Training as a teacher

[katelyle]

I wonder if someone on here can help me. I've been told that there is a way of training to be a special needs teacher that is classroom based and where you are sponsored by the school, rather than college based. Is this true? If it is, I'll ask some more questions, but I'll leave it at that for now in case I've got the wrong end of the stick!

Yes, there is, but you do still have some college hours. I had heard of this in the context of general postgrad teaching training btw, not specifically SEN

Are you already a teacher?

No, I'm not a teacher. I'm a graduate if that helps, and I have done a lot volunteer work in schools.

There are programmes called SCITS - which is where you spend most of your time in school. It is like a PGCE but with less college time.

I think you may also be able to do train in a school and get paid a salary - but I am not sure if this still happens. I think it did depend upon the LEA.

I am not sure you can train as a special needs teacher - I think you have to be a common all garden teacher 1st.

GTP programme

I also think you have to do teacher training before you can specialise. SEN certificates are usually about half a day a week for at least a year and I think you have to have been teaching for 2 years to get on the courses.

I trained as a Science teacher and moved into SEN later.

Thank you - have registered. Worried that I'm too old, though!

Why - how old are you?

I'm sure you are not too old. Many Headteachers look upon more mature applicants as being more viable than younger adults fresh out of uni. Good luck: Teaching is a wonderful and very rewarding profession.

Made a great friend on my PGCE course when she was 51 .