Working with special needs students can be demanding but can also be extremely rewarding. If you have decided to work with children who have complex needs, it is one of the best decisions. There is a possibility of you building a career in special educational needs with or without experience.

Question: What qualifications do I need to work with special needs children?

The answer is: It depends on the schools or colleges that you want to work with.

There are different roles such as Learning Mentor, SEND Teaching Assistant, and SEND Teacher to name a few, however, there are many more in the SEN field. The majority of the people start their career in special needs as a Teaching assistant. Once you have the experience of working in a school setting, you can become a Special Needs Teacher. You can explore options as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant.

Please note: If you are planning to work as a SEND Teacher, you will be required to achieve your QTS (Qualified Teacher Status).

Qualifications Required To Work With Special Needs Children

The qualifications required to work with special needs students will depend on the school and the position you wish to fulfil. The schools may have different requirements as per the needs of the students they have. In some cases, the school may want you to have a degree in special needs, whereas other schools may accept your application with real-life experience. A degree to work with special needs is not necessary but having a degree increases your chances of getting the Job.

Various schools/colleges are looking for:

1. SEN Teacher

2. Learning Mentor

3. SENTA

5. Speech And Language Therapist

If you are reading this and are looking for a position, we (Enlighten Supply Pool) can assist in finding you your next placement. Call us today on 0208 863 8630.

What courses can you do to work with Special Needs students?

You can do a Level 2 or Level 3 certificate in supporting teaching and learning in Schools. A level 3 Diploma in Childcare or a T level for early education or childcare. However, before you do these courses you need to have a basic level of education, which is:

• Equivalent to 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• Equivalent to 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
• Equivalent to 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T-level

Choosing the Apprenticeship Route

You can choose an apprenticeship route which is still the same, however you are learning and working on the job. You can start applying as an apprentice as an intermediate early years practitioner, an advanced teaching assistant or an advanced early years educator. However, to get an entry to these courses you need to achieve a level 4 in GCSE in Maths and English. For an Intermediate Apprenticeship, you need at least 5 GCSEs with grades 9 to 4.

Other ways to work with Special Needs Students

If you do not have any of the above qualifications that we have discussed in this post. You can start your career by volunteering in a school or a college. You will be getting experience through that and later if that school decides to hire you, they can support you in getting the qualifications needed for the said role. This could be an easy option to get into special needs schools with no previous experience or qualifications. However, working with special needs children can be difficult in some ways.

Looking for a Job?

If you are looking to work with Special Needs students. we can assist you in finding the right position for you. You can take a look at the open jobs on our website.