Interview with SEND Education Recruitment Specialist: Kaylah Henderson

In this blog, you will learn:

• Insights into SEND education recruitment.
• The challenges facing the SEND education sector and how Spencer Clarke Group helps to overcome these challenges.
• Where the latest SEND education jobs are and how to apply for them. 

In our feature blog, ‘Interview with a recruiter’ we’ve been hearing from recruiters at Spencer Clarke Group to uncover insightful advice for successful hiring and candidate guidance across our specialisms.

This time, we’re speaking to Recruitment Consultant, Kaylah Henderson, who specialises in SEND education recruitment. 

With over 3 years experience in the recruitment industry, Kaylah has witnessed first hand the challenges faced by businesses, SEND schools and the staff that work within them. From funding cuts to the rise in demand for services, Kaylah explains how we contribute valuable support in several practical and impactful ways.

Kaylah, tell us about yourself

After completing my A levels, I joined Spencer Clarke Group in 2021. Choosing not to attend university was a bold move, but it proved to be the right one as I found my passion for recruitment.

At Spencer Clarke Group, I specialise in SEND education recruitment across Greater Manchester, helping schools with their recruitment needs and education professionals find a role they will excel in. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with family and friends and going on adventurous walks. 

I also have a personal goal to visit 50 countries before I turn 50 and I’m always looking to explore new places.

How did you end up in the world of recruitment?

I didn’t initially plan to pursue a career in recruitment. I joined Spencer Clarke Group as a Compliance Support Officer but after seeing how recruitment worked and the passion the consultants had for it, I knew it was something I wanted to be part of. 

I’ve always enjoyed helping others and the idea of supporting people in finding their dream job, which can significantly impact their lives, inspired me to pursue recruitment as a career. 

Working within the SEND team at Spencer Clarke Group is particularly rewarding. It’s given me an understanding of how vital SEND support is and knowing that I play even a small part in helping children receive the support they need is incredibly fulfilling.

What does your role entail at Spencer Clarke Group?

I am one of the SEND specialists here and I work with schools across Greater Manchester. I support schools with all recruitment needs including recruiting for Teachers, Teaching Assistants and support staff. 

I love being involved in supporting my schools in any way possible, from organising open days for recruitment to volunteering my time assisting with school trips.

In regards to candidates I love building a relationship with them and assisting them during their job search. Being a part of someone’s career journey, whether they are highly experienced or have limited experience, is so rewarding and I love placing them in a setting where I know they will thrive. 

Who do you work with?

I support primary, secondary and specialist settings across Greater Manchester. I love meeting the school staff and students and this gives me a great insight when trying to match the correct candidates to their school culture and values.

One of my favourite parts of recruitment is building a relationship with a Senior Leadership Team and getting involved in the school values and ethos.

Can you give us an insight into how your market works?

The SEND education market is always in high demand for skilled professionals. There’s a consistent and growing demand for qualified SEND professionals, particularly, SEND Teachers, Teaching Assistants with SEND experience, Learning Support Assistants, Behaviour Mentors, Speech & Language Therapists, SENCOs and more.

This demand is driven by increasing diagnoses of needs such as Autism, ADHD, SEMH and complex learning difficulties. There’s a national shortage of SEND professionals, particularly those with experience in managing EHCPs, de-escalation and behaviour strategies, and Autism and sensory needs. This makes recruitment competitive and often urgent.

Spencer Clarke Group plays a central role in this market. Many schools and SEND provisions rely on us because we maintain databases of pre-vetted, experienced staff. We respond quickly to urgent cover or long-term needs and we ensure the compliance process is fully completed (DBS, references and safeguarding).

We also recruit for day-to-day supply, temporary contracts, permanent roles and temp-to-perm models, where a school tries out a candidate before hiring permanently. 

When matching candidates to a school, there are a number of key qualities we seek, such as, SEND experience, patience, empathy and a strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection. 

What is the best thing about being a recruiter within education, specifically working with SEND schools?

The best thing about working as a recruiter in the SEND sector is the direct, positive impact I have on both the schools, students and candidates. Placements aren’t just about filling a vacancy; they’re about finding someone who can truly make a difference in a child’s life, often one who needs tailored support, consistency and understanding.

SEND settings can be incredibly specialised and complex, so when you find the candidate who connects with a student and helps them thrive, even in small steps, it’s deeply rewarding. 

You're not just recruiting, you're building teams that support inclusion, growth and opportunity for children who might otherwise be left behind.

There's also something uniquely meaningful about the relationships you build with both candidates and schools. It’s not a numbers game, it’s about people, passion and purpose.

What are the current challenges facing SEND schools and the education sector?

