NQT Year in Special Needs School

[Featurewall]

Hi,just wondering if anyone could give mr any advice. I am looking to start my nqt year in Sept & have seen that a school for children with severe and complex needs beae me is recruiting. I have always wanted to teach in a special needs school but always assumed you'd need more experience but the role says NQTs welcome to apply. Are there any SEN teachers here who could advise? All my placements were mainstream so i really dont have much SEN experience but am interested and willing to learn

Good luck! We love NQTs in our SEN school as they tend to only be there If they truly WANT to be : )

I worked at a summer playscheme at a special school before starting teaching. There are often Saturday clubs as well as many families need respite. Whilst play schemes are not the same as school I found the experience broadened my understanding so this could be a different way to gain some experience.

Another thing to research is 'attention autism'.

I feel like I've fallen down a bit of a rabbit hole now I've started looking into everything. The research and therapies used are fascinating and I wish I had started looking into this all a while ago.
Spoke to the school yesterday & they said they would welcome my application , the head was so friendly and encouraging. Got a really nice vibe. Despite all the fantastic advice I'm just anxious about my total lack of experience, the first day for example, how would I even go about planning for that .

But I'm going to give it a go & apply as I think the potential satisfaction and enjoyment if I were to get it right could be awesome.

Sorry another question. Is PT working acceptable in special schools? I realise my nqt year would need to be FT. But dropping down to 4 days or so if I was to get more established would be lovely. Or is or disruptive for the children,do they need the continuity of a FT teacher?

More than half our classes have a PT teacher combo. You can do NQT part time (all my mum friends apart from me did).

nord you've been so helpful. Interesting re NQT PT. Thank you (again)

I went into teaching in a special school after spending one year in mainstream. In my first week I used the previous teachers timetable, structure and routine songs as a starting point. The TAs are an incredibly valuable asset and they taught me a lot. Over time I adapted it based on my own experience and observing others. After many years I did a post graduate diploma and whilst researching for an essay I read a book which described the way I structured my staffing learnt from my first ever class.

Part time working is acceptable in some special schools but not all. Due to the amount of regular training needed (moving and handling, behaviour management, giving medicines, feeding, total communication, epilepsy awareness, etc etc ) some schools argue that it costs too much to train twice as many people. Some schools would also argue that it can be difficult for students with two teachers.

Apologies all but I'm back for some more advice. We have been looking at finances and its looks as if my doing 3 or 4 days per week might be more manageable than previously thought.

I wanted to put this in my cover letter but at the same time if it was a choice of FT or not be offered the job I would still want to do it!! Has anyone got any advice on how I could phrase this.

DH said just ask at interview but I feel it would be a bit unprofessional to.suddenly bring it up at interview stage were I to get that far.

I applied for a full time job but wrote within my letter of application that I was looking for a part time position. I did not get the job but was offered a part time maternity cover. However after a year I was offered a permanent part time position BUT I did not 'need' the job, I had a part time position already at a different school, I have 20 years experience, and I was getting plenty of supply work.

You need to work out how much you need the job, and how important part time is to you. In my experience part time contracts are like gold dust.

Thank you Loris and for all your previous advice. I will mull it over .

Hi, I have been chair of governors at a special school and recruited numerous teachers over the years including many NQTs. We have moved away from part time teachers, it wasn't working well with our pupils (PMLD/SLD many with autism). With regard to the part time..... word your letter along the lines that you could be flexible regarding hours to fit the needs of the school and would be open to part time if required. You will need to convince the panel that you understand the needs of your pupils and the challenges that can bring. What is the cohort of the school???

Thank you Lock it is from.ages 3-18 catering for different complex needs.

I will try and figure out something along those lines. I just feel the PT might enable me to work more efficiently while I'm there as I could use my days off to do planning etc .

I take your point - but from a school point of view, the focus will (rightly IMO) be on best meeting the needs of the pupils. Where I have appointed NQTs they have been able to demonstrate a really good understanding of the needs of the pupils, communication methods, challenging behaviour, de-escalation techniques, assessment, safeguarding and have mostly had some personal experience of special needs either by working in a school as a TA/volunteer or with a community group.

A lot of people "think" they will love working with PMLD / SLD but it isn't for everyone, it can be emotionally and physically tough. How would you feel about providing intimate care/toileting for an aggressive 17-year-old? Have you considered the impact of working with life-limited children?
In my school, if shortlisted, you would have a three-part interview all on the same day -
An interview by the pupils - good to see how candidates interact with the pupils.
An observed lesson - you would be given the P levels of the pupils to help you plan.
Interview with the head, Chair of governors and at least one other gov, usually a parent gov as they have an interesting perspective.
Sorry if I sound like I'm trying to put you off - I just want you to think about it all! Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Just popping back to the thread for an update - been offered the role on a PT basis am over the moon!!! Thank you so much for all the fantastic advice. I'm having a bit of a wobble that I'm not going to be good enough now though and I should have just stuck to what I know which is ridiculous given I put so much thought and time into preparing!!! Anyone with wonderful.storurs of how glad they are to be working in SEN rather than mainstream.pls feel free to share 😀😂. Thank you again for everyone who gave their time to offer such support again.

That is fantastic news @Featurewall congratulations. I absolutely love working in a special school and would never go back into mainstream. The challenges are completely different but they are the challenges I enjoy!

Thank you loris & for all your previous support & advice