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Exciting New SEND Jobs Available Now for September

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 11:04:00 +0100

Are you ready to take your career in education to the next level? Look no further! Axcis offers a wealth of opportunities for the upcoming academic year. Whether you’re an experienced SEND professional or someone eager to break into this rewarding sector, we’ve got something special just for you.

Why choose Axcis?

1. Diverse Roles: From teaching assistants to school leadership positions, we offer a wide range of vacancies. Whether you’re interested in being a lunchtime supervisor, an exam invigilator, or a specialised teacher, we’ve got options that suit your personal situation.

2. Local Connections: Our dedicated teams operate across various regions, ensuring that you find local opportunities. We understand the importance of community connections and will guide you toward the perfect teaching or teaching assistant position right in your neighbourhood.

3. Passion Over Qualifications: At Axcis, we value passion, dedication, and compassion. Our schools are more interested in individuals who genuinely want to make a positive difference in students’ lives. Don’t let qualifications hold you back—your commitment matters most.

4. Free CPD Opportunities: As an added bonus, we offer loads of free Continuing Professional Development (CPD) options. These resources provide valuable insights, tools, and techniques to help you stay ahead in your career.

5. Your Perfect Match Awaits: Even if you haven’t found your dream role on our website today, don’t worry! New positions arrive daily, some filling up so quickly that they don’t even make it to our listings. Register online, create your profile, and we’ll notify you when the perfect match comes along.

6. Refer and Earn: Did you spot a job that would be ideal for a friend or family member? Recommend them to Axcis, and you could earn a £50 Amazon shopping voucher! Learn more about our referral program here and spread the word.

Let’s make a positive impact together as we support not just vulnerable children and young people, but our future generation overall!

Remember, taking action today is the key to unlocking the full potential of your career! So, don't wait! Click here to find your local Axcis team to get hired now.

How to Prepare for Your First Day in a SEND Setting

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0100

Starting a new role in a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) setting is an exciting opportunity, but it’s completely normal to have a few first-day butterflies! Whether you're a seasoned educator stepping into a new environment or supporting children for the very first time, a bit of preparation goes a long way.

Here’s how to set yourself up for success on day one:

1. Confirm the Details

Save your Axcis consultant’s contact details in your phone and keep a hard copy as well in case you misplace your phone and need to contact them for support on the day.
Check the Axcis App beforehand for booking details, including the school’s name, contact person, address, and map link.

Don’t have the Axcis App yet? Download it now on Google Play or the Apple Store.

Plan your journey in advance: Check bus/train timetables or parking options and give yourself extra time for delays.
Understand school-specific policies: Every school is different, so make a note to gather all relevant information from the contact person on arrival.

Examples include:

· The school’s Safeguarding and Behavioural Policies
· EHCP plans for each student that you’ll be supporting
· Ask if there is any information you need to know about the setting or students.

Dress code: All Axcis candidates complete our safeguarding training, which includes key guidance on the appropriate dress code. When in doubt, opt for smart-casual and always avoid jeans, open-toed or high-heeled shoes, or shorts (unless you’re in a PE or outdoor role).

2. Pack the Essentials

Here’s a quick checklist of what to bring:

Notepad, pens, and any stationery you may need for the day
Your photo ID and your DBS certificate
A packed lunch, snacks, and a refillable water bottle

3. Observe, Listen, and Adapt

No two SEND settings are alike. Take time to:

Observe how staff interact with students
Learn the school’s routines and expectations
Identify communication strategies in use (e.g. visuals, Makaton, BSL)

🙋 Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Showing a willingness to learn is always appreciated.

4. Stay Calm and Be Flexible

Working in SEND often means embracing the unexpected. Students may need extra time, or activities may shift midday. Your ability to remain calm, patient, and adaptable is key.

5. Reflect and Check In

At the end of the day, take a moment to reflect:

What went well?
What did you learn?
Is there anything you’d like more support with?

Your Axcis consultant is always happy to hear how it went and guide you if needed.

Bonus Tip: Keep Growing

Want to boost your confidence even further? Registered Axcis candidates get free access to Axcis Academy, our CPD platform powered by The National College, with over 1,400 webinars and 180+ courses tailored to SEND professionals.

👉 Click here to explore Axcis Academy

Still Looking for Your Next Role?

Axcis is always on the lookout for passionate teaching and support staff to join our growing community. Whether you're new to SEND or an experienced professional, we’d love to help you find a rewarding position that fits your skills and interests.

👉 Register with Axcis today

Remember, your presence makes a difference. You’re not just filling a role, you’re helping to shape a better future for the young people you support. Good luck, and enjoy the journey!

End of Term Guide for Teaching and Education Support Supply Staff

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 10:19:39 +0100

Finish Strong and Get Ready for the Next Term with this Essential End-of-Term Guide

As we wrap up another successful term, we at Axcis Education want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our contractors for their dedication and hard work. Your commitment to providing exceptional education and support to students has made a significant impact. As we prepare for the new term, it’s important to ensure that you close off your current placements smoothly and get ready for new bookings. Please take a moment to go through our updated end-of-term checklist to ensure everything is in order.

1 – Return keys/door cards and any other school property

Please remember to return all keys, door cards, and any other school property. Walking away with a set of keys can lead to significant costs for the school if they need to replace locks. Additionally, textbooks, laptops, and other materials you’ve been lent should be returned promptly to avoid disrupting the transition for new staff and students. Ensuring all items are returned will also help you secure a good reference from the school.

2 – Final timesheet check

Before completing your contract, make a final check of your timesheets. Ensure all timesheets are up to date and submitted. This can be done through your consultant or by checking your online timesheet portal. Addressing any missing timesheets now is much easier than trying to resolve pay issues later.

3 – Update your CV and availability with Axcis

As you prepare for your next assignment, update your CV and inform your Axcis consultant of your availability. This helps us match you with new opportunities promptly when the new term begins, minimising any delays in finding your next placement.

4 – Mark and return all work

Ensure that all work is marked (where appropriate) and handed back to your line manager at the school. It’s crucial for the continuity of students’ education and to prevent stress for both the school and the children. Double-check your desk, home, and car to make sure nothing is overlooked.

5 – Complete any handover paperwork

A thorough handover is essential for a smooth transition. Ensure that all handover paperwork is completed and handed over to the incoming staff member or the Head of Department/Year. Include notes on syllabus progress, behaviours, triggers, medications, and any other relevant information.

6 – Update your profile for new placements

If you are looking for a new placement, it’s crucial to update your profile and let your consultant know as soon as possible. Keeping your profile current with your latest experience and preferences will help us find the best opportunities for you without delay.

Refer a friend and earn £££

Remember, Axcis offers a generous referral scheme. If you know friends or family members looking for SEND teaching or support work, refer them to us and earn rewards. Find out more about the scheme here.

