Special Educational Needs
What is involved in SEN teaching?
Special Educational Needs is a varied and exciting field to work in – there are so many different environments that are available to SEN staff and every day brings a new and exciting challenge.
Staff need to be caring, responsive, and be able to use their own initiative – a good sense of humour also helps! Here are some of the environments you can expect to work in as a First supply temp:
Moderate Learning Difficulties:
Students with moderate learning difficulties will typically be following the Curriculum to some extent, however, they will be at a lower level than their age would dictate. Needs of the students can include mild autism, dyspraxia, dyslexia, Down's syndrome and other complex needs.
Students can be taught in special schools dedicated to the needs of the students or in some cases in SEN units attached to mainstream schools.
Severe Learning Difficulties:
Students with severe learning difficulties require a high level of attention. Average class sizes are around 10 students per class and staff-to-pupil ratio will be high with around 5 or 6 teaching assistants and 1 teacher per class. Needs of the students include global delay, cerebral palsy and severe autism. Some of the students may have physical disabilities and /or medical needs in addition to their special needs.
Much of the curriculum will include working on the students' social and sensory needs in addition to academic achievement.
Social Emotional Behaviour Difficulties:
Students with SEBD generally attend PRU's or SEBD schools. Students have usually been 'lost in the crowd' in mainstream education and require a much more student centred approach to learning. They respond well to small class sizes and this gives the teacher and teaching assistants a real opportunity tobond with the students and see them make progress.The opportunity to work with SEBD students is also available through outreach programmes and intervention centres.
These are only some of the opportunities available in SEN. There is also the opportunity to work in mainstream education with EAL students or students who have remedial needs, work 1:1 with students in a home tuition setting and also work in nurseries and family liaison programmes. If you are interested in working as a teacher or teaching assistant or would like more information – Call us now!!
