What Questions Do They Ask in a SEND Teacher Interview?
03 Jan, 20241-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- What questions they ask in a SEND Teacher interview.
- Tips and advice on how to answer questions in a SEND Teacher interview.
- Where the latest SEND Teacher jobs are and how to apply for them.
Do you have a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Teacher interview lined up and want an advantage over other candidates? Look no further!
If you’re preparing for a SEND Teacher job, you will need to be aware of changes in the SEND environment and be thoroughly prepared to answer questions on it if you are invited to an interview.
Preparing for a SEND Teacher interview involves anticipating what hiring managers may ask you. We’ve prepared a list of questions you are likely to be asked in a SEND Teacher interview to increase your chances of success and help put you ahead of the competition.
What questions do they ask in a SEND Teacher interview?
Common questions asked in a SEND Teacher interview include:
- Why do you want to be a SEND Teacher?
- How would you develop and adapt a daily lesson plan for your pupils with SEND?
- What makes you a good SEND Teacher?
- Can you tell us about your experience of working with children?
- Why do you want to work at our school?
- How would you interact with others?
Why do you want to be a SEND Teacher?
This is probably the first question a hiring manager will ask you as they want to determine the motivations behind your career choice. This question requires honesty, personality and enthusiasm as the hiring manager wants to be able to see candidates' genuine desire for the role and what they will bring to the table.
The purpose of this question is for the hiring manager to not only discover why you want to be a SEND Teacher, but also to determine where your passion and desire to teach comes from. Therefore it is important to be able to emphasise your goals for the future and how they align with this job role and this organisation.
When answering this question, candidates should aim to be memorable and avoid being too general or cliche. Instead ensure your answer is unique to you by providing some examples of success stories or mentioning specific people in the industry who have inspired or supported you.
How would you develop and adapt a daily lesson plan for your pupils with SEND?
Candidates need to be aware of the different requirements for pupils with SEND and how to make the classroom a positive, inclusive and motivating atmosphere for all. This question needs to be prepared in advance for someone with experience to be able to describe their personalised learning plans that meet the unique needs of individual students.
Hiring managers expect candidates to have a knowledge of a wide range of disabilities and the ability to design lessons that are dynamic, effective and supportive for all students. This question is specific and immediately tests candidates' knowledge, experience and ability to react with an answer that they have or could apply to the classroom.
When answering this question, demonstrate your ability to engage students with dynamic lessons that foster critical thinking and problem solving. This is your opportunity to discuss your lesson plan and your innovative approach to learning and how it will be full of authentic tasks. Hiring managers will be looking for a candidate that can create an immersive learning experience with a teaching style that aligns with the school.
What makes you a good SEND Teacher?
In your answer, mention how your skills, experience and personal attributes combined, make you the ideal candidate for the role of a SEND Teacher. In your answer, the hiring manager is looking to determine what makes you a good fit for the role and if you are able to confidently communicate your experience.
SEND Teachers support some of the most vulnerable children and the role can be challenging and demanding. The hiring manager is looking for your answer to be filled with enthusiasm for the role, school and children with specific examples of your experience and success.
Communicate your personal attributes and how the traits that you possess will go a long way in your role as a SEND Teacher. Everyone has their own unique skill set, but the most effective special needs teachers need to be patient, empathetic and supportive with a passion for teaching and learning to ensure the needs of pupils are met.
Can you tell us about your experience of working with children?
It is a crucial requirement that SEND Teachers have experience working with children and looking after the welfare of children. Answering this question offers employers an insight into your unique experiences with children and if your abilities will fit with their school. Employers use this question to identify your skills, qualifications, experience, and ability to manage a group of children and teach them various topics.
In their answer, candidates should mention meaningful experiences of working with children and how these experiences had a positive impact. Candidates should demonstrate their passion and commitment to the role by mentioning how previous experiences have changed their outlook or goals and how their skills and personality have brought something positive to the role.
Explain how your personality, skills or experience helps you to relate to pupils or make wise decisions during stressful situations that support and challenge students.
Why do you want to work at our school?
Think about why you would be a good fit to work or study in the SEND school you're interviewing at and what you would bring to the role. Discuss in your interview why you're interested in their school specifically and mention what you know about its ethos, values, demographics, educational goals and objectives, initiatives, or extracurricular activities.
The hiring manager is looking for someone to do their research and provide details about what they discovered about their school. Mention examples of any specific programmes that you supported or are impressed by.
In your answer, don’t be too vague or general and instead mention particular educators, initiatives, or the school's emphasis and dynamic attitude to learning. Emphasise your excitement about the prospect of working at a school that aligns with your own goals and any tasks or opportunities you believe you could bring to the role.
How would you interact with others?
To be an effective SEND Teacher, candidates need to be confident in their approach to others and understanding when communicating with pupils with SEND. It is important that they ensure the individual needs of the students are consistently being met, which makes it important to be able to be patient and calm in their approach.
It is important for SEND Teachers to be able to create relationships with others and communicate with a variety of people. It’s not just parents, teachers and students with SEND, they will also collaborate with other professionals such as Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Educational Psychologists.
This question is crucial and highly likely to be asked in a SEND Teacher interview, so that the hiring manager can discover if your communication skills and confidence are proactive in creating positive relationships.
SEND Teacher jobs
If you’re searching for your next SEND Teacher job, why not take a look at all the SEND Teacher opportunities available with us now? We work with hundreds of SEND schools across the UK and can offer a range of opportunities including temporary, permanent and to temp-perm positions.
If you loved this content, you might also like:
- How to Become a SEN Teacher
- Common Safeguarding Interview Questions and Answers
- What Hobbies Should I Mention on My CV?
- What Makes a Good SEN Teacher?
- How to Write a Standout SEND Teacher CV
SEND Teacher recruitment services
As a leading SEND recruitment agency, we support countless SEND schools with their recruitment needs. If you’re struggling to fill a vacancy, why not give our Managing Consultant, Jamie Heath, a call on 01772 954200 to discover how we can assist the needs of your SEND school.
Meet Jamie Heath
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Since 2017, we’ve been innovating the recruitment industry far beyond the traditional mechanics of recruitment. From the heart of our organisation and our core values, to the way we do business, we are driven by our commitment to effecting positive change.
For us, recruitment is about more than just matching candidates and clients; it’s about finding candidates the perfect job which has the ability to enhance their income, better their work life balance and positively impact their mental health.
Whether it’s individuals seeking their next career step or businesses striving for growth, our determination to shape a brighter and more fulfilling future remains.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing
Corporate Functions & Business Support