Thank you once again for your hard work and dedication. We look forward to working with you in the upcoming term!

Mastering Your CV: The Ultimate Guide to Landing Your Dream Job

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 16:17:35 +0100

Axcis is dedicated to helping you find not just the perfect job, but the perfect team and school or education organisation. Considering that the average full-time employee spends more waking hours with colleagues than with friends and family, finding a job that fits you is crucial. Our mission is to support you on your journey to securing your ideal position, and it all starts with a stellar CV. Here are 10 steps to getting your CV ship-shape.

No matter which job you’re applying for, your CV is the key to success. It’s vital to create it as clearly and precisely as possible to stand out in the crowded job market.

Why Clarity Matters

With hundreds of people looking for jobs, it’s likely that 20 to 100 other candidates could be applying for the same position as you, whether online or in person. The gatekeeper filtering through those CVs is usually under a lot of pressure, so they’re looking for key factors quickly.

Focus on Substance Over Style

While fancy CVs may look impressive, they aren’t necessarily going to win you the job. Your character, experience, and essential skills are what really matter. Presenting this information clearly will make it easier for the gatekeeper to notice you among 20 to 100 other CVs.

Essential CV Layout Tips

1. Your Name: Ensure that your name is clear and matches any nickname or alias you may use. The last thing you want is confusion about your identity at an interview.

2. Contact Details: Your objective is to get hired which means that the person reading the CV needs to be able to reach you as quickly and easily as possible. List your phone number, email address, and residential postcode clearly underneath your name at the top of the page. If you do not want to add your postcode, mention the areas you can work in. Also, make sure to make a note if you’re not easily reachable by phone. For example: “I am not always able to answer my phone immediately due to the nature of my current job, so please text me instead, and I will respond as soon as possible.”

3. Personal Profile: This section acts as a brief cover letter, giving the employer a snapshot of who you are professionally. Even if you lack extensive work experience, include a personal profile to highlight your dedication and relevant skills. Don’t be afraid to allow your skills and commitment to shine here!

4. Qualifications: List your qualifications in a timeline format, detailing the dates, course names, and institutions. Ensure that you start with the most recent and work the timeline back. For example:

5. Work History: Detail your work history in reverse chronological order starting with the most recent and work your way back. Include all relevant roles, even if they were in different sectors. For extensive supply work, summarise your experience and key achievements. For example:

6. Key Skills: Highlight skills such as clear communication, teamwork, empathy, and technical abilities etc. For example:

7. Professional Development: List relevant courses and training you have completed. For example:

8. Interests: Share interests that can strengthen your professional profile and showcase your personality. For example:

9. Check the spelling, grammar and personal details: Even the best CV is no good if the company you apply to can't get hold of you because there is a mistake in your phone number! Prospective employers may not be interested in you if your CV is full of spelling and grammatical errors, so be sure not to miss this crucial step.

10. Read it back to yourself: Is your CV clear and concise? Is it relatively easy to read? What typeface/size have you used? Should it be amended? Get someone else to proofread it to ensure that you haven't missed anything. If you can, print a copy to make sure it looks as good printed as it does on screen and fits well onto the page(s).

By following this structured layout, your CV will be easy to read and highlight your strengths effectively.

Get Started with Axcis

Download our sample CV and get in touch with Axcis to kickstart or develop your education career. We cover all provisions and disciplines, offer many CPD options to help you grow, some of which are often free, and guide you all the way.

Share and Refer

Refer your friends to Axcis, and not only will you be helping them to find work, but you will also earn shopping vouchers* – everyone’s a winner! Click here to learn more.

What is a Cover Supervisor?

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 12:00:00 Z

What is a Cover Supervisor?

Cover Supervisors are suitably trained or experienced school staff who supervise pupils carrying out pre-prepared exercises when teaching staff are on short-term absence. The Cover Supervisor’s main job is to manage a classroom, ensuring that students remain on task with the work they have been set.

What's involved?

Cover Supervisor roles vary significantly depending on whether the role is undertaken in a primary, secondary or special school. The role however should not require any active teaching, marking or planning.

Main duties may include:

Supervising work that has been set in accordance with the school policy.
Managing the behaviour of pupils while they are undertaking this work to ensure a constructive learning environment.
Responding to any questions from pupils about processes and procedures.
Dealing with any immediate problems or emergencies according to the school’s policies and procedures.
Collecting any completed work after the lesson and returning it to the appropriate teacher.
Reporting back as appropriate using the school’s agreed referral procedures on the behaviour of pupils during the class, and any issues arising.
Coordinating and supporting teaching assistants / support staff in the classroom.

What skills, experience and qualifications do you need?

There are no specific qualifications required to become a Cover Supervisor - it is up to schools and local authorities to decide what qualifications and experience you will need to have. Some may employ Cover Supervisors based solely on their experience, others may require some form of minimum qualification.

As a minimum however, most schools require the following:

Previous, significant experience of working in an education environment
Excellent communication skills
Good behaviour management skills
A high degree of flexibility

Possible qualifications that schools may also look for include:

GCSE (or equivalent) in English and Maths at grade C or above
A recognised, relevant level 3 or level 4 qualification for supporting teaching and learning in schools
A degree

What training is available?

Axcis offers a Cover Supervisor course which is designed to ensure you have all the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in a Cover Supervisor role. More information can be found on our CPD Training and Career Development Page.

What’s next?

If you are interested in becoming a Cover Supervisor, speak to your consultant or local Axcis office to discuss your options further. Or if you are already a Cover Supervisor, check out our jobs pages to start applying for your next perfect role.

Kickstart Your Career in Special Needs Education

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 12:00:00 Z

Are you a recent graduate or school leaver looking to make a difference in the world? Do you have a passion for helping others, but aren’t sure where to start?

Look no further! At Axcis Education, we believe that everyone has the potential to contribute positively to the lives of children and young adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

No Qualifications? No Problem!

While qualifications can be beneficial, they aren’t everything. We value passion, dedication, and a willingness to learn above all else. If you’re eager to start a career in special needs education but don’t have any qualifications yet, don’t worry. Axcis Education is here to guide you every step of the way.

Why Choose a Career in Special Needs Education?

Working with children and young adults with SEND is a rewarding and fulfilling career choice. Every day, you’ll have the opportunity to make a real difference in someone’s life. You’ll help students overcome challenges, develop new skills, and reach their full potential. Plus, you’ll grow both personally and professionally as you learn more about SEND and how to support these amazing individuals.

Why Axcis Education?

At Axcis Education, we’re committed to providing the best possible support for children and young adults with SEND. We offer comprehensive training and continuous professional development opportunities to ensure that our teaching assistants are well-equipped to meet the unique needs of our students.

