Special Education Teacher Job Description

What is the job description of a Special Education Teacher? What are the duties and responsibilities of a Special Education Teacher? What does a Special Education Teacher do?

Job description of a Special Education Teacher

Special Education Teachers facilitate lessons with students who have physical, intellectual, emotional and/or learning disabilities. A special educational needs (SEN) teacher is specifically employed to work with children and young adults who need extra support or require an advanced programme of education in order to complete their learning successfully.

Special Education Teachers may work with individuals who are physically disabled, sensory impaired (i.e. deaf/blind), have speech and language difficulties such as dyslexia, have a mental disability such as autism, are emotionally vulnerable, have behavioural difficulties or have a combination of these disabilities. A Special Education Teachers may also work with gifted and talented individuals. A key aspect of working in this field is identifying individual needs and being responsible for creating a safe, stimulating and supportive learning environment.

This Special Education Teacher job description example includes the list of most important Special Education Teacher duties and responsibilities as shown below. It can be modified to fit the specific Special Education Teacher profile you're trying to fill as a recruiter or job seeker.

Special Education Teacher Duties and Responsibilities

Special Education Teacher job description should contain a variety of functions and roles including:

  • Teaching either individuals or small groups of pupils within or outside the class;
  • Preparing lessons and resources;
  • Marking and assessing work;
  • Developing and adapting conventional teaching methods to meet the individual needs of pupils;
  • Assessing children who have long or short-term learning difficulties and working with colleagues to identify individual pupils’ special needs;
  • Liaising with other professionals, such as social workers, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and educational psychologists
  • Keep track of and reflect on students’ progress
  • Using special equipment and facilities, such as audiovisual materials and computers to stimulate
  • Organising learning outside the classroom in activities such as community visits, school outings or sporting events;
  • Assisting in severely disabled pupils’ personal care/medical needs;
  • Administration, including updating and maintaining records on pupils’ progress;
  • Interest in learning;
  • Using specialist skills, such as teaching Braille to pupils with visual impairments or sign language and lip reading to students who have hearing impairments;
  • Collaborating with the classroom teacher to define appropriate activities for the pupils in relation to the curriculum;
  • Liaising closely with parents and guardians;
  • Behaviour management.
  • Attending statutory annual reviews or other related meetings, regarding students with an SEN, which may involve reviewing statements of special educational needs;
  • Receiving in-service training;

Special Education Teacher Requirements / Skills / Qualifications

Special Education Teacher job description should include these common skills and qualifications:

  • BEd. in Special Education; MSc is a plus
  • Proven experience as a Special Education Teacher or relevant role
  • Good knowledge of current special education topics and methodologies
  • Experience working with children with a wide range of disabilities
  • Ability to create IEPs
  • A patient, resourceful, and resilient personality
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Valid state special education certificate

As a hiring manager, recruiting an ideal Special Education Teacher starts with crafting a good job description. Use this Special Education Teacher job description template to save yourself time and help you attract the most qualified candidates. Feel free to revise it to meet your specific needs.

Job seekers interviewing for the role of a Special Education Teacher may also reference it in preparation for the interview.