Special needs assistants (also known as special needs classroom assistants, special needs teaching assistants, learning support, pupil support staff, support workers and special assistants) help teachers, by providing support to pupils with a wide range of severe learning, physical or behavioural difficulties. For ease, we refer to them here as SNAs (special needs assistants).			Click here for Special Needs Assistants vacancies
			SNA Course

SNAs work under the supervision of an experienced and specially trained teacher, supporting the pupil to achieve their learning goals and to undertake routine activities that able bodied people take for granted. Other duties may include:

	helping with independent living skills
	supporting pupils in activities (play and learning) or on school outings
	attending to pupils’ physical needs (these may include hygiene and toileting)
	assisting pupils during therapy sessions

SNAs may work in dedicated schools, or with an individual pupil or small group of pupils in a mainstream class and pupils may be up to the age of 19.

Occasionally SNAs provide basic literacy or numeracy skills to support pupils with less severe special educational needs. However, this is the exception. Some pupils have very severe forms of behaviour and are very challenging and disruptive.

Working Hours
Full-time SNAs work during term time and normally work school hours or are part time only. Sometimes out of hours assistance is required.

Skills and Interests
General experience with children or young people with specific types of disability or learning difficulty may be useful, but to be a SNA you will need:

	enjoy working with children
	have an interest in education
	have lots of energy and a good sense of humour
	be passionate about treating children from all social and cultural backgrounds with respect
	be able to build good relationships with children, their parents and carers, and with teachers and other professionals such as speech therapists or arts therapists
	have good literacy and numeracy skills
	enjoy working as part of a team
	be responsible for your own actions
	be very patient and non judgemental
	be firm, without the need to be physical, when necessary
	be willing to help with personal care needs (washing, going to the toilet etc)
	Fluency in another language helps, so too will specialist skills such as sign language

here are no set minimum academic requirements, although each school will have it’s own specific requirements. There is also no upper age limit (some schools prefer older SNAs). Because of the need to attend to personal hygiene matters and toileting, the sex of the pupil is likely to determine whether the SNA should be a man or woman and some children may require lesbian and gay male assistants.

For all SNAs the potential to develop the necessary skills and experience is most important (and experience will be necessary if you would like paid employment). Many schools offer voluntary employment to help you gain experience. If you would like training, speak to one of SSR’s recruitment consultants.

All SNAs are required to complete a Police check prior to starting work and this will include a check on the sexual offenders register. Whilst a criminal conviction (or pending conviction) may not prevent you from becoming a SNA, you must disclose this at the time of your application or you may face prosecution.

Opportunities for Work
There are SNA opportunities available throughout the UK. Some vacancies are advertised, others are not. For further information, speak to one of SSR’s specialist recruitment consultants.

Income
The pay is not the reason for working within special needs, it is the clear reward of seeing a child develop and grow.
SNAs without experience tend to undertake voluntary work for three or more terms (under the supervision of a teacher and a more experienced SNA mentor). Thereafter, the hourly pay rate will vary from between £5.50 and £7.00 (depending on experience).
Specialist skills command much higher rates of pay, for example a teacher with special needs will receive £12.00 per hour (or more).