One of the main challenges facing SEND schools and the education sector are funding shortfalls. High needs budget pressures means that many local authorities are running deficits in their High Needs Block, which funds SEND provision.

Inadequate resources means schools often lack funding for specialist staff, equipment, or facilities and the rising number of EHCPs is also stretching budgets.

Another challenge comes from the rising demand for SEND services. There's an increase in diagnoses of autism, ADHD and mental health conditions and with more children in the system, combined with better awareness, this is driving up demand for specialist places and support.

Challenges are also encountered in staff training. Shortages in specialists means there’s a lack of trained SEND specialists, including Speech Therapists, Educational Psychologists and SENCOs.

Burnout also creates obstacles in the system. Mainstream Teachers often feel underprepared or unsupported in managing complex needs, leading to stress and retention issues and specialist SEND schools are struggling to recruit and retain qualified staff due to workload and pay. 

The push for inclusive education often leaves mainstream schools ill-equipped to support complex SEND needs. I have also witnessed some local authorities over placing students in special schools due to mainstream capacity and skill gaps and variability across regions means children’s access to support depends heavily on local resources and policies.

The EHCP process is also experiencing its own challenges. Families report excessive delays in assessments, EHCP issuance and securing provision. A high proportion of EHCP decisions are being appealed, placing pressure on the SEND Tribunal system. Quality and timelines of assessments vary significantly between authorities.

Mental health in schools is also something that must be focused on. Many pupils with SEND also experience anxiety, depression, or trauma, often exacerbated by unmet educational needs.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services are overstretched, with long waiting lists and limited school integration.

How does Spencer Clarke help overcome these challenges?

We are a specialist SEND recruitment agency that plays a key role in helping the education and SEND sectors overcome some of their most pressing challenges. 

While we cannot directly fix systemic issues like funding or policy, we contribute valuable support in several practical and impactful ways. 

We help schools and local authorities recruit qualified SEND professionals, including SENCOs, Learning Support Assistants, Teachers, Educational Psychologists and EHCP Coordinators, on a permanent, temporary, or interim basis. 

Through an established network, we can provide rapid deployment of staff to fill urgent vacancies, reducing disruption to pupils and teaching staff. 

We vet all candidates carefully, ensuring that placements meet necessary qualifications and safeguarding standards and we understand the complex legal and procedural requirements of SEND, which ensures we can place professionals who are genuinely equipped to navigate the system.

Our contribution to the SEND ecosystem lies in reducing staffing shortages, supporting overwhelmed local authorities and helping education settings maintain legally compliant and high-quality provision; all of which are critical to improving the experience and outcomes for children and young people with SEND

What advice would you give to an education professional looking for their first position in a SEND school?

Starting a career in a SEND can be deeply rewarding, but it also brings unique challenges. Whether you're a Teacher, Teaching Assistant, or Support Worker, here’s some advice to help you prepare and stand out:

• Learn about SEND: Take some time to read up on common needs like autism, ADHD, and SEMH. Every child is different and that’s what makes the job so interesting!
• Get some hands on experience: If you haven’t worked in a SEND school yet, try to volunteer, shadow a staff member or help out in a mainstream school with SEND pupils. This is all great experience.
• Be yourself and be ready to learn: SEND schools look for people who are patient, kind, calm under pressure, willing to learn and adaptable. You don’t need to be an expert, just show you care and want to help.
• Make your CV and application stand out: On your CV, you should talk about any experience you’ve had with children or young people (even outside of school), why you’re interested in SEND and any training you have, such as safeguarding or behaviour management.
• Contact us: We can help you find your first role and match you with a school that fits you. We work with schools who offer short-term or trial roles that lead to permanent jobs.
• Prepare for interviews or trial days: Be friendly, ask questions, and don’t worry if you’re nervous. Just show you’re open, respectful, and ready to support the students.
• My most important tip: SEND schools are looking for people who care, not just qualifications. If you’ve got the right attitude and want to make a difference, you’re already on the right path!

What does the future hold for you at Spencer Clarke Group?

Looking ahead, I’m focused on continuing to grow and develop as a consultant at Spencer Clarke Group. I want to continue to build strong relationships with schools and education professionals to support their recruitment needs and ultimately help children achieve the best possible outcomes. 

I’m also eager to continue learning from the consultants around me, expanding my knowledge within education and SEND recruitment, and developing new skills that will help me advance in my career. 

The culture at Spencer Clarke Group is fantastic and our hard work and achievements are always recognised, which keeps me motivated. 

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.

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

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 2025, Spencer Clarke Group was awarded Best Public/Third Sector Recruitment Agency and Best Temporary Recruitment Agency at the Recruiter Awards. In 2024, Spencer Clarke Group was also named Recruitment Agency of the Year.