Skip to main content

SEN Teacher CV Example

A SEN teacher CV showcases your expertise in supporting pupils with special educational needs through adapted teaching strategies and individualised programmes.

Recommended template: FreshPro

Key Skills to Include

SEN PedagogyIndividualised Education PlansBehaviour ManagementMulti-Sensory TeachingEHCP CoordinationAssistive TechnologySpeech & Language SupportAutism Awareness

Quick Tips

  • Detail your experience with specific special educational needs such as ASD, ADHD, or dyslexia.
  • Include any specialist SEN qualifications such as NASENCo or PGCert in SEN.
  • Highlight your approach to differentiation and personalised learning pathways.
  • Showcase multi-agency working with educational psychologists, therapists, and families.

Ready to build your CV?

Start with the Fresh template and customise it for your teaching & education role.

Upgrade to Pro

How to Write Your SEN Teacher CV

A SEN teacher CV should demonstrate your specialist knowledge, practical experience, and deep commitment to supporting pupils with additional needs. Schools and special educational settings want to see evidence that you understand a range of special educational needs, can plan and deliver personalised provision, and are skilled in multi-agency working and behaviour management. Your CV should present clear evidence of the impact your teaching has had on pupils' progress, wellbeing, and independence.

CV Structure

Use a reverse-chronological format with a profile, work experience, qualifications, and skills. Detail the types of SEN you have worked with, the settings (special school, resource base, mainstream), and the age ranges. For each role, describe your specific responsibilities and quantified achievements. Include a separate section for specialist qualifications and training. Keep to two pages.

CV Format

Use a clean, professional template. SEN recruitment values substance and clarity. Ensure your specialist qualifications are visible and your experience with specific need types is easy to find. Save as PDF.

CV Profile Examples

Experienced SEN Teacher

QTS-qualified SEN teacher with ten years of experience in special and mainstream school settings, specialising in supporting pupils with autism spectrum condition, moderate learning difficulties, and social, emotional, and mental health needs. NASENCo-qualified with extensive experience of writing and reviewing EHCPs, coordinating annual reviews, and leading a team of six teaching assistants. Passionate about ensuring every pupil achieves their potential through individualised, evidence-based approaches.

SEN Teacher — Special School

Dedicated teacher in a special school for pupils with severe learning difficulties and complex needs, with seven years of experience working with children aged 5 to 19. Skilled in multi-sensory teaching, PECS communication, and sensory integration approaches. Experienced in managing pupils with challenging behaviour through PROACT-SCIPr and positive behaviour support plans. Achieved measurable progress for all key pupils against personalised targets.

Mainstream SEN Specialist

SEN specialist teacher working within a mainstream primary school, providing targeted intervention and in-class support for pupils with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and speech and language needs. Holds a Level 7 PGCert in Specific Learning Difficulties and a SpLD Assessment Practising Certificate. Experienced in delivering structured literacy programmes, working with external professionals, and training staff in SEN-responsive classroom practice.

State your QTS status, specialist SEN qualifications, and years of experience. Mention the types of SEN you specialise in and the settings you have worked in. Highlight your strongest achievement in terms of pupil progress or service improvement.

Key Skills for Your SEN Teacher CV

SEN Pedagogy

Applying specialist teaching approaches tailored to the cognitive, sensory, and physical needs of pupils with a wide range of special educational needs.

Individualised Education Plans

Writing, implementing, and reviewing personalised targets and strategies for pupils based on their EHCP outcomes or IEP objectives.

Behaviour Management

Using positive behaviour support strategies, functional behaviour analysis, and de-escalation techniques to manage challenging behaviour safely.

Multi-Sensory Teaching

Delivering lessons that engage visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, and tactile learning channels to support pupils with diverse learning profiles.

EHCP Coordination

Managing the EHCP process including needs assessments, plan writing, annual reviews, and liaison with the local authority.

Assistive Technology

Using specialist software, communication devices, and adapted equipment to support learning and independence for pupils with SEN.

Speech & Language Support

Implementing speech and language programmes in collaboration with therapists to develop communication skills in pupils with language needs.

Autism Awareness

Understanding the characteristics of autism and applying autism-specific strategies including visual schedules, social stories, and structured environments.

Multi-Agency Working

Collaborating with health professionals, social workers, and local authority officers to provide holistic support for pupils with complex needs.

Work Experience Examples

For each role, describe the setting, pupil needs, and class size. Detail your planning approach, the interventions you deliver, and how you measure progress. Include achievements such as EHCP targets met, behaviour incident reductions, or standardised assessment gains. Mention your multi-agency working and staff training contributions.