How to Get Started

Getting started with Axcis Education is easy! Simply contact your local Axcis office to express your interest. We’ll guide you through the process, provide you with the necessary training, and match you with a role that suits your skills and interests.

Remember, everyone has to start somewhere. Even if you don’t have any qualifications yet, your passion and dedication can make a huge difference in the lives of children and young adults with SEND. So why wait? Kickstart your career in special needs education with Axcis Education today!

Calling all unqualified Teaching Assistants!

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0100

Do you want to be a Teaching Assistant but not sure where to start? Are you looking for a career that is rewarding, challenging and flexible?

Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) education is the ideal place to start. It's a great way to gain experience and qualifications while working with children who need your support.

SEND Teaching Assistants are an essential part of any SEND school. They play a vital role in supporting the class teacher in delivering lessons, and they help to ensure that each child's needs are met.

You don't necessarily need any formal qualifications to start off your career as a SEND Teaching Assistant, but it's essential that you have a caring and supportive attitude towards the children and young adults you will be supporting. Having the right attitude and willingness to learn are more important, but Axcis offer numerous continued professional development (CPD) courses that can help support you and enhance your experience and knowledge further. What’s more, the majority of our CPD courses are completely free to fully registered candidates. Check out our Training and Career Development page for more info.

The benefits of being a Teaching Assistant include:

Flexibility – Whether you want to work full time, part time, or just a few hours per week, we have a variety of different roles to fit around your schedule; within reason of course – we obviously can’t change school hours across the country!

Exposure - Working in special needs education will give you valuable experience which can help you decide if this is the right career path for you.

Support - Qualified teachers and more experienced teaching assistants will always be around to provide guidance and support if needed, as well as your Axcis consultant, of course.

Variety - The role is extremely varied. No two days are ever the same.

Rewarding - Working in special needs education offers great rewards such as seeing the progress made by students, knowing that they are receiving the best possible care and learning new skills.

Sounds Interesting – what’s next?

If you’re ready to get started or if you are interested in finding out more about SEND Teaching Assistant work with Axcis, you can either call your local branch for a chat, or you can register online – it takes just 5 minutes and one of our consultants will be in touch. You’ll have a no-pressure chat about what you are looking for and what skills you can offer. Then after a quick registration and compliance process, from there you could be out working as quickly as the next day! There is no charge for our service, so what do you have to lose?

While you’re going through the registration and compliance process, why not check out our “Top tips to becoming a great SEND Teaching Assistant” blog to start getting yourself prepared for your first day!

And before you go, did you know Axcis have an app?

Click on a link below to download the Axcis app today to take you seamlessly from registration through to your first timesheet submission!

ECT Teaching Jobs

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 14:51:00 Z

Are you an ECT (Early Career Teacher) looking for a SEND teaching job? Find out how Axcis can help you!

Who are Axcis Education?

Axcis are the leading company specialising purely in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) recruitment. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Axcis have a team of dedicated consultants – many of whom come from a SEND background themselves – who can help you to find SEND teaching jobs in both mainstream and specialist settings across England and Wales.

Why ECTs should consider a SEND teaching job with Axcis

Full and part-time teaching and support work available
Gain SEND experience in a range of schools before deciding on your preferred area of the education sector
Develop your knowledge and understanding of SEND – become a more rounded education professional
Excellent training and development opportunities
Competitive rates of pay
Flexibility with level of commitment required
Permanent opportunities available which offer full induction support

What do other ECTs say about working for Axcis?

I registered with Axcis because my second placement school during my PGCE were not able to offer me a permanent post and I decided to explore special needs and find out whether this was a good option for my personal career path. I didn’t have much SEN experience (just what my PGCE had covered), but my consultant at Axcis was great and asked me lots of questions about what I was looking for and how my current skills and experience could fit into a SEN setting. I did a few days of supply work at different schools and quickly learned that special needs schools can be very different to each other! I really enjoyed working at an MLD school and was surprised at just how quickly I fitted in. After a term of supply, the school offered me a permanent contract and are supporting my Induction. I couldn’t be happier with how things turned out – thank you Axcis! Jenny, Primary Teacher

Sounds Interesting – what’s next?

If you are interested in finding an ECT SEND teaching job with Axcis, you can either call your local branch for a chat, or you can register online – it takes just 5 minutes and one of our consultants will be in touch. You’ll have a no-pressure chat about what you are looking for and what skills you can offer, and if we feel we can help you, and you feel that we are the right company for you, we will ask you to come in and have a registration interview. From there you could be out working as quickly as the next day! There is no charge for our service, so what do you have to lose?

Refer other ECTs and get a bonus

It’s worth noting that Axcis offer a generous referral bonus – so if you know any other friends who might be interested in a role with us, why not take a look at how it works, and refer them to us today? Click here to find out more.

Refer a friend to Axcis and earn £50 in shopping vouchers

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 12:00:00 Z

Refer your friends to Axcis, and not only will you be helping them to find work, but you will also earn £50 in shopping vouchers* – everyone’s a winner!

How does it work?

If you have friends who are looking for employment, why not refer them to Axcis? If we place them in a school or alternative provision for at least 5 days, you will receive £50 in shopping vouchers as a thank-you. (Please note that any referrals made who do not complete 5 days work will not be counted).

As an added bonus, the person you refer will also receive a £20 voucher when you get your shopping vouchers – double win!

How do I refer a friend to Axcis?

Simply CLICK HERE to send us their details and we will get in contact with them. If you can provide more information, like what sort of work they might be interested in, that will help us, but isn’t essential.

How will I know when my friend has worked 5 days?

All you need to do is ask your friend to let you know once they have completed their first 5 days with Axcis. If you then contact your consultant/local office you’ll be able to check if the 5 days have been completed. If they have, we will email you with your shopping vouchers.

What do others say about working for Axcis?

If you’re not sure whether Axcis is the right company for you or your friends, why not take a look at our Google review pages and hear what other people have to say about working with us before you make your referral or register with us for work?

*Terms and conditions apply as follows:

Referral bonus is not payable if the referred candidate has already registered with Axcis Education Recruitment prior to the referral being made.
The referred candidate must have been paid for 5 full days of work through Axcis in order for the referee to qualify for the payment.
We must have written evidence of the referral specifically mentioning names – either through our online referral form, by email/text message from the referee or the referred candidate, or by the candidate completing the applicable field online when they register with us.
Offer not open to permanent employees of Axcis Education Recruitment.

This Refer A Friend scheme is effective 1^st December 2024 and supersedes any previous scheme that may have been published or marketed.

Testimonials

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 12:00:00 Z

We’re proud of the service we provide. Read some of our reviews below.

“They could not have been more helpful, attentive, supportive or professional” (Axcis Candidate)

I was impressed by the thoroughness of the vetting/clearing process (essential when working with vulnerable clients), also by the depth of Kirsty and Tamsin’s knowledge and understanding of SEND issues. They could not have been more helpful, attentive, supportive or professional.

