How to become a SEN Teaching Assistant
There are various routes to becoming a SEN Teaching assistant. Each school and setting will set their own individual requirements, this includes experience and qualifications. However SEN experience will always be essential.
So how do I get the qualifications and experience?
You can take the Level 2 & 3 Award in supporting teaching and learning in schools at a college and also online via online training providers. For the level 2 you don’t have to demonstrate classroom based experience. However this is a requirement for the Level 3. You will need to complete a work placement to qualify for the level three certificate.
Most schools and educational settings will ask for the level 3 certificate even if you have a degree. If you have a degree and you don’t have the level 2 or 3 Award in teaching and learning in schools then we would encourage you to take the level 2 online. Depending on your degree specialism many schools will be able to offer a full time position and you can then take your level 3 whilst in your new role. Some schools will also help you to do this.
Complete a child safeguarding certificate
You will also need to have a child safeguarding certificate or to be able demonstrate that you have taken a child safeguarding course to work in Birmingham schools. Regardless of whether you are working in Birmingham or not you should look to take a child safeguarding course. SEN Central offers a free online safeguarding course as part of our registration process.
Gaining SEN experience
Due to the inclusion policy mainstream schools have SEN pupils with differing needs within the classroom. To gain SEN experience therefore you don’t need to work in a specialist SEN school.
You can gain this by working in a primary, secondary school or early years setting.
How do I get voluntary experience?
From speaking to many candidates who have all had to start somewhere there are various ways to do this here are a few;
· Work at school where you know a teacher or perhaps a relative is a teacher working in a school
· Drop your CV in to your local schools and explain that you are looking for voluntary experience
Gain voluntary experience with children and young people through volunteering at youth clubs/ sports clubs
(To work in a school you will need to have an enhanced DBS on the update service/ or ask the school to apply for one for you)
What does an SEN teaching Assistant do?
An SEN Teaching assistant will;
· Support pupils either in a whole group, small group or will be required to provide one to one support to a pupil
· Carry out instructions given by the teacher
· Engage with pupils
· Review work completed by pupils and check for their understanding
· Help prepare classroom activities/ set up activities
· Use your skills to assist the pupil in their area of special educational need, for example support with speech, communication and behaviour
· Accompany pupils on social activities/ trips out of school
What skills do I need?
· An ability to engage with SEN pupils
· Resilience, working with SEN pupils can be challenging as well as rewarding
· Initiative: Being able to anticipate what needs to be done and acting upon it
· Team player: Be able to work well with your colleagues and managers
· Commitment to seeing every pupil progress
· Demonstrating knowledge and understanding in the specific need e.g speech and language difficulty