By Jacob Leach
In this blog, you will learn:
How SEND tutoring differs from mainstream teaching.
The qualities and skills SEND Tutors need to support students with SEND.
The ways SEND Tutors can make a positive difference to students with SEND.
Where the latest SEND Tutor jobs are and how to apply for them.
A SEND Tutor’s career goes beyond teaching, it’s about understanding how children and young people learn, think and experience the world in their own unique ways.
SEND tutoring is considered less linear than mainstream education and it measures progress through meaningful steps toward social, emotional and academic growth.
SEND tutoring presents unique challenges but offers rewarding outcomes; if you’re looking for a teaching career where you can provide tailored, student-centred support, it might just be the path for you.
In our latest blog, we explore exactly how SEND tutoring differs from mainstream teaching, the qualities and skills needed to effectively support learners with additional needs and how SEND Tutors make a positive difference to those with SEND.
How does SEND tutoring differ from mainstream teaching?
For some students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), a mainstream classroom may not provide the right environment to support their learning. SEND tutoring differs from traditional teaching by offering personalised, 1:1 or small-group support away from the four walls of a classroom.
Often, SEND Tutors will provide support to those with SEND in an alternative setting such as their home or a public library. Doing so gives children and young people with SEND the opportunity to meet their academic potential, without feeling overwhelmed by a busy school environment.
SEND Tutoring often operates on a more flexible structure than that of mainstream teaching. This means support can be more personalised and adapted to meet the needs of individual learners and their preferences. For example, lessons can be tailored to match a pupils attention span and held in an environment where they feel most at ease.
The pace of SEND tutoring can also be tailored to meet the abilities of individual learners. Whereas mainstream teaching must adhere to multiple pupils and meet national deadlines, SEND tutoring has the flexibility for students to learn at their own pace, without the pressure to keep up with peers.
This gives students time to process, review, and remember information in a way that fits their learning style and at a pace that helps them fully understand a concept before moving on.
In some cases, a student with SEND will be matched with a SEND Tutor when their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) specifies this support. If this is the case, the government will pay for the tutoring service. Without an EHCP, parents/guardians may opt to pay privately for a SEND Tutor.
The qualities and skills SEND Tutors need to support students with SEND
SEND Tutors need several key qualities and skills to help students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities achieve positive learning outcomes, including:
Patience.
Compassion.
Creativity.
Adaptability.
Effective communication.
Resilience.
Organisation.
Patience
Students with SEND, such as ADHD, autism or dyslexia, may need extra time to understand and follow information or instructions, compared with their neurotypical peers.
This means SEND Tutors must exercise patience and refrain from rushing through work. If children and young people with SEND feel pressured, they may become overwhelmed and lose confidence.
SEND students might also experience communication challenges and expressing their thoughts and feelings might not come easily.
In these situations, SEND Tutors should give students time to collect their thoughts and, if they choose, share any concerns when they feel ready.
Ignoring a pupil’s feelings or failing to listen can erode trust between SEND Tutors and the students they support.
Compassion
Compassion is an essential quality in all educators but especially those working with students with SEND. A SEND Tutor must understand the daily challenges students with SEND face and approach their work with compassion.
If a child with SEND shows behaviour that might be seen as ‘naughty,’ a SEND tutor should pause and look for the root cause. For example, a student might be overwhelmed and sensory overload could show up as frustration.
Being a compassionate SEND Tutor means listening to students, validating their feelings and creating a safe learning environment.
Creativity
Engagement is essential in education. Some learners with SEND may find it difficult to stay focused for long periods, so SEND Tutors should adapt their teaching to deliver lessons that keep students actively involved.
Traditional teaching methods don’t always meet the needs of students with SEND. Visual supports, such as visual timers and sequencing cards, can communicate information more clearly and in ways that work better for SEND learners.
Creative lessons engage students with SEND, keep them motivated, help them overcome learning barriers and make the classroom experience enjoyable.
Adaptability
Every day brings new challenges when teaching students with SEND, so SEND Tutors must stay flexible and be ready to adjust lessons at the last minute.
For students who struggle with self-regulation, learning can look different from one day to the next, which can change a SEND Tutor’s lesson plan.
In this case, SEND Tutors must adjust their teaching approach to get the best out of a student. It could mean simplifying a task, rearranging the day’s schedule or prioritising emotional support over academic work.
Effective communication
Effective communication is essential for SEND Tutors because learners may struggle to express themselves or understand others.
When communication between SEND Tutors and students with SEND is as seamless as possible, it builds trust, addresses emotional needs and allows learners to make meaningful progress.
Strong communication also enables SEND tutors to clearly share students’ progress, important information, and updates with parents or guardians.
Resilience
Educational progress for children and young people with SEND can be unpredictable and gradual. This means SEND Tutors must stay resilient and handle setbacks, learning challenges, or drops in engagement as they arise.
To provide learners with SEND with the best possible educational outcomes, SEND Tutors must be consistent and show up for learners every day. A steady but motivated approach will build trust and show learners that small steps of progress are just as important as the big wins.
Organisation
Organisation is key for tracking the progress of students, tailoring lessons to individual learning needs, and ensuring that support is consistent.
SEND Tutors must coordinate with students’ families and the professionals involved in their education. They need strong organisational skills to ensure support stays consistent across all settings.
How can SEND Tutors can make a positive difference to students with SEND?
SEND tutoring is a deeply rewarding career because it can meaningfully improve the learning experience for students with SEND.
SEND Tutors make a positive difference to students with SEND by:
Building a student's confidence in their academic ability.
Creating a supportive learning environment where students can flourish.
Adapting teaching practices to get the best out of students.
Developing life-long skills in students with SEND.
Providing personalised learning to reflect a student's individual needs and strengths.
Working with parents/guardians to ensure that support is consistent at home and in an educational setting.
Being flexible and adapting teaching to meet the individual needs of each learner.
Supporting communication skills and helping learners express their thoughts and feelings.
Tracking individual progress and celebrating small steps as well as big wins.
Removing barriers to learning and providing students with SEND with the education they deserve.
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.