £30,000, rising to £39,495. The SEN allowance ranges from £2,240 to £4,424. An offer of a 5.5% pay increase for teaching and special needs allowances has been made, which if accepted, will be added in 2025.
Academies, free schools and independent schools set their own pay and working conditions.

Details about pay are available from the teaching unions and the Department for Education (DfE) Get Into Teaching website (for England).

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

As an SEN teacher, you'll usually work in a school for 39 weeks of the year. Hours vary between schools, but you'll typically start at around 8.30am and finish between 3.30pm to 4pm.

You're entitled to a minimum of 10% of your timetabled teaching hours per week for planning, preparation and assessment (PPA). However, it's usual that you'll also often need to spend time at home for some additional planning and assessment. This may also need to be carried out in school holidays.

Opportunities for part-time and supply work are available and depending on your post and the employer it may also be possible to take a career break.

For more information on working hours, see the NASWUT The Teachers' Union.

What to expect

Being an SEN teacher is a challenging but highly rewarding role.
SEN teaching posts are available in all areas of the UK, with more opportunities in urban areas than in rural locations. Specific SEN roles may only be available in certain schools.
You may be based within a mainstream classroom, working alongside other teachers, or in a dedicated SEN unit, depending on the school’s policy
Some SEN teachers are based in one school, while others travel between different locations to provide support. You may also attend meetings, training, and conferences as part of your role.
Occasional overnight stays may be required for residential school trips, but these are not generally a regular part of the role.
If you're based in an outreach team, you may need to travel between multiple schools or settings.

Qualifications

To qualify as a teacher in a state-funded school in England or Wales, you must have a degree and achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) by completing a period of initial teacher training (ITT) (known as initial teacher education (ITE) in Wales).

Independent schools, academies, and free schools are allowed to employ teachers without QTS, but in practice, most require it.

To achieve QTS, you can complete:

an undergraduate Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree
a BA/BSc degree with QTS.

If you already have a degree, there are several postgraduate teacher training options available, which can be either university-led or school-led. Many of these lead to QTS, and some also award a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

For further details on entry requirements and routes into teaching, see teacher training and education and search for PGCE courses.

In Scotland, you'll need to complete a programme of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) to achieve a Teaching Qualification (TQ) for working in state schools. Options include a:

four-year undergraduate degree in education
one-year Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) (for those with an existing degree).

All courses are university-led. For full details, see Teach in Scotland – Become a Teacher.

In Northern Ireland, you must have a degree and a recognised teacher training qualification, gained through a:

four-year undergraduate BEd
one-year PGCE.

For more information see Department for Education Northern Ireland (DENI).

For further details on entry requirements and routes to becoming a qualified teacher, see teacher training and education and search for PGCE courses.

In terms of SEN training, there is a special educational needs element to all teacher training courses, but some programmes offer a specialist SEN pathway or additional training. These courses provide the same core training as other teacher training routes but include additional modules or placements focusing on SEN.

It's important to research courses carefully to find one that aligns with your career goals and interest in special educational needs.

Many teachers gain experience in mainstream education before moving into SEN teaching, but some schools directly recruit newly qualified teachers (NQTs) into SEN roles.

Qualified teachers can also undertake additional training to specialise in SEN teaching.

To work with pupils with hearing, vision, or multi-sensory impairments, you'll need a further specific qualification in addition to QTS. For a list of approved courses, see Mandatory qualifications: specialist teachers.

You'll also need an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check to work with children or young adults in England and Wales. For criminal record checks in Scotland and Northern Ireland, see:

Skills

You'll need to have:

a strong commitment to working with pupils with special educational needs
excellent communication and interpersonal skills
the ability to build positive relationships based on trust with pupils and their families
effective behaviour management skills, with the ability to handle challenging situations
problem-solving and adaptability, to respond to pupils’ changing needs
teamworking skills to liaise with other teachers, teaching assistants, and other professionals such as educational psychologists and speech therapists
good organisational and record-keeping skills
observational skills to assess pupils' progress and needs
a commitment to equal opportunities and inclusion
a proactive approach to safeguarding and child welfare
patience, empathy and resilience
a positive and enthusiastic outlook
a sense of humour.

Work experience

Having experience in a classroom setting will strengthen your application for teacher training. For most postgraduate training routes, this is essential. It will also help you understand the role of an SEN teacher and confirm whether teaching is the right career for you.