Cathy

“…I couldn’t of asked for a better agent” (Axcis Candidate)

Just wanted to say a Maaaaoooosssive thank you for looking after me whilst on my placement at xxxxxx xxxxxx in Wokingham

I really do enjoy it there its fab and anything I ask you to do is no problem.

I hope you are appreciated by everyone that you look after, as you have been a superstar and I couldn’t of asked for a better agent.

Have a good xmas and here’s to a better year next year for all of us!

Kelly

“The calibre of staff are always to the criteria that’s required for our school” (Axcis Client)

I have worked with Axcis and Carys specifically for a period of time and during this period I have found them to be professional in the service they offer and the calibre of staff are always to the criteria that’s required for our school.

I will most definitely recommend Axcis agency (Axcis Candidate)

I moved from Wales to Bristol 18 months ago and I’ve been working for Axcis agency since November 2020. I have worked in schools for 30 years and have always been directly employed by the council. At first I was a little apprehensive about joining an agency because I was afraid I wouldn’t get enough work, but it has been quite the opposite. I have had the most helpful and reassuring consultant, Dan.

Although I have much experience in my role I am rather rusty when it comes to technology.

Since joining Axcis I have polished up in this area with the encouragement and support from Dan. At first I was nervous about filling in timesheets and all other interactions involving technology, including zoom meetings and so on. My first interview was a virtual one, which caused me to feel a little anxious. Dan kindly helped me by setting up the interview at his office so he could be at hand if anything went wrong. He has encouraged my confidence tremendously and has talked me through anything I don’t understand. Dan really has been amazing! He is always professional and honest whilst being passionate about his role at Axcis. I will most definitely recommend Axcis agency and Dan to all support staff that I meet in the future.

Thank you Axcis and thank you Dan!

Much appreciated

Gail

I have nothing but praise for the Axcis Recruitment team in Bristol (Axcis Candidate)

I have nothing but praise for the Axcis Recruitment team in Bristol.

I have been employed as a teaching assistant agency – supply worker for over 3 years. During this time I have gained several qualifications and some super assignments which have been provided because of the work that the recruitment staff do to enable people like myself to be allowed to enter the many educational establishments – in order to primarily support the staff and the students they care for. Every assignment I have been introduced to has been because of the dedication of people at Axcis. They have discussed and negotiated all the terms and conditions required to allow an agency worker into an appropriate educational setting.

I am sure there is numerous paperwork and checks that each candidate must have in place which the recruitment people do every day in order to keep up with the legislation.

A huge thank you for sourcing the many placements I have had to date. I have always found you cheerful, pleasant and nothing is too much trouble. Paperwork has always been sent on time by email with the school address etc.

I have always found when answering the phones they come across with a ‘bubbly warm ‘personality.

Thanks a million,

Sarah

“I enjoy working for Axcis and have had some great long-term placements…” (Axcis Candidate)

I have worked for the London branch of Axcis Education for nearly 7 years and always found them to be professional, knowledeable and supportive. Communication is excellent!

I enjoy working for Axcis and have had some great long term placements in a variety of lovely schools in South London and Surrey and this has enabled me to work with some wonderful talented colleagues.

I have recommended Axcis to others and been able to take advantage of their generous referral scheme!

My present Consultant is always available and so positive. She listens and takes on board any concerns I may have; she knows what I am looking for and has found me some interesting positions -she makes me feel valued as have previous Axcis consultants I have had the pleasure of working with over the years.

Thank you Axcis

Frances

“..staff from Axcis have been really helpful and friendly” (Axcis Candidate)

I have had a positive registration process all members of staff from axcis have been really helpful and friendly I’m looking forward to starting work with axcis in the near future.

Kali

“..I am bowled over by the calibre of the TA’s you send to me” (Axcis Client)

Yet again I am bowled over by the calibre of the TA’s you send to me. With that in mind I’d please like you to find me another outstanding candidate for a temporary full time position!

Many thanks

Helen (Headteacher)

“..my heartfelt thanks..” (Axcis Client)

I would like to take the opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to both you and your fantastic team for delivering such a high quality professional service and I have enjoyed the positive working relationship we have shared over the years that I know will continue with the Short Breaks team in the New Year.

Ace your interview when making the transition from mainstream to SEND

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 13:43:54 +0100

At Axcis, we meet many teachers and support staff who want to make the move from working in mainstream schools to special needs settings. People often tell us that they don’t know what to expect, or how to sell themselves at an interview when their experience is limited in this area. So what can you do to put yourself in the best possible position to ace the interview and get the job?

Recruitment websites and blogs are crammed full of generalist interview advice, but what if the advice you need is a bit more specific? We all know that we need to present ourselves well, research the organisation we are interviewing with and have a few questions at the ready when we attend an interview, but how can we tailor that specifically for a transition from mainstream to special needs based classroom work? Here are some ideas which you might find helpful.

1 – Do your research

As my mother always says, never make assumptions. If you are serious about making the transition from mainstream to special needs, you need to get a reasonable idea of how the two sectors differ from each other. This article gives you a breakdown of the SEND sector and explains some of the frequently used jargon. However, reading about SEND schools won’t give you the same level of insight as visiting some, so try your best to organise some visits to your local special schools. Head teachers are usually keen to spread knowledge, understanding and good practice so will most likely welcome an extra pair of hands for a day or two.

Or you could try doing some short-term/day-to-day supply work with schools who are amenable to having staff with limited experience. At Axcis, we frequently organise days like this, so if you are interested, why not have a chat with your local Axcis office? If you are struggling to find your local special schools (some of them can be quite tucked out of the way), your local borough website should be able to help as most contain a list of all primary, secondary and SEND schools in the local authority. When you attend your interview, be sure to discuss the research you have done as it will demonstrate to the school that you are serious about making this transition.

2 – Assess your own skills

Once you have done a bit of research and are confident on the sort of special school you’d be interested in working with, spend some time assessing your own skills. It may help to make a table of your core skills, how they will assist you in a special school and what additional support or training you may need to bridge any gaps for making you a confident/proficient SEND practitioner. See the table below for some examples to get you started. When you attend the interview, you’ll need to be ready to discuss your existing skills and what you can bring to the school, as well as demonstrate that you understand you also have some learning to do. Talk about what YOU intend to do to bridge your skills gaps rather than relying on the school to provide you with all the relevant support you’ll need. Again, this will help the school to see that you are serious about making the move, have thought it through thoroughly and are prepared to put in additional work to up-skill yourself.

