By Jacob Leach
In this blog, you will learn:
How to prepare for a SEND Tutor interview.
Questions that might be asked in a SEND Tutor interview.
Do’s and Don’ts for a SEND Tutor interview.
How to follow up after a SEND Tutor interview.
Where the latest SEND Tutor jobs are and how to apply for them.
Embarking on a new SEND Tutor position requires more than just subject knowledge. It takes a compassionate, patient and organised individual to help students with SEND reach their academic, social and emotional potential.
Landing a SEND Tutor position means impressing a hiring manager and demonstrating crucial skills, experience and expertise - and this takes preparation. From brushing up on SEND knowledge to practicing common SEND Tutor interview questions, preparing could make or break your job interview.
If you’re looking for tips and tricks to use before, during and after the interview process, our latest blog is a must-read!
How to prepare for a SEND Tutor interview
Before a SEND Tutor interview we advise brushing up on your knowledge of different Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia, along with safeguarding policies. Doing so ensures you showcase your knowledge to support a range of additional learning needs and ability to keep students safe in your care.
Alongside refreshing knowledge, it’s a good idea to note down real life situations in which you have assisted a learner with SEND. To impress a hiring manager, you should think about the strategies you used and the positive outcomes you delivered through tailored support. Being able to back up your answers with tangible outcomes is a sure fire way to stand out from other SEND Tutors when applying for a new position. You might also wish to take along an example of visual aids you have used to support learners or techniques you have put into practice.
It’s also a good idea to research the local authority or school you will be working alongside to get an idea of their ethos and values and explain how you will align with them. Researching an organisation prior to an interview also demonstrates your commitment and will show a hiring manager that you are eager to engage with their position.
As with any job interview, plenty of sleep the night before, a healthy breakfast and lots of water will help you be on your A-game. To avoid any pre-interview stress, we also advise checking travel updates or public transport timetables to ensure you don’t get caught in traffic and arrive late to your interview.
Questions that might be asked in a SEND Tutor interview
When applying for SEND Tutor positions, it is a good idea to research questions which might appear throughout the course of an interview. Doing so is a good opportunity to prepare answers ahead of time and avoid any awkward silences during an interview.
Questions can be used to assess how you would respond in a series of challenging situations (these are scenario-based questions), how well you will collaborate with an existing team and if your experience is up to scratch.
It is important to use real-life experiences and examples to add weight to interview answers. Details are important for demonstrating credibility and standing out from other applicants. For example, when asked to describe a situation in which you supported a student with SEND, you should describe any strategies used and explain the positive learning outcomes that this strategy led to.
Questions can vary depending on the specifics of a role, however we advise conducting a mock interview that consists of the following questions:
Please describe a situation where you effectively implemented a personalised learning plan for a student with SEND.
Tell us how you develop positive relationships with students who face challenges with communication.
How would you reassure a child that is experiencing anxiety and struggling to self-regulate in their learning environment?
Describe a time where you had to change a lesson or your teaching style on the spot, to effectively support and meet a child’s needs and emotional state on that day.
How do you ensure that you are meeting a child’s academic needs whilst promoting independence?
Which SEND-specific tools or techniques do you frequently integrate into your teaching?
How effectively are you able to communicate with education professionals and families to ensure all parties are on the same page?
How do you break down complex tasks for students with additional learning needs?
Have you undertaken any additional training or professional development to enhance your SEND knowledge? If so, what?
How do you celebrate the social and academic progress a student is making and ensure that positive reinforcement is used effectively?
Do’s and Don’ts for a SEND Tutor interview
There a number of do’s and don’t to consider before heading into a SEND Tutor interview, including:
Do’s
Demonstrate your SEND knowledge to ensure a hiring manager trusts your capabilities and experience.
Show that you can be patient. This means refraining from interrupting a hiring manager. Should you do so, this could imply that you won’t give students with SEND the patience they deserve.
Use real life examples of situations where you supported a student with SEND or helped them reach an important educational milestone. Real-world impact adds credibility to your interview answers.
Mention the tools, strategies and techniques you have used to deliver positive learning outcomes in the past. Like real life examples, commenting on any visual aids or positive reinforcement strategies will highlight your experience.
Be adaptable. This is an important skill for SEND Tutors who must adapt lessons and daily plans, often with no notice, to meet the individual needs of learners with SEND.
Don’ts
Focus on academic achievements only. For students with SEND, social and emotional development is just as important as academic progress and you must show a hiring manager that you value this. You could also mention how you would celebrate and reinforce such achievements.
Undersell soft skills such as organisation, empathy and flexibility. Technical skills are of course important, but so too are the skills that make you a trustworthy, approachable and kind SEND Tutor.
Speak negatively about any challenges that might be encountered. A positive attitude is essential for helping students with SEND reach their social and academic potential. Challenges should be framed as opportunities to adapt teaching and support students in a meaningful way.
How to follow up after a SEND Tutor interview
Following up after a SEND Tutor interview is an effective way to demonstrate proactiveness, commitment and passion for the position in question. The post-interview wait can be nerve-wracking, but there is no harm in keeping the lines of communication open, especially when working via a recruitment agency. If you have been asked to provide additional information or documentation after an interview, it is important to do so in a timely manner. Delays in doing so could imply disorganisation or delay the hiring process.
To demonstrate professionalism, it is a good idea to discuss potential start dates with a hiring manager or recruitment agency and ensure that all compliance checks have been completed in advance. At Spencer Clarke Group we operate a stringent compliance process ahead of placing SEND Tutors into work so we can ensure that you can get to work with no delays. This not only results in a seamless recruitment process but ensures that students requiring the support of a SEND Tutor have access to this help as quickly as possible.
Whilst following up after an interview should be prompt and showcase eagerness, it’s important not to pester a hiring manager. This could leave a bad taste in their mouth and mean the difference between getting a SEND Tutor position or being overlooked in favour of another educator.
Follow ups should be polite, professional and are often conducted via email, rather than over the phone.
Mainstream and SEND Tutor recruitment specialists
As specialist mainstream and SEND Tutor recruiters, we provide schools and local authorities with experienced tutors to support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), those who are vulnerable, and those whose educational journeys have been disrupted. Our tutors support a wide range of needs including SEMH, autism, ADHD and those with EHCPs, as well as learners who are out of school or in alternative provision.
If you're struggling to recruit the right talent, simply request a call back and one of our experienced recruiters will contact you to discuss how we can help.
Looking for your next Tutor job? Either search the latest jobs or upload your CV and one of our consultants will be in touch when a suitable opportunity arises.