Special Educational Needs Teacher Questions

Your questions answered

Do I need a Teaching Assistant qualification to work with special needs children?
My own child has special needs and I would like to work with similar children in schools is this possible?
Would I need to administer medicine to children?
Would I need to change the children who are severely disabled?
If I was to teach in the special needs schools, how many children are there per class and how many TA’s?
I am a mainstream primary teacher and would like to teach in a special needs school, is this possible?

Do I need a Teaching Assistant qualification to work with special needs children?

We recruit candidates with a variety of different experience and qualifications. Ideal candidates would have a teaching assistant level 2 or 3. However with many special needs schools it is not the qualification they require, it is the knowledge and experience of working with special needs children. Many candidates may have the TA level 2 but have never worked with SEN children.

My own child has special needs and I would like to work with similar children in schools is this possible?

Having experience with special needs children is vitally important, however we must adhere to our clearance policies which entails 2 years worth of references one of which needs to be a professional childcare reference. If you are able to provide this then yes.

Would I need to administer medicine to children?

This would be done strictly by trained and experienced members of staff. Supply staff would not be asked to undertake such tasks.

Would I need to change the children who are severely disabled?

If you were placed in a PMLD or SLD class then you would be required to change the children, If this was something that you did not want to do then you must ensure you tell us before we place you.
This is something not everyone would want to do, but would not affect your application. Not all special needs children need personal care.

If I was to teach in the special needs schools, how many children are there per class and how many TA’s?

This depends on what SEN school you go to. It normally is no more than 8 children per class, with a minimum of 2 TA’s per class.

I am a mainstream primary teacher and would like to teach in a special needs school, is this possible?

If this is a field that you would like to work in then yes it is possible, however we would recommend that before you are placed as an SEN teaching assistant fist so that you can gain on your experience with special needs children.
As we are a supply agency schools require we send qualified and experienced teachers.