You can use the Get school experience service (England only) to request school experience. Alternatively, you can contact schools directly, as many accept volunteers for classroom experience.

University careers services or education departments may also be able to help you arrange placements.

To gain relevant experience:

visit a range of schools (mainstream and SEN specialist settings)
observe lessons and speak with SEN teachers
volunteer to assist an SEN teacher with non-teaching duties
apply for roles as a special needs teaching assistant (SEN TA)
look for voluntary opportunities to work with children with disabilities or learning difficulties
gain experience through mentoring, tutoring, summer camps, or play schemes.

For more information on work experience and internships, see gaining school experience.

Visit a range of schools that support SEN pupils - both mainstream and specialist schools - to observe lessons and talk to teachers. You can also ask if you can assist an SEN teacher with administrative or classroom support on a regular basis.

A post as a special needs teaching assistant will also give you valuable experience of supporting SEN pupils.

Look out for voluntary opportunities to work with children with special needs. General experience with children or young people with disabilities or learning difficulties is also useful. This may be gained through youth clubs, mentoring or tutoring or summer camps and play schemes.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

You're most likely to be employed by a local authority (LA). Many SEN teachers work in mainstream schools, either in classrooms or within specialist units, depending on the school’s inclusion policy.

The specialist units tend to provide support for pupils with autism or physical and sensory impairments.

As an SEN teacher, you can also find employment in special schools throughout the UK, helping students with learning needs arising from physical disabilities, learning difficulties or behavioural challenges.

There are also opportunities to work in:

further education colleges with special education units
hospital schools
independent schools
learning support teams - these work from a base and travel to a cluster of schools
pupil referral units (PRUs)
young offender institutions, secure training centres and secure children's homes.

You can take on supply work through an agency or arrange supply work directly with the schools themselves. This type of work is less stable than a permanent contract but the flexibility it offers may be appealing.

It is possible to work with SEN pupils as a private tutor and you may also be able to find work abroad, including through voluntary work or exchange programmes.

Look for job vacancies at:

Guardian Jobs Education
Local Government Jobs
myjobscotland - LA teaching jobs in Scotland.
Teaching Vacancies - job-listing service from the DfE.
Tes Jobs
Local authority websites.

Specialist recruitment agencies also handle vacancies, including:

To learn more about where to look for vacancies, how to apply and how to prepare for teaching interviews, see how to become a teacher and discover how to structure a teaching CV.

Professional development

You'll typically start your career as a mainstream teacher and gain general teaching experience before moving into SEN. Training is usually available through part-time, in-service courses that are funded by your school or LA.

You can also undertake various postgraduate courses in SEN. Options include certificates, diplomas or a Masters in special educational needs. There are also opportunities to focus on specific areas such as dyslexia or autism.

Course content and titles vary according to the type of special educational need or disability covered. Courses are available on a full- or part-time basis. Search postgraduate courses in special educational needs.

There are mandatory qualification requirements for qualifications that SEN teachers must have if you specialise in teaching pupils with visual, hearing or multi-sensory impairment. See Mandatory qualifications: specialist teachers.

The ability to use sign language is essential if you'd like to work with deaf pupils, as is Braille for teachers of pupils with visual impairments.

Membership of Nasen (National Association for Special Educational Needs) is useful for networking, accessing advice and support, news and training.

Career prospects

Many teachers start out in mainstream teaching before moving into SEN. With experience as an SEN teacher, there are opportunities to take further training to become a special educational needs coordinator (SENCO).

SENCOs usually head the special educational needs department in a school and are responsible for implementing SEN policy overseeing provision for SEN pupils.

You may also progress to other leadership roles, such as head of department or head of year/key-stage coordinator in a secondary school. In time you could move into a senior management role such as deputy head or head teacher.

Some SEN teachers choose to move into special needs officer or special needs assessment officer roles in LAs. These posts involve assessing children's special educational needs and determining the required support and provision.

There are also opportunities to undertake further training to become a specialist SpLD tutor, providing one-to-one study skills support to students diagnosed with specific learning differences. Find out more from the Professional Association of Specific Learning Difference Specialists in Higher Education (PASSHE).

You could also move into training, providing courses and support to SEN teachers, or into lecturing posts in further or higher education.

Special educational needs teacher