For example:

Assessment knowledge/skills - teachers already have assessment skills but you will need to consider to to adapt these skills for SEND children - so looking at assessment criteria for SEND might be useful.
Behaviour management skills - teachers receive training in this area and should be used to following a school behaviour policy, however more targeted intervention may be required for SEND students and in some settings enhanced training may be required, such as Team Teach.
Time management - this is a skill essential for all teaching roles, regardless of the setting so is a highly relevant transferable skill to talk about.
ICT - using common packages, learning new school systems and being able to offer skills in areas such as distance learning can be beneficial in all settings, so again these skills are useful to discuss at interview.

3 – Have examples of emotional resilience at the ready

As an ex-teacher myself, I know that all teaching jobs have their emotionally challenging days. In the majority of special schools, you are likely to experience these more regularly. This is because many SEND students struggle with communication at some level, and as a result may exhibit challenging behaviours, often out of frustration. If you work at the more complex end of the special needs spectrum, with students who have reduced language and/or mobility but generally “good behaviour”, you will still need to have a high degree of emotional resilience. This is because you may be supporting students with debilitating or life-shortening conditions. It’s hard for anyone to lose a young person, and you’ll need to be prepared to deal with this if the situation arises. So, before your interview, think about examples of when you have dealt with challenging situations, and how you handled them, and remained professional throughout.

4 – Connect other experience

Before attending an interview at a special school, have a careful think about any situations you might have been in which gave you exposure to individuals with special needs. This might not have necessarily been in your professional life. For example, have you ever had a colleague at work with additional needs who you supported in some way? Do you have any friends or family members with special needs? Have you done any voluntary playschemes in the holidays or coached the local football team? If you have had any contact at all with special needs, it will be useful to draw from this experience to demonstrate that you have had some exposure to individuals who might require additional support and have gained an insight into what is required from this experience.

5 – Be yourself!

Louise Clifford, branch manager for Axcis Bristol at our stand
Our advice? Be yourself! And give us a call if you’d like further support.
The single most frequent piece of advice I give regarding interviews is to be yourself! It is important to give an accurate portrayal of who you are at an interview in order to allow the school to gain a realistic picture of how you’d fit into the role. After all, you don’t want to leave after the first few weeks because a job turns out to be totally different to what you were told, just the same as the school don’t want to see you struggling in the position because you over-sold yourself at interview! This is not to say that you shouldn’t make the most of your skills, experience, enthusiasm and willingness to learn, but it is always best to be honest when answering questions.

If you are interested in making the transition from mainstream to special needs, and would like some support, feel free to contact Axcis for a chat about how we can assist you. Or if you're ready to go for it, register online and start the process today!

What does an exam invigilator do?

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 13:41:37 +0100

Do you need to find out what an exam invigilator does? Perhaps you’re looking for work as an exam invigilator, or need to hire this type of staff for your school or provision. If so, read on.

What is an exam invigilator?

An exam invigilator is someone who is present during an exam to ensure that exam guidelines are being met. Duties may include:

Setting up the exam hall
Passing out papers and any additional materials as required
Regulating the start and end time of the exam
Monitoring students during the exam to ensure no inappropriate behaviours take place (such as talking/passing notes etc)
Accompanying students to the toilet during the examination (and waiting outside!)
Handing out additional paper/materials etc. as required by students
Collecting in papers and collating them as directed by the exam board
Ensuring smooth exit of the students at the end of the exam

If you need to hire an exam invigilator

Good news – Axcis can help again! We have plenty of staff available who have experience with exam invigilation duties. We require a minimum booking requirement of two hours, but many schools find that they need invigilators for longer to help with setting up etc. So, if you need an exam invigilator for your school or provision, get in touch with your local Axcis team who will be happy to help.

Would you like to work as an exam invigilator?

Axcis are proud to offer support and training to staff who would like to undertake duties such as exam invigilating and scribing, so if you’d be interested in this sort of work, why not register or get in touch with Axcis today?

Top 10 tips for new teaching assistants

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0100

At Axcis, we help many people to find work as teaching assistants in schools. But if you’re new to the role, it may seem a little daunting at first – so what information can help you? Find out our top 10 tips for new teaching assistants here.

What is the role of the teaching assistant?

Our article, “Special Needs Teaching Assistant Job Profile” is a great place to start if you are new to teaching assistant work. It outlines the key roles and responsibilities of the teaching assistant. For example:

"Special needs teaching assistants help children with a range of learning, physical or behavioural difficulties. You may work in a special school that supports children with a range of moderate, severe or complex special educational needs, or with an individual pupil or small group of pupils in a mainstream class."

Top 10 tips for new teaching assistants

Here are our key tips for new teaching assistants – if you follow this guidance, you’re sure to perform like a star TA!

Be friendly and approachable - this might sound obvious, but you need to be friendly, supportive and approachable. This applies to both fellow staff and students. After all, if you turn up to school in a grump, or sit in the corner like a shrinking violet, just think about the impression you are creating… being approachable and proactive is a huge part of being an effective TA.

Find out about the students you’re working with – to be an effective teaching assistant, you’ll need to find out as much as possible about the students you are supporting. This might include reading their EHC Plans, speaking to class teachers and the SENCO to figure out what motivates them, what stresses them and how you might best provide support

Enhance your SEND knowledge – if the students you work with have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND – and it’s likely that they will), then make sure you understand the conditions they are dealing with. There is lots of information out there about types of special needs and how to effectively provide support so read up if you want to do the best job possible. Our SEND resources section of the blog is a great place to start! At Axcis, we also run regular CPD training events which may help you. Check out our social media pages for updates.

Find out about the school behaviour policy – if you are supporting children who exhibit challenging behaviour, you’ll need to be familiar with the school policy on behaviour management. There may be a whole-school approach which you should be using. It is also worth speaking with the classroom teacher about this to find out what their advice is.

Work closely with parents and carers – guidance regarding EHC (Education, Health and Care) Plans tells us that parents, carers and other healthcare professionals should be working closely together to support children with SEND. You should make a point of finding out how your role plays into this and communicate with other professionals and parents as appropriate about the progress and development of the children you are working with.

Be prepared to help with personal care and medical needs when necessary – some teaching assistants will support children who have personal care and medical needs. This might include helping with feeding, going to the toilet or administering medication. Staff members who turn their noses up at providing such support are not likely to be seen in a positive light, so do your best to go into school with the mindset that you’ll tackle any task required with positivity and enthusiasm (even if it’s a part of the role you’re not keen on!)

Attend meetings and training – schools may ask you to sit in on meetings or attend training sessions. Even if you feel that this is outside of your contracted hours/job description, you should try to attend these sessions. Not only could they provide you with useful skills and information to enhance your own career, they could also help you to ultimately provide better, more effective support for the children you work with.

Be flexible – although a school may hire you with a specific child/group of children in mind, you could be asked at any time to alter your remit and help elsewhere in the school. You’ll need to remain positive when faced with changes like this as schools are under constant pressure to deploy staff in the most effective way possible, and this may include moving your around on a moments notice.

