Moving to SEND

[Rankin11]

I've always had an interest in special needs (my mother was a SENCO), and after working at a playscheme for children with SEND this summer I'm feeling like I might be ready to take the plunge. I've been kicked, punched, spat on, had my hair pulled and been vomited on - despite all this, I love the kids and leave work feeling happy, thinking about how I can better communicate with the non-verbal pupils/ meet their sensory needs better and so on.

I'm currently an English teacher and Head of Year in secondary (teaching 5 years). I wonder if anyone could share their experiences of moving to SEN, particularly from secondary. I have read in a few places that SEN schools prefer primary trained teachers? The thought of teaching Maths and Science does make me a little nervous!

I'd also appreciate views on workload. I'm certainly not moving to SEND for an easier ride or anything like that, but I also don't want to make a move that is going to be out of the frying pan into the fire workload wise. Naturally I anticipate a heavier workload while I get the grips with the new setting.

I currently work 8- 6.30/7, with 2-3 hours on a Sunday. How does your routine compare? Any input would be appreciated!

Well, I am primary so can't directly answer your question. I'm a specialist teacher for children with autism. In the setting I work in the majority of children are academically able but most also have behaviours that really challenge. I am also SLT (been teaching 20 years).

Workload is similar to mainstream volume-wise, but different in content. I work 7.30- 4.30/5 and generally, bar answering emails, don't take any work home. Besides teaching, my work involves high levels of communication with families including supporting them with issues at home, completing individual paperwork for children (quite a lot of this), running a large team of TAs and liaising with external agencies.

The vast majority of the work I do outside teaching is directly valuable to the children's outcomes, so it does not feel like pointless drudgery.

I would say that my teaching day is more emotionally intense than mainstream. We often take children in crisis and have to spend a long time co-regulating with them before they settle into routine. Many of the children are severely demand avoidant- they will not do what the adults would like just because that's what the adults would like! I have to think ahead of them all the time and be able to hold every child's trigger points an individual needs in mind constantly. This can be utterly exhausting, but it's also an amazing intellectual challenge which I do thrive off. In the setting we are like a family and the relationships between staff and children are incredibly strong and rewarding.

Even on the most difficult day when things have really gone to sh*t, there is no way on earth I would swap it for a day in mainstream!!

I was a SENCo in a secondary school, but I started in primary and have taught every age from 5-16.

I moved to SEND when I worked with a boy with a statement (pre EHCP), then worked for a specialist literacy service and took post graduate qualifications in SpLD. Went to the LS dept in a secondary school, two stints for two local authorities as an advisor for behaviour management, further qualifications in ASD and ended as a secondary SENCo in a school with SLCN unit. Was AH when I left. I also had responsibility for LAC, and other groups. I taught KS3 RE, Key Skills and PSHE.

Thank you for your responses!

I work in a complex needs special schools and the majority of our teachers are secondary mainstream trained that have decided to move into SEN

There are many different types of Sen provision and not all favour primary trained staff

We are looking for people that are passionate about working with children and young people with SEN and willing to learn the skills -please don't let the fact that you are a secondary teacher put you off