Special educational needs (SEN) teaching assistant

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• volunteering
• applying directly

Entry requirements:

College

You could do a college qualification to help you get started, for example:

• Level 2 and 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
• Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education Early Years Educator
• T Level in Education and Early Years

You may be able to get a placement working with children with special educational needs while doing your course.

Many people get qualifications or experience working with children in mainstream schools, then move into working with children with special educational needs.

Entry requirements:

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

Apprenticeship

To become an SEN teaching assistant, you could do the:

• Early Years Practitioner Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
• Advanced Teaching Assistant Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Early Years Educator Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

Entry requirements:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Volunteering

You could get experience by volunteering in a local school or with a community organisation.

Volunteering can sometimes lead to paid work or a chance to get a qualification.

DirectApplication

You can apply for special needs teaching assistant jobs if you have experience of working with children with disabilities or learning difficulties.

Each school sets its own entry requirements. You can check job vacancies with schools, local authorities and academy trusts to find out what schools are looking for.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Skills:

• sensitivity and understanding
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to enjoy working with other people
• to be flexible and open to change
• excellent verbal communication skills
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• active listening skills
• knowledge of psychology
• knowledge of English language
• the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• thinking and reasoning skills
• customer service skills
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• the ability to teach pupils how to do something
• maths knowledge
• concentration skills
• knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
• a good memory

What you'll do:

Special educational needs (SEN) teaching assistants support teachers to help children with special educational needs and disabilities.

As an SEN teaching assistant, you could:

• prepare learning materials
• adapt teaching support according to student's needs
• look after children's physical, social and emotional welfare
• create an interesting environment for students
• keep records and attend review meetings
• work with professionals such as speech and language therapists

Location : You could work at a school, at a special needs school or at a pupil referral unit.
Environment : Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

Salary:

Starter : £14,000
Experienced : £23,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

30 - 40 hours term time

Working Pattern is evenings occasionally

Career Path:

Your school will give you access to specific training, like British Sign Language and Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) courses.

They may also provide training on conditions like dyslexia or autism.

With experience, you may could a course to become a higher level teaching assistant (HLTA).

With further study you could become a fully qualified special educational needs or mainstream teacher. You can learn about routes into teaching from Get into Teaching .