Find UK courses - part time courses, undergraduate, postgraduate courses

What would you like to learn?

* mandatory
Advanced search Find a course provider

Special Education Needs Teaching

Interested in Special Education Needs Teaching? Click on the links below.

Special Education Needs Teaching

Special Education Needs Teaching Career Details

Special educational needs teachers work with children and young people who have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for them to learn or access education than most children of the same age. This could include teaching children with mild to moderate learning difficulties; specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia; pupils with a physical disability, hearing or visual impairment; or children with emotional or behavioural problems. It is possible to work with such pupils in an ordinary class, in a special class in a mainstream school, or in a special school. They may teach pupils individually or in small groups.

Teachers help pupils to develop their self-confidence, independence, abilities and attitudes. They also teach the National Curriculum, which may have been adapted to their pupils’ needs.

In addition to actual teaching, teachers spend a lot of time preparing lessons and teaching materials, marking and assessing work and mounting displays in the classroom. They will often be assisted by teaching assistants or nursery nurses.

The work also involves liaising with other professionals (such as medical professionals, social workers, speech and language therapists and educational psychologists), speaking to parents and carers (both informally and at parents' evenings), attending meetings and in-service training, and organising outings, social activities and sporting events.

Working Environment

Teachers in state schools in England and Wales work 39 weeks a year in school. Hours vary between schools but are usually 9am to 3.30pm or 4pm. Teachers also work outside school hours, for example to prepare lessons, and go to meetings.

In Scotland there is a standard 35-hour week and teachers work for 195 days a year.

Special Education Needs Teaching Related Skills

To be a special educational needs teacher you should:
  • be committed to working with pupils with special educational needs
  • have an interest in the education and welfare of pupils
  • be able to build up good relationships with a range of people - pupils, parents and carers, other teachers, teaching assistants, educational psychologists and social workers
  • enjoy working in a team but be able to use your own initiative
  • be well organised
  • have the ability to manage classes and deal with challenging behaviour
  • be prepared to assist with personal care needs if necessary
  • be able to communicate well in the most appropriate way for your pupils
  • be patient and have a good sense of humour.

Special Education Needs Teaching Career Opportunities

Most special educational needs teachers work in mainstream schools. However, there are also state special schools across England, Scotland and Wales. Some special schools are for pupils with a specific disability, while others are organised according to the severity of learning difficulty. Local authorities run most special schools, while others are run by organisations such as Barnardo’s and the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

There is a shortage of special educational needs teachers. There are vacancies throughout the UK, particularly in London, eastern England and south-east England.

Progression is possible to become an advanced skills teacher. In a mainstream school there are chances to obtain promotion to special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) or head of the special needs department. Teachers in special schools may be promoted to deputy headteacher or headteacher.

There are also opportunities to work in a pupil referral unit (PRU), a community home, a hospital school or a youth custody centre. A number of areas of work related to teaching are also available, such as: teacher training; educational advisory work; education administration; schools inspection; and private tuition.

Further Career Information

If you would like to know more about a career as an Special Education Needs Teaching related facts, statistics, articles and websites.

Career Steps

Not quite sure about a career as a Special Education Needs Teaching? Try our step-by-step career guide to reaching your chosen career.

Career Courses

Not quite qualified to be a Special Education Needs Teaching? Take a look at Training Special Education Needs Teaching courses, Postgraduate Special Education Needs Teaching courses, Undergraduate Special Education Needs Teaching courses, Adult learning Special Education Needs Teaching courses, our course browses or use our search form and find courses which will help you on your chosen career path.