Special Educational Needs (SENCO) / SEN Teacher
Lead and deliver specialist teaching and support for children and young people with additional learning needs, ensuring they access education and reach their full potential.
Moderate
Very high
4–6 years total: degree + QTS (3–4 years), classroom experience (2+ years), then NPQ SENCO qualification
QTS + NPQ for SENCO (mandatory for new SENCOs from 2024); specialist SEN qualifications for special school roles
What you do
SEN teachers and SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators) work with children who have a wide range of additional needs — autism, ADHD, dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, physical disabilities, social and emotional needs, and complex medical conditions. As a SENCO you coordinate SEN provision across the whole school: identifying children who need support, writing and reviewing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), liaising with parents, external agencies (educational psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists), and the local authority SEND team. You train and support teaching assistants, adapt curriculum resources, and ensure the school meets its legal duties under the SEND Code of Practice. SEN teachers in specialist settings (special schools, resource bases, alternative provision) deliver highly differentiated teaching to small groups, often using specialist approaches such as TEACCH, Makaton, or sensory integration. Progression includes lead SENCO, SEND advisory roles, and headship of specialist provision.
Why this career is resilient
Every school in England must have a designated SENCO — this is a statutory requirement under the Children and Families Act 2014. Demand for SEND provision is growing sharply: the number of children with EHCPs has increased by over 50% since 2016, and local authorities face significant pressure to meet their legal duties. The National Professional Qualification for SENCOs (NPQ SENCO) has become mandatory for new SENCOs from 2024, creating a specific professional pipeline. Teaching children with complex needs requires deep relational understanding, adaptive creativity, and moment-to-moment professional judgement that cannot be replicated by technology. Specialist SEND teachers are in acute national shortage.
A typical day
A morning might start with a review of the day's support timetable and a briefing with teaching assistants. You observe a child in class to assess their progress, then meet a parent to discuss their child's EHCP annual review. After lunch you deliver a small-group phonics intervention, followed by a multi-agency meeting with an educational psychologist and speech therapist. The day ends with updating SEND records and preparing a report for the local authority.
Routes in
Employer-funded training
Some employers — particularly the NHS, emergency services, and larger care providers — run their own funded training programmes. You apply for a job and train as you work.
Pay and costs
Earning potential: SEN teachers earn standard teacher pay scales: £30,000–£49,000. SENCOs receive a SENCO allowance of £2,000–£5,000 on top of their teaching salary. In special schools, experienced teachers earn £35,000–£50,000. SENCO leadership roles and heads of specialist provision earn £50,000–£70,000+.
Training costs: Initial teacher training costs as per standard routes (approximately £9,250/year or salaried School Direct). NPQ SENCO is fully DfE-funded. Specialist SEN qualifications (e.g. postgraduate certificates in autism, dyslexia) cost £2,000–£5,000 but are often employer-funded.