Go above and beyond – doing things outside of your contracted hours, such as helping with sports clubs, school plays or musical performances are what will make you stand out from the crowd – so if you want to be seen as a valuable member of staff, you should make a point of getting involved in things which are above and beyond the call of duty.

Stay calm - The last tip I’d like to offer is to remain calm. Schools can be stressful environments at times, and it can be easy to allow yourself to become stressed. This can negatively affect both your own performance and the progress of the children you work with. So do your best to keep calm – you may find articles and videos online which can offer you some useful tips for this if you are a bit of a stress-head!

If you follow the tips above, you should quickly make yourself an invaluable member of staff no matter what school you work in!

Are you looking for SEND staff or work?

If you're looking for a SEND teaching or support job in England or Wales, why not register with Axcis, the SEND recruitment specialists? Or perhaps you need to recruit staff for your school or provision? If so, why not take a look at the Axcis Website, or get in touch today to find out how we can help?

Special Needs Teaching Assistant Job Profile

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0100

What does a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) teaching assistant do? How many hours a week do they work? What do they get paid and what qualifications and experience do you need to find this sort of job?

What does a SEND teaching assistant do?

Special needs teaching assistants help children with a range of learning, physical or behavioural difficulties. You may work in a special school that supports children with a range of moderate, severe or complex special educational needs, or with an individual pupil or small group of pupils in a mainstream class. You could have a different job title, such as special needs classroom assistant, learning support assistant, support worker or special needs assistant.

As a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) teaching assistant, you may work with children who have:

mild to moderate learning difficulties (MLD)
specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia (SPLD)
physical disabilities (PD)
hearing or visual impairment (HI, VI)
social, emotional or mental health issues (SEMH)

Typically, your job will involve:

helping with school work alongside the teacher
preparing learning materials, usually adapted from the teachers plans to suit the pupil(s) you work with
encouraging children to be confident and independent
helping children to understand instructions
contributing to a child’s care plan (education, social, behaviour and personal)
encouraging children to communicate, sometimes using non-verbal means of communication such as Makaton or PECs
supporting children during social activities and outings
helping children during therapy sessions
recognising when children are upset and comforting them
looking after children’s physical needs

Hours and Pay

You would usually work school hours, Monday to Friday, during term-time. However, many teaching assistants work part-time. You may sometimes go to training and meetings outside school hours. Some special schools are residential. If you work as a teaching assistant in this type of school, you may have to work a mixture of shifts covering seven days a week.

Salaries for full-time teaching assistants can be from £12,000 to over £17,000 a year. Salaries for full-time Higher Level Teaching Assistants can be between £16,000 and £22,000 a year. This varies depending on the Local Education Authority (LEA) and the responsibilities of individual jobs. Wage rates are set by each LEA or school. Teaching assistants who work part-time and/or paid term-time only would earn a portion of full-time rates (known as ‘pro rata’ payment).

What qualifications and experience do you need?

LEAs and individual schools decide which qualifications and experience they want applicants to have. You can get an idea of what you are likely to need by looking at jobs advertised locally or by checking your LEA’s vacancies online. You would normally need some experience of working with children or young people with disabilities or learning difficulties for this type of work. A useful way to gain experience is to volunteer to help in a local school for a few hours a week, or by signing up with a supply agency.

Although not all teaching assistants require official qualifications, there are some useful courses available through local colleges, which can help to prepare you for this type of work and are also useful if you have just started in a job, for example as a volunteer. These include:

Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools
Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce
Level 3 Award in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools.

You will also need qualifications in literacy and numeracy at GCSE level or equivalent, especially for paid work. If you want to work with pupils with a hearing impairment you may need a sign language qualification at stage 1 or higher, for instance the Certificate in British Sign Language. Depending on what work you undertake, you may also need to do training courses such as Makaton, PECs, Team Teach, Moving and Handling etc. At Axcis, we offer many of these courses so can point you in the right direction if you’d like to do one.

Are you looking for SEND staff or work?

5 Tips on how to get a job as a teaching assistant

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0100

Have you thought about teaching assistant work, but don’t know how to get into it? These 5 tips can help you on your way.

1 – Make sure you understand what the job involves

Before considering how to get a job as a teaching assistant, you should first make sure that you know what the job involves. The role of a classroom assistant can vary depending on the level of need of the children in the class, and whether you are working one to one with a particular student, or providing general class support. This blog post can help you to understand these aspects if you’ve not looked into teaching assistant work before.

2 – Decide which part of the sector to target

It is a good idea to decide whether you want to work in a specialist school or unit, or a mainstream school. The role (although very similar in principle) will vary quite a lot from one environment to another. If you feel that you are most suited to working in a mainstream primary or secondary school, this is the area you should target when you apply for voluntary or supply jobs. As a rule of thumb, mainstream schools look for staff who can offer targeted curriculum support, like English/Literacy, Maths/Numeracy or Science, so it’s a good idea to demonstrate an understanding of at least one of these areas. In contrast, many special schools look for staff who have some sort of knowledge, understanding or interest in special needs, so the way you forge a route into the profession may vary depending on where you’d most like to end up. If you need a breakdown of the different types of school out there, it could be useful to look at this recent post.

3 – Polish up your CV

These days, there is a wealth of information out there on how to write a good CV – but you want to make sure that you tailor your CV specifically towards working as a teaching assistant. While it’s true that many schools will be looking for previous teaching assistant experience, it’s not necessarily essential. If you have any experience which displays the qualities of a teaching assistant, you should ensure that you make the most of these on your CV. It might include things like volunteer work, coaching work, charity events or simply supporting friends and family who have children who require additional support. Whatever experience you have, you should do your best to make the most of it on your CV. If you’d like help writing your CV, why not check out our blog?

4 – Volunteer or sign up with an agency

At Axcis, we provide a range of useful training courses to help further your education career.
If your CV looks sparse when it comes to experience that lends itself to TA work, you should consider either doing some voluntary work in a local school, or signing up with an agency to do some short-term supply work in order to gain experience in this field. You’d be surprised how much you can learn in just a day, so it’s well worth doing it if school-based work is the way you want to take your career. At Axcis, we often hire people who have limited practical experience, but who we feel fit the profile of an effective TA. After all, we have extensive experience of understanding what schools are looking for. We also provide additional training to those who want to gain personal and professional development relevant to working in schools, so we can help enhance your qualifications as well as experience sections on your CV. If you’d like to know more, why not register online? It takes just a few minutes, is free and will allow you access to a huge range of school-based jobs, which you can start to apply for immediately.

