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
• physical disabilities
• hearing or visual impairment
• emotional or behavioural problems.

Special educational needs teachers may work in:

• an ordinary class
• a special class in a mainstream school
• 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. They are often assisted by teaching assistants or nursery nurses.

As well as actual teaching, teachers spend a lot of time:

• preparing lessons and teaching materials
• marking and assessing work 
• putting up displays in the classroom
• 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
• organising outings, social activities and sporting events.
  
  

Hours and 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.

Skills and Interests

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.

Entry

If you want to work as a special educational needs teacher in a state school you must:

• be a qualified teacher, usually with at least two years' mainstream teaching experience
• do additional training to teach pupils with special educational needs (please see the Training section).

To work in independent schools it is not essential to be a qualified teacher, but they usually prefer it.

England and Wales
For full details of entry requirements and routes to becoming a qualified teacher please see the following profiles:

• Teacher: Nursery/Primary School (England/Wales/NI)
• Teacher: Secondary School (England/Wales/NI).

Scotland
For full details of entry requirements and routes to becoming a qualified teacher please see the following profiles:

• Teacher: Nursery/Primary School (Scotland)
• Teacher: Secondary School (Scotland).

You might be able to add a year to your teaching qualification focus on special needs. Please contact individual universities for more details.

Training

All initial teacher training (ITT) courses include a special needs element. Once you are a qualified and experienced teacher you can take further training for special educational needs.

Most special educational needs teachers in mainstream schools do periods of in-service training arranged by their local education authority.

At some universities you can do relevant postgraduate certificates, diplomas or Masters degrees. Their content and titles will vary according to the type of special education or disability being covered. These courses are usually offered part-time or by distance learning.

You will need specific qualifications for teaching pupils with hearing impairment, visual impairment or multi-sensory impairment. Eight universities in the UK offer relevant DfES-approved postgraduate diplomas or masters degrees. Courses can be:

• one year-full time
• two or three years part-time
• modular or distance learning.

A list of providers can be found on the Training and Development Agency for Schools website (see Further Information).

You must also have basic sign language skills to at least CACDP Stage 1 or equivalent if you want to qualify to teach hearing impaired pupils. To become a Qualified Teacher of Visual Impairment you must be able to prove you are proficient in Braille.

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, others are organised according to the severity of learning difficulty. Local authorities run most special schools, others are run by organisations such as Barnardo’s and the Royal National Institute for the Blind.  

In mainstream schools there might be opportunities 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:

• pupil referral units (PRUs)
• community homes
• hospital schools
• youth custody centres.
  

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

England/Wales/Northern Ireland
The main salary scale ranges from £19,641 to £28,707 (£23,577 to £32,820 in inner London).

Teachers who reach the top of the main scale may apply to be assessed to progress to the upper pay scale. This ranges from £31,098 to £33,444 (£36,885 to £40,002 in inner London).

Teachers of special needs students may receive extra allowances.

Scotland
Salary scales for classroom teachers range from £19,440 to £31,008 a year.
Chartered teachers earn up to £38,868 a year.
Head teacher scales are from £39,207 to £76,527.

Further information

Durham University Science Park
Block 4
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3UZ
Tel: 0191 383 1155
Textphone: 0191 383 7915 151 Buckingham Palace Road
London
SW1W 9SZ
Teaching Information Line: 0845 6000 991 105 Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE
Tel: 020 7388 1266