1. Home: Explore careers
  2. Special educational needs (SEN) teacher

Special educational needs (SEN) teacher

Alternative titles for this job include

Special educational needs (SEN) teachers work with children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities.

Average salary (a year)

£26,582 Starter

to

£44,849 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

36 to 38 term time

You could work

evenings occasionally

How to become a special educational needs (SEN) teacher

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

University

You can do an undergraduate degree that leads to qualified teacher status (QTS), for example:

  • Bachelor of Education (BEd)
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA) with QTS
  • Bachelor of Science (BSc) with QTS

You can also complete a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE), if you have a first degree without QTS. This is a common choice and can be done at university or on a school-based training programme.

There are more training options if you want to change career or specialise in teaching certain subjects.

Most teaching courses include options on teaching children with special educational needs.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
  • GCSE science at grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) for primary school teaching
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

More Information

Apprenticeship

You can get into this career through one of a small number of postgraduate teaching apprenticeships, if you have a degree.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths
  • GCSE science at grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) for primary school teaching
  • a degree for a teaching apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could start as a teaching assistant and do a part-time degree. From there, you can move onto a postgraduate teaching course to qualify as a teacher.

Volunteering

You'll find it helpful to get some experience of working with young people with special educational needs or disabilities through paid work or volunteering at a school, youth club or on a holiday scheme.

Do-it has more information on volunteering opportunities in your area.

Direct Application

If you're a qualified teacher, you can get extra training to teach pupils with special educational needs. Many local education authorities offer courses for teachers who want to do this.

More Information

Registration

Career tips

You can attend teacher training events before you apply to get advice about the profession, the different training routes and funding. You can attend events in person and online.

You can find out more about developing your skills for working with pupils with special educational needs from National Association for Special Educational Needs.

Professional and industry bodies

You could become a member of National Association for Special Educational Needs to help with professional development.

Further information

You can discover more about how to become a teacher from Get Into Teaching.

You can also search for jobs through the Teaching Vacancies service.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
  • knowledge of English language
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • the ability to understand people’s reactions
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

To teach pupils with hearing impairment, vision impairment or multi-sensory impairment, you'll need further specialist qualifications.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You will:

  • plan lessons and prepare teaching materials
  • teach whole class lessons, work with small groups and support pupils individually
  • help pupils develop self-confidence, independence and skills for life
  • manage pupils' behaviour, motivate and encourage them to learn
  • mark and assess work
  • take registers and write reports

You'll sometimes also:

  • work with specialist teaching services, medical staff, therapists and psychologists
  • talk to parents and carers about their children's progress
  • attend meetings, statutory reviews and training workshops
  • organise outings, school social activities and sporting events
  • run training sessions for other teaching staff on special needs issues

Working environment

You could work at a school, at a special needs school or at a pupil referral unit.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

Career path and progression

You could become a special needs co-ordinator, head of department, deputy head or headteacher in your school, through training and promotion.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a special educational needs (SEN) teacher right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Access to Higher Education - Teaching

  • Provider: UNIFIED SEEVIC PALMER'S COLLEGE
  • Start date: 01 September 2021
  • Location: BENFLEET

Access to Higher Education (Teaching) Level 3 Diploma

  • Provider: SOUTH ESSEX COLLEGE OF FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION
  • Start date: 13 September 2021
  • Location: Southend-on-Sea
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Speak to an adviser

Call 0800 100 900 or use webchat

  • 8am - 8pm Monday - Friday
  • 10am - 5pm Saturday

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.