SEN Teacher and SENCo

Woodlands Special School, Bristol

Taught a class of eight pupils aged 7 to 11 with moderate to severe learning difficulties and autism spectrum condition, while also fulfilling the role of SENCo across the primary department.

Responsibilities

  • Planned and delivered highly differentiated lessons based on individual EHCP targets, using sensory, visual, and practical approaches to engage pupils with varying communication abilities.
  • Wrote and reviewed Education, Health and Care Plans for all primary-age pupils, coordinating annual reviews with parents, local authority representatives, and external professionals.
  • Managed a team of six teaching assistants, directing their support in the classroom and providing training in areas such as Makaton, PECS, and positive handling techniques.
  • Liaised with speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and educational psychologists to implement recommendations within the school setting.
  • Maintained detailed records of pupil progress against EHCP outcomes, presenting data to governors and the local authority during monitoring visits.

Achievements

  • Achieved measurable progress against EHCP targets for 100% of pupils in the class over two consecutive academic years, as verified by the local authority moderation visit.
  • Led the implementation of a whole-school Positive Behaviour Support framework that reduced serious behaviour incidents by 40% in the first year.
  • Successfully transitioned three pupils into specialist further education placements with full EHCP amendments and positive feedback from receiving settings.

SEN Intervention Teacher

Meadowfield Primary School, Swindon

Provided targeted teaching and intervention for pupils with identified SEN across KS1 and KS2 in a mainstream primary school with a high proportion of pupils on the SEN register.

Responsibilities

  • Delivered daily intervention sessions in literacy and numeracy for small groups of pupils with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and speech and language needs.
  • Assessed pupils using standardised diagnostic tests to identify specific learning difficulties and inform targeted intervention planning.
  • Worked with class teachers to adapt curriculum materials and differentiate planning for pupils with SEN in mainstream lessons.
  • Trained teaching assistants in the delivery of evidence-based intervention programmes including Toe by Toe, Numicon, and the Speech Link programme.

Achievements

  • Improved reading ages by an average of 14 months across a cohort of 22 pupils over one academic year through structured daily literacy intervention.
  • Supported the school in achieving a 'Good' Ofsted judgement, with the inspector noting effective SEN provision and strong progress for pupils with additional needs.

Education & Qualifications

List your PGCE and degree first, followed by specialist SEN qualifications such as NASENCo, PGCert in SEN, or SpLD Assessment. Include any additional training in specific approaches such as TEACCH, PECS, Makaton, or positive handling.

NASENCo Award

National Award for SEN Coordination, the mandatory qualification for SENCOs in maintained schools in England.

PGCert in Special Educational Needs

A postgraduate certificate providing specialist knowledge in SEN assessment, intervention, and inclusive practice.

QTS

Qualified Teacher Status, the professional teaching qualification required for classroom teaching in maintained schools.

SpLD Assessment Practising Certificate

A qualification enabling the assessment of specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia and dyscalculia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications do I need to be a SEN teacher?
You need QTS to teach in maintained schools and special schools. Specialist SEN qualifications such as the NASENCo Award, a PGCert in SEN, or training in specific approaches (TEACCH, Makaton, positive handling) are highly valued and sometimes required. Experience working with pupils with additional needs during your training or in a mainstream setting provides a strong foundation for moving into specialist SEN teaching.
How do I evidence pupil progress for SEN learners on my CV?
SEN progress is often measured against individualised targets rather than national benchmarks. Include the percentage of EHCP targets met, standardised assessment gains (such as reading age improvements), and any qualitative evidence of progress in communication, independence, or behaviour. Use specific data points and explain the context — even small gains can represent significant achievement for pupils with complex needs.
Should I detail specific SEN types on my CV?
Yes. Specify the types of SEN you have experience with, such as ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, speech and language needs, SEMH, or severe learning difficulties. This helps recruiters match your expertise to their school's specific pupil population. Include the number of pupils you have worked with and any specialist approaches or programmes you are trained in for each need type.
How important is multi-agency experience for a SEN teacher CV?
Very important. SEN teachers regularly work with speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists, social workers, and local authority officers. Describe your experience attending professionals' meetings, implementing therapy recommendations, and contributing to EHCP reviews. This demonstrates your ability to provide holistic support and work as part of a wider team around the child.

More Teaching & Education CV Examples

Builder Command Palette

Type a command or search...