Essential and Enhanced Qualifications to Succeed as a SEND Tutor

As a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) tutor, you play a vital role in supporting young people with unique learning needs. Whether you’re new to the field or aiming to stand out, understanding essential and advanced qualifications and knowing where and how to apply them can help you build a successful career. Here’s a quick guide on the qualifications you need, ways to enhance your profile, and the diverse environments where you can work effectively as a SEND tutor.

Key Qualifications for Starting as a SEND Tutor

While there are no strict educational requirements to become a SEND tutor, having a strong foundation in education is beneficial. Most SEND tutors hold at least a bachelor’s degree in education or a related field and specialised training or certifications in SEND.

At Targeted Provision, we seek tutors who meet the following qualifications:

• Two Years of Teaching Experience: Proven experience working with young people provides the essential background for handling the unique needs of SEND young people.
• A Recognised Teaching Qualification: In some areas, Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is required, ensuring that tutors have formal teaching skills and pedagogical knowledge.
• Professional References: We request two references, including one from your most recent employer, to cover at least three years of work history.
• Enhanced DBS: This background check is necessary to work with vulnerable populations, verifying the tutor's suitability for SEND work.
• Level 2 Safeguarding Certificate: Safeguarding knowledge is essential for SEND tutors, as it ensures they are prepared to support young people’s safety and welfare.
• Prevent Duty Certificate: This certification confirms the tutor’s ability to uphold and promote a safe learning environment, including awareness of potential risks young people may face.

Find out more about becoming a SEND tutor with Targeted Provision.

Additional qualifications that can enhance your role include:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS): These foundational qualifications are highly valuable, especially for tutors working in mainstream schools, as they establish core teaching knowledge.
• SEND-Specific Training: Starting with a Level 3 Award in Supporting Teaching and Learning or progressing to a Level 5 Diploma in Teaching Learners with SEND provides a solid grounding in SEND strategies. For those aiming for more responsibility, the NASENCO qualification is ideal, as it covers comprehensive SEND strategy and intervention skills.

Together, these qualifications build a strong foundation for becoming an effective SEND tutor, ensuring you are well-prepared to support and make a positive impact on young people with special educational needs.

Boost Your Profile with Enhanced Qualifications

1. Specialised Certifications: Postgraduate certificates in areas like dyslexia or autism deepen your expertise, setting you apart in specialised SEND fields.
2. Mental Health First Aid: Many young people face mental health challenges, and this training equips you to provide initial support, which is a valuable asset in any SEND setting.
3. Advanced Behaviour Management: Certification in behaviour management helps you handle challenging behaviours more effectively—a skill highly valued in diverse educational environments.
4. Ongoing CPD: Staying current through CPD programmes in areas like autism, ADHD management, and more ensures you’re always equipped with best practices.

For SEND tutors seeking to further develop their skills, Targeted Provision’s new SEMH CPD Accredited Training Course provides a comprehensive, expert-led approach to supporting young people with SEMH needs. This practical training helps tutors refine their professional practice, stay current with the latest research, and, most importantly, make a meaningful impact on the lives of their students.

Find out more about Targeted Provision’s SEMH CPD Training Course.

Gaining Experience in Diverse Settings

Practical experience is crucial in SEND tutoring. Here are a few ways to expand your exposure:

• Work Across Different Educational Settings: SEND tutors are needed in a range of environments beyond mainstream schools—special schools, alternative provision schools, and even online or home tutoring. Gaining experience in multiple settings makes you more versatile.
• Shadowing Opportunities: Learning from experienced SEND professionals can give you valuable insights into effective approaches for supporting SEND students.

Expanding Your Skills for SEND Success

Beyond formal qualifications, certain skills can make a big impact:

• Assistive Technology: Familiarity with assistive software or devices is a major plus, supporting students’ learning and independence.
• Sign Language and Communication Techniques: Skills like sign language or AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) proficiency are valuable when working with young people who have verbal communication challenges.

Learn more about the needs that we support for young people.

Final Thoughts

In SEND tutoring, qualifications, hands-on experience, and ongoing learning create the foundation for success. Pursuing enhanced skills and practical exposure in diverse settings builds your career and helps you make a positive, lasting impact on young people’s lives. Whether through specialised CPD with Targeted Provision or advanced qualifications, you’re preparing yourself to meet the unique challenges and joys of SEND tutoring.

Visit our Recruitment Process page to learn more about how Targeted Provision selects and recruits tutors.

Explore more of our blogs today

‍