Postgraduate courses in Special Educational Needs

Do you think you are destined to help others and help make their everyday learning experience that bit easier? 

Adding to your education with a postgraduate course in Special Educational Needs might be perfect for you. 

If you’re not sure of what that might entail, we’ve got some information you might need below.

What is a Special Educational teaching assistant?

A special educational teaching assistant provides support and care to students in a non-teaching nature and works under the supervision of a teacher or school principal. They provide a caring and safe environment for students who may need assistance. 

What does a Special Educational teaching assistant do?

They must know both their students and their conditions in great detail to be able to carry out their role the best they can to benefit students. This includes conditions such as autism, dyslexia, social and emotional mental health issues. Other daily tasks include: 

• Create a healthy environment for students
• Prepare class and learning materials
• Reach the needs of each individual student 
• Learn about each student and their condition in great detail
• Provide information about students to help teachers
• Work inside or outside the classroom to help individuals or groups
• Look after children’s physical, emotional and social welfare

Courses?

A postgraduate course in Special Educational Needs gives students the opportunity to develop their knowledge of particular learning disabilities. Students will learn about different conditions across different age groups and be able to apply their research to their work.  They will learn how to approach individual circumstances in a particular way to make their students as comfortable as possible while getting the best out of their abilities. 

A course in Special Education Needs will help future assistants to gain skills that are desirable in a wide range of fields. Skills include knowledge of legislation, policy and practice, planning and time management as well as strong and effective communication skills. 

Entry Requirements

The entry requirements for each individual course can differ. However, as this is specifically for postgraduate students, an undergraduate degree is necessary. Some courses may require a 2.2 honours degree while it is possible that others may require a 2.1 degree. Detailed entry requirements and course overviews can be found online. 

Salary

Similar to most fields, with experience comes a higher salary. The average annual salary for a Special Education teaching assistant is £14,700. 

Skills and requirements 

• Excellent communication 
• A caring nature 
• Patience
• Critical thinker
• Organised 
• Creativity
• Acceptance 
• Confidentiality 
• Respect others
• Work well with others
• Kind, compassionate, empathetic 
• Ability to work under direction of others