How to Retain and Motivate Your Best SEND Teachers
08 May, 20251-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- How to retain and motivate your best SEND Teachers.
- Discover more about our education and SEND recruitment services.
Retaining and motivating top SEND Teachers is essential for delivering consistent, high-quality support to the pupils who need it most. These educators bring specialist skills, deep empathy, and a commitment that goes beyond the classroom.
According to Senploy, 1.7 million pupils in England are identified as having SEND which equates to 18% of the total student population. With an increasing number of children with SEND and those needing an EHC plan, it’s important that SEND Teachers are satisfied in their roles and motivated to provide high quality teaching for pupils everyday.
SEND Teachers require different approaches to stay motivated and provide consistent support to meet the complex and diverse needs of their students.
In this blog, discover how you can improve retention and motivate your best SEND Teachers to thrive.
How to retain and motivate your best SEND Teachers
- Trust and believe in their skills.
- Recognise the emotional and physical role of a SEND Teacher.
- Listen and respond to feedback.
- Understand the unique challenges SEND Teachers face.
- Offer development and training that provides effective support.
- Encourage peer support and mentoring.
Trust and believe in their skills
SEND Teachers are qualified and trained professionals who are trusted to deliver individualised support that empowers SEND students and promotes equal access to learning. It’s essential that SEND staff feel valued and heard, not overshadowed by mainstream priorities or sidelined by approaches that place results above student wellbeing and individualised support.
A primary SEN Teacher said, “Schools ask for SEN experience, but when you go in with your wealth of experience and do your thing, they ask you to follow the practices that are already in place in their school even when it isn’t working.”
She continued, “I think Teachers remain loyal to the setting they are in when they feel trusted to use their knowledge and expertise. It becomes a good fit when people are supported and trusted.”
It’s important that specialist SEND staff are given the freedom to use their training and experience to teach, maintain a consistent support system and drive results. When staff are given the reins to teach as they see fit, they’re more empowered, more creative and more likely to stay invested in their students.
Schools can get the most out of Teachers by utilising their experience to gain deeper insight into student needs and more effective classroom strategies to increase their chances of retaining good SEND Teachers.
Recognise the emotional and physical role of a SEND Teacher
Teaching can be a multifaceted yet rewarding profession and SEND Teachers are among the most dedicated in their field. SEND Teachers in particular fulfil a specialised and emotionally rich role because they have to be patient, empathetic and unwavering in the classroom.
SEND Teachers work with students who may have various learning difficulties and physical disabilities, emotional or behavioural disorders, sensory impairments or other specific needs that require additional support.
As part of their role, SEND Teachers must balance individual needs and assist students with their welfare, learning and behaviour. They provide guidance, emotional support and effective coping mechanisms to students who may be experiencing Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties.
This can take a toll on SEND Teachers' own mental and physical health and they may feel their efforts go unrecognised or are taken for granted.
Recognising that SEND Teachers go above and beyond is a significant step to increase motivation and positively impact employee experience. Schools can support staff and help them deal with improving pupil behaviour while ensuring the welfare of both students and educators.
Listen and respond to feedback from SEND Teachers
When it comes to retaining and motivating SEND Teachers, there is a lot schools can get wrong. Before challenges escalate, take the time to ask your staff what motivates them and what support they need to thrive.
Every SEND Teacher wants different things and has different needs, but you may find common trends that your SEND staff would like to see, for example specific SEND training, better benefits or more recognition for achievements. Within their feedback, you may be able to establish clear and realistic goals and objectives as well as discover ways to ensure SEND Teachers feel motivated at work.
By listening to your SEND Teachers and asking them for feedback, you are showing them that you value their opinion and respect their ideas and by giving employees a voice, you can improve employee satisfaction and employee relations.
Understand the unique challenges SEND Teachers face
All Teachers face challenges such as classroom management, time constraints and being constantly aware of the physical, social and intellectual development of all pupils. SEND Teachers cater to diverse learning needs and must use different approaches in the classroom to ensure pupils are engaged and taught effectively.
SEND pupils can require even more Teacher time to achieve their full potential and receive the support they need to learn. It’s important that the challenges SEND Teachers face are understood by all teaching staff and that they know how to overcome challenges or barriers to learning.
SEND Teachers are required to implement approaches for pupils with SEND that considers their needs and reasonable adjustments - which is unique for every pupil. Being an adaptable and supportive team can help SEND Teachers deal with improving pupil behaviour, prioritise student and Teacher needs and generally juggle their workload.
Offer development and training that provides effective support
Ongoing Teacher training and professional development are crucial and it’s important that SEND Teachers are up-to-date on the latest changes in SEND and the best practices to engage students and teach effectively.
One SEN Teacher said, “I think proper training is an underpinning motivator as it gives you confidence and brings results.”
SEND Teachers should have the time and opportunity to undertake training and Continuous Professional Development, because well-equipped and well-informed educators have a direct, positive impact on student outcomes.
A schoolwide approach to ongoing professional growth ensures that educators have equal opportunities to not only learn and progress, but also to feel motivated and empowered.
Effective professional development for SEND Teachers should be focused on practical skills and ongoing support tailored to individual needs. Offering career development and training opportunities is a great way to ensure SEND Teachers feel supported and satisfied in their role.
Schools that provide training and encourage collaboration provide SEND Teachers with the opportunity to learn from each other and share responsibilities, which can positively impact wellbeing and motivation.
Encourage peer support and mentoring
There is plenty of support you can offer SEND Teachers that goes beyond providing career development opportunities. Of the diverse types of support that SEND Teachers receive, peer support and mentoring can be very effective.
Peer mentoring isn’t just for new hires, it is a type of support that can benefit SEND Teachers at any stage in their career. Peer mentors can provide practical as well as emotional support for SEND Teachers such as help with confidence, wellbeing and self-esteem and mean better results for the school and for students.
It’s important that schools encourage mentorship that matters and contributes to greater success and job satisfaction.
SEND Teachers and SEND Teaching Assistants can mentor each other and offer valuable insights and experience to help everyone thrive in the classroom.
With the right support from skilled and dedicated SEND Teaching Assistants, SEND Teachers can feel motivated, empowered and fulfilled in their roles which in turn improves employee retention.
Recruit SEND Teachers
As a specialist SEND recruitment agency, we support mainstream and SEND schools with their temporary, permanent and temp-perm staffing needs.
We currently work with hundreds of schools and have exclusive access to some of the best SEND Teachers and SEND Teaching Assistants in the North West.
If you’re struggling to fill a teaching vacancy, why not get in touch with one of our team to see how we can help?
- Primary schools - Jimmy Callagher
- Secondary schools - Liam Jones
- SEND schools - Jamie Heath
SEND Teacher jobs
If you’re searching for your next SEND Teacher job, why not take a look at the latest teaching vacancies, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available.
If you’re looking to become a SEND Teacher, check out more of our insightful blogs including how much SEND Teachers earn and what qualifications you need.
Meet Jamie Heath
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations.
In 2024, we were named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the prestigious Recruiter Awards, an accolade we are extremely proud of.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing
Corporate Functions & Business Support
