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Special Educational Needs (SEN) Teacher

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Primary Secondary Post-16

A Special Educational Needs (SEN) Teacher works with children and young people who need extra support due to learning difficulties, disabilities or emotional and behavioural problems. SEN teachers adapt the national curriculum to meet the individual needs of their pupils, create tailored learning plans, and work closely with teaching assistants, parents and other professionals. They teach in mainstream schools, special schools, or specialist units and play a crucial role in helping each student reach their potential. The role requires patience, creativity, and a strong commitment to supporting children with a range of educational needs.

Special Educational Needs (SEN) Teacher

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📊 Statistics

Average Salary

SEN teachers in the UK typically earn between £28,000 and £45,000 per year, depending on experience and location.

Workforce Size

There are approximately 20,000 SEN teachers employed in England's state-funded schools as of 2023.

Job Growth

The demand for SEN teachers is projected to grow by around 5 percent by 2028, due to increasing awareness and identification of special educational needs.

🚀 Careers in this path

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Autism Specialist Teacher

Works specifically with children and young people who have autism spectrum conditions, providing tailored support and learning strategies in schools or specialist settings.

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SEN Teaching Assistant

Supports SEN teachers by helping individual pupils with special educational needs to access learning and develop social skills within the classroom.

Speech and Language Support Teacher

Focuses on helping pupils with speech, language, and communication difficulties, often working closely with speech therapists and other professionals.

Gain Relevant Qualifications

Achieve GCSEs and A-levels

Obtain at least five GCSEs at grades 4 9 including English and Maths and ideally study relevant A-levels like Psychology or Sociology.

Strong GCSEs and A-levels will help you meet university entry requirements. Subjects related to education, psychology, or child development can be particularly beneficial as they provide a foundation for understanding learning needs and child behaviour.

Complete a Degree

Earn a degree, typically in Education or a subject relevant to SEN. You may choose a BA in Primary Education with QTS or a degree followed by a postgraduate teaching qualification.

Some universities offer degrees specifically focused on Special Educational Needs, but you can also take a general teaching degree and specialise later. Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is required for teaching in most schools in England.

Undertake Teacher Training

Complete Initial Teacher Training ITT such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education PGCE which includes placements in schools.

During your ITT, you will gain classroom experience and start developing the practical skills needed for working with pupils. Many ITT courses offer SEN specialisms, or you can choose placements in schools with strong SEN provision.

Develop SEN Experience

Gain Classroom Experience

Work or volunteer in schools, especially those with strong SEN departments or specialist settings.

Experience in a classroom helps you understand the day to day responsibilities of a teacher and the types of support SEN pupils need. Volunteering with youth groups or charities that support disabled children can also be valuable.

Specialise in SEN

Take opportunities to work with pupils with additional needs and complete extra training or courses related to SEN.

Many schools and local authorities offer short courses or professional development in areas like autism, dyslexia, or behaviour management. Building specialist knowledge will improve your confidence and employability as an SEN teacher.

Apply for SEN Teaching Roles

Prepare Your Application

Write a tailored CV and cover letter highlighting your SEN experience, qualifications, and passion for supporting pupils with additional needs.

Emphasise your understanding of SEN strategies, any specialist training, and examples from your teaching placements or previous roles. Schools value candidates who show commitment to inclusive education.

Secure a Teaching Position

Apply for SEN teacher posts in mainstream or specialist schools and prepare for interviews.

Look for jobs on education recruitment websites, local authority portals, or directly with schools. Interviews often include teaching a lesson or discussing how you would support pupils with a range of needs.

Continue Professional Development

Once employed, take part in ongoing training and stay up to date with best practice in SEN education.

SEN teaching is a constantly evolving field. Attend workshops, join professional networks like NASEN, and consider further qualifications such as a postgraduate diploma in SEN or National Award for SEN Coordination.

🎯 View Apprenticeships

Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Special Educational Needs (SEN) Teacher. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.

🎓 View Apprenticeships

Career Progressions

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Sample Qualifications

The SEN teacher role most closely matches the 'Special educational needs (SEN) teacher' career title because both involve providing specialised education and support to students with diverse needs. They require similar qualifications, skills, and understanding of inclusive teaching practices tailored to students requiring additional assistance.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

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

University

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

Undergraduate degree

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

Postgraduate certificate

If you already have a bachelor's degree without qualified teacher status, you can complete a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE). This is a common choice and can be done at university or through a training programme based in a school.

More teacher training options

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

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

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Apprenticeship

You can apply to do a Teacher Level 6 Apprenticeship, if you already have a degree.

You could take training to complete a Teacher for the Sensory Impaired Level 7 Apprenticeship. This is equivalent to postgraduate study.

These can take between 1 and 2 years to complete.

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. You could then 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. 

You could volunteer at a school or work at a youth club or on a holiday scheme.

You can also find volunteering opportunities through Do IT. 

Direct Application

If you're a qualified teacher, you can get extra training to teach students with special educational needs. You can find a course through your local education authority. 

Many local education authorities offer courses for teachers who want to do this.

More Information

Registration

Career tips

You can attend a Get Into Teaching event before you apply to get advice about teaching, funding and the different training routes available. You can attend events in person and online.

Professional and industry bodies

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

Further information

You can find out more about teaching students with special educational needs from Get Into Teaching and the National Association for Special Educational Needs.

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

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