Salary

The salary for a SEN Teacher is determined by the National Teachers Main Pay Scales. Your position on the pay scale depends on the area you work in, your qualifications and experience. You may only get paid for the weeks you work during term time. As a guide you can expect to earn:

After gaining experience and expertise you have the opportunity to undertake further responsibilities, or progress into leadership and head of year roles where salaries start at £45,646 and can rise to £147,586.

SEN Teaching Assistant

Working under the supervision of the teacher to help prepare learning material in relation to the National Curriculum.

Salary

Salaries vary depending on your experience and the education authority you might work for. As a guide you can expect to earn:

Outreach Support Workers / Tutors

Outreach support workers and tutors are social services employees that carry out their work in the field. This means, rather than working primarily in an office or clinical setting, outreach workers instead often go to their clients to provide their services. This is because, those in need of support are not able to access the required services so easily. They may have mental health problems, disabilities, behavioural issues, run away from home, be homeless, don't have the money to pay for such services or have been subjected to violence, abuse, drug addiction and be facing family difficulties.

The responsibility of outreach support workers and tutors is to create and monitor Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and plans of work with the support of the Case Coordinator. The day-to-day job duties will vary as it is dependent on the needs of the client. However, the overall aim would always be to help the client overcome the issues and stressors in their lives so that it improves their overall well-being and function at a greater level; leading to a happy and healthy life.

Some of the tasks would include providing educational courses and skill-building exercises, organizing community events, advocacy, serving as a mentor to support them with social and emotional development needs. There will be instances where support workers and tutors will need to work with external services such as local professionals, charities and authorities.

Hours of work & environment

SEN teachers working in mainstream schools will normally work 37 hours a week for 39 weeks a year which is split over 3 school terms. Hours vary from school to school but are usually from 8:30am to 4pm.

If you find yourself working in special schools or units such as hospital schools, independent schools, pupil referral units and youth custody centres the working hours here will generally be the same.

Residential units which require 24/7 assistance provide accommodation for overnight shifts. 

Career path & progression

After gaining experience and expertise you have the opportunity to progress into an SEN co-ordinator, leadership or head of year roles. In specialist SEN schools you could progress to a deputy or head teacher.