SENS Teacher Qualifications

[Juniper50]

I am surprised that my sons school has offered me SENS support from a member of staff who is not a qualified teacher. They have Level 5 SENS qualifications but nothing else. The "teacher" has had only one year of SENS experience in primary whereas my son is yr7. In the state sector do SENS teachers have to already be qualified as teachers? The private prep school has only one qualified primary teacher out of a staff of 4. Is this normal? First time I have posted so hope I am in the right area?!

Learning Support staff are not necessarily qualified teachers.

I cannot speak to the qualifications of the teaching staff at a private school but in state schools SEN support is usually provided by a TA (teaching assistant) or LSA (learning support assistant.) They might be, but do not have to be a qualified teacher.
The support for your son, whether it is one-to-one or as a small group, will be in addition to the class teacher.

As others have posted SEN support is often provided by TAs without qualified teacher status. They are overseen by the SENCO, who does hold QTS and also has a specialist qualification or is working towards it.

In England, teachers in independent schools, and academies and free schools, don't have to be qualified. Unqualified teachers teaching classes are more common than you think.

State schools are increasingly employing same with primary experience to aid the transition of Y7&8 pupils.