5 – Put in a polished application for permanent jobs

If you’ve been working through an agency, you may find that the schools you do supply work in will offer you longer-term or permanent work. If they don’t, you’ll need to make sure you polish up your application before putting it in for permanent jobs. Don’t make an assumption that because TA jobs are at the lower end of the scale in terms of pay, that they are ten a penny. They are not. In fact, most schools tell us that they have far more applicants for TA positions than they do for teaching roles, so you will have stiff competition. You’ll need to demonstrate the you really want the job, AND have the skills to do it well, so make your application the best that it possibly can be.

Take our quiz and find out if you’d be well suited to TA work

If you’re not sure whether you’d be suited to teaching assistant work or not, why not take our short quiz? Simply answer these 10 questions – it only takes a few minutes!

Are you looking for SEND staff or work?

Photo credit: Pexels

Is Axcis the best agency to work for? We think so! Here are 5 reasons why

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0100

Is Axcis the best agency to work for? If you’re a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) teacher or member of support staff, we believe that the answer is a resounding YES! Here are 5 reasons why.

1 – Competitive rates of pay

We believe in offering the best rates of pay we can at Axcis.

We want to offer our teachers and support staff the best rates of pay we possibly can, and although we are limited by what we can charge schools, we always try to keep our margins as low as possible. Doing this allows us to negotiate the most competitive daily rates for the people who work for us. This, in turn, means that our staff stay in their jobs for longer and schools get greater stability for their students when they hire an Axcis candidate. That has to be a good thing all round!

2 – Training and Development Opportunities

One of the things we have worked hard to develop at Axcis is our CPD offerings to our candidates. Although there is no legal requirement for us to offer this, and it can cost us a lot of time and money to set up training events for our candidates, we feel that it is another factor that helps us to stand out from the crowd. We currently offer a range of different courses, from Team Teach and Autism Awareness, to Behaviour Management and Moving and Handling, among others. We feel that candidates working through an agency should have professional development options open to them just as permanent school staff do.

3 – Consultants who care

Agencies are essentially people selling people to people – so it’s an industry that relies almost completely on relationships. With this in mind, at Axcis we recruit only consultants who we feel can offer a service that is second to none. It’s not just about sales skills, it’s about understanding the industry, being an excellent listener, and being able to pay close attention to the needs of candidates and clients and respond accordingly. Many Axcis staff are ex-teachers or support staff who understand the sector they are recruiting for – and schools repeatedly tell us that this makes all the difference. We are NOT interested in pressure-sales techniques or being creative with the truth in order to convince candidates to take a job that isn’t suitable for them – it’s about clarity, understanding, and honesty because this is the key to strong long-term relationships. We also understand that we are ultimately supporting some of the most vulnerable children in our society with the staff we hire – and we take that responsibility extremely seriously.

4- Great Feedback

It’s all very well listening to us blowing our own trumpet, but the real proof of a good supply agency is the feedback received from candidates and clients. For example, here are some of the comments we have been given on Facebook, which we believe helps to show just how great our service is:

"Love working for Axcis, very supportive and helpful consultants. Training courses available with them as well."

"If you are in any way involved in SEN, either as a parent, teacher, carer, assistant or someone who wants to better understand their own condition, the information on the Axcis Education page is gold."

"An excellent agency to work with compared to all the other agencies I signed up with. I would highly recommend Axcis! Thank you Martin K / London office / and the team for making my time working there both enjoyable and fulfilling. Thank you so much."

"Brilliant agency, so reliable and the consultants are so helpful and professional."

"Highly organised and methodical in approach. Guaranteed job satisfaction."

5 – Charitable partnerships

We are immensely proud of our partnerships with charities and partner organisations. Axcis sponsors nasen (the National Association for Special Educational Needs), the UK’s leading organisation supporting those who work with or care for children and young people with special and additional educational needs and disabilities (SEND). We are also affiliated with the REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) and continue to seek further opportunities to expand our support to the SEND sector.

Are you looking for SEND staff or work?

Moving into special needs teaching and need to ace a trial day/lesson?

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0100

Are you looking to move from working in mainstream schools to special needs schools? Do you need advice on how to perform well at a sample lesson/day? If the answer is yes, then this article is for you.

Method of application

Your method of application for a position may directly affect the selection process. Those applying directly to schools will have to complete an extensive interview pack before being invited in for a formal interview/lesson. If, however, you are applying through an agency for a role at a special school, the process may well forego a formal interview and move directly to a practical “trial day”. Temporary positions are often a great stepping-stone for those wanting to transition from working in mainstream to special needs schools as the selection process is often based more on how well you actually perform in the job, rather than your suitability on paper for a given role. Regardless of your method of application, you need to perform well with the children if you want to be offered the job. But how do you do that when you don’t know the class and might be a bit anxious about your level of knowledge when it comes to working with special needs?

Remember, the basics are important!

Before you start getting into the nitty gritty of the differences between working with mainstream and SEND pupils, remember that all the basics still apply. This means you need to dress appropriately, be on time, be prepared with all your lesson plans/materials and have a friendly/approachable and confident (but not cocky) manner – first impressions really do count – especially when you have just one day to impress a school.

Do your research and pitch your level appropriately

When planning a special needs lesson, you need to understand the level at which you should be pitching it. If you work through an agency, your consultant should be able to give you an insight into the school and the approximate levels at which the students work. It would be no good turning up to an MLD school with a lesson plan geared towards PMLD students and vice versa, so it’s important that you find out a bit about the school and what sort of learning outcomes are typical for the students in the class. Most schools have a website which will give information which will help, or you might gain insight from inspection reports. Social media can also be a useful tool – you can find special needs teachers or groups and ask for some direct advice on how to pitch your lesson and what sort of learning outcomes are suitable. Remember, the school knows that you don’t have the details of the class you will be taking, so they won’t expect a perfect lesson in-keeping with that the students are currently learning, they will be looking for your teaching methods, attitude, ability to engage with the students and direct the support staff so try not to get too bogged down in the actual content of the lesson, but try to pitch your activities at about the right level, and have some easier/harder tasks available to aid differentiation. If you have time, and the school is willing, they may be prepared to have a look at your lesson idea beforehand and let you know if it’s suitable for the group you’ll be working with.

Ask to see EHCPs

When you arrive at school, ask if there is time to look at the EHCPs or learning plans for the group you will be working with. Some schools will be eager for you to do this, others may be too pushed for time and may need you in the classroom. Even if you don’t have chance to read these important documents, the school you are interviewing with should be impressed that you at least WANT to see them. If you do have a chance to look at them, don’t panic about remembering every tiny detail – even a quick scan will give you an idea of the needs of the children and how best to support them with your teaching method. Look out for triggers – if it transpires that playing music (for example) may lead to a meltdown with a particular student, and your lesson happens to include playing a song, you might want to have a quick re-think!

