Special needs education
teaching professionals

Description

Special needs education teaching professionals organise and provide instruction at a variety of different levels to children who have emotional, behavioural or learning difficulties or physical disabilities. These professionals may also work with exceptionally gifted pupils.

Tasks

creates a safe, stimulating and supportive learning environment for students
assesses student’s abilities, identifies student’s needs and devises curriculum and rota of teaching duties accordingly
gives instruction, using techniques appropriate to the student’s handicap
develops and adapts conventional teaching methods to meet the individual student’s needs
encourages the student to develop self-help skills to circumvent the limitations imposed by their disability
prepares, assigns and corrects exercises to record and evaluate students progress
supervises students in classroom and maintains discipline
liaises with other professionals, such as social workers, speech and language therapists and educational psychologists
updates and maintains students’ records to monitor development and progress
discusses student’s progress with parents and other teaching professionals.

Educational Requirements

Entry is with a first degree that provides QTS (qualified teacher status) or, in Scotland, TQ (teaching qualification); or other relevant degree followed by further postgraduate training (most commonly PGCE – Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Education, or, in Scotland, PGDE – Professional Graduate Diploma in Education). Additionally, prior experience in mainstream teaching is usually required, and further training for special needs teaching may be mandatory.