Speak to the support staff

In a mainstream classroom, teachers will have usually come across support staff, such as teaching assistants before. They will often sit with an individual student, or group of students and help them to complete their classwork. While the role is similar in special schools, due to the (usually) more widely varied needs of the students, the support staff can hold the key to whether a lesson goes smoothly or not since they are the people who really understand the needs and limitations of the children in that group. Therefore, if it is possible to set a starter activity which the children can work on independently, it will give you a chance to run through your lesson plan with the support staff and make any last-minute adjustments. Even better if you can speak to them before the lesson begins. It doesn’t need to be an in-depth discussion of your lesson – quickly showing them your plan or telling them what you intend to do and asking if they foresee any problems should be enough. It’s too late at this stage to completely re-write the lesson so only minor adjustments are likely to be possible, but the support staff will appreciate being involved and feeling that their opinion matters to you. And remember, their opinion of you may well be instrumental in whether you are offered the job or not!

Use a range of teaching and learning strategies

In a special needs setting, you may be working with students who have a huge range of limitations. In some environments you may have non-verbal or partially-verbal children in your class, or you might have students who have physical disabilities to the point where they are not able to hold a pen and engage in writing tasks in a traditional way, so make sure you have a range of teaching and learning tools at the ready. There is plenty of information out there on how to engage students with more complex special needs in your lessons, so if you are interviewing for a role with a class like this, be sure to have some ideas on how to achieve your content. For example, some students might find that tracing a word in a tray of sand is achievable, but holding a pen to write it may not be. It may be a good idea to sketch out your learning objectives and then devise several different methods of achieving each task required to meet them – but keep it simple as you may need to carry any additional materials for the lesson with you and you won’t want to lug a huge suitcase around with you!

Be honest if the debrief

After your lesson is finished, you will usually have an opportunity to discuss how it went with a member of the school management team. If you know that there are areas you need to work on, acknowledging these and explaining how you would improve them in future will go a long way to impressing your observer. Nobody will expect you to be an expert on a class you have never worked with before, but you can impress with your self-evaluation and willingness to learn and improve. This is they key to what we find many special schools are looking for, so don’t beat yourself up if your lesson didn’t go 100% to plan.

A note for agency trial days

At times, I have received calls from teachers who have prepared for a trial day and then feel let down that they did not have a senior member of staff observing them, especially if they didn’t get offered the job. However, it must be remembered that the feedback of the support staff will be taken into account when making a decision on who to hire, and in many special schools their opinion is very highly regarded.

Need help?

If you are considering making the transition from teaching in mainstream to special needs school and you’d like assistance from an agency, why not give your local Axcis office a call to see how we can help? Registering with Axcis won’t cost you a penny, and we’ve helped many teachers to make the move to special needs.

Writing a CV and Cover Letter to support your mainstream to SEND transition

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0100

At Axcis, we support many education professionals who are looking to make the transition from working in mainstream environments to special needs provisions. But without specialist experience, how can you make your CV and cover letter look appealing to schools? Here are some useful tips you can use when considering making the move.

Cover Letter

Of course, the standard advice on writing cover letters stands. If you’re not familiar with it, check out our blog on writing an effective cover letter. However, it may seem like a much more daunting task when it feels like you have little or no experience in the sector for which you are applying. This is why we thought we would offer some tips specifically for those who are new to the SEND sector on what to include in their cover letter to schools or agencies:

Demonstrate that you are ready for this transition – by the time you start to apply for SEND teaching/support roles, you should have done some research and decided if you feel you are suitable for this sort of work. You need to explain what research you have done, and why you feel that you are suitable, despite not having direct experience. If you have done some volunteering, observations or even had a consultation with one of our Axcis staff, mention it (and what you learned from it) – the school will be encouraged to take your application more seriously.
Explain that you understand what the role entails – after reading the job description and looking at the school website, you should have an idea of the sort of special needs which are catered for. From this, you should be able to find some information on what sort of levels these children are likely to be working at, and hence how lessons should be pitched and what sort of activities are appropriate. If you have any friends or family who work in special schools, it may help to discuss it with them – they should be able to give you pointers. When writing your cover letter, you’ll need to include some examples of how you would adapt your current classroom practice. This includes both delivery of lessons/activities as well as classroom management and assessment strategies, where appropriate.
Remember to tell them what you can bring to their school – when changing sector, it’s easy to fall into the mind set that you are a sponge and ready to learn all about the new environment you’ll be working in. However, you should remember that you will still have some core skills and attributes which they will find useful, too. This might be things like your subject knowledge, classroom management skills or pastoral passion – but it might also be things like organising trips, a penchant for gardening, swimming or going to the shops! (These are all activities which are popular in developing life skills and mobility in special schools so if you show you’d be keen to get involved in these things then it may appeal to many schools).

Writing your CV

As above, when writing a CV to support a mainstream to SEND transition, the standard advice still stands. You can read our CV guidance here. However, if you find that your biography, work experience and qualifications are a little lacking on the SEND front, here are some tips for making the most of what you have:

Personal statement – make sure you include why you want to move from mainstream to SEND teaching/support. This doesn’t mean you should include everything you’d write in a cover letter – your personal statement should be much more concise. However, you should definitely talk about the fact you have done some research, know what to expect and are passionate/excited about making this transition on a professional level. Including a personal reason for why you want to make the move is also a good idea to demonstrate your passion and commitment.
Experience – your current CV is likely to list a number of mainstream schools in which you have already worked. You should make the most of this experience by explaining the following for each school you’ve worked in:
- What proportion of SEND are on roll
- What specific needs the school catered for in the time you were there
- Any SEND individuals you worked with in your classes, and how you formed a partnership with the TA and/or SENCo to achieve the best possible outcomes for these students
- Any other experience you gained directly related to SEND pupils – for example, did you liaise with outside agencies, assist in the Statement/EHC process, support parents, run any training to share good practice with other staff?
Other experience – if you didn’t work in schools which had SEND students on roll, or have limited professional exposure, you should make sure that you include any other relevant experience when outlining your work history. For example, if you have done volunteering, working on summer holiday play schemes, or even looked after the children of friends or family with a SEND, you should include it. Any experience is useful, even if it’s not formed part of your professional career so don’t miss out on this opportunity to showcase it as part of your CV. If you’re not sure how to put dates down, you could include something like “On an ad-hoc basis during the dates (from) (to) – child minding relative with autism.”
Qualifications – any standard teaching/support qualification is relevant, but you should also include any training or qualifications you hold specific to special needs. These may be from CPD/Inset training sessions rather than being formal qualifications. The sorts of training SEND schools will find appealing (among others) re:
- Any form of communication training – from British Sign Language to using PECS, Makaton, Sign-a-Long or any other form of communication support.
- Any form of behaviour training – from Team Teach to Positive Options or any of the other systems of behaviour management training. Many teach very similar principles to each other and will be useful in SEND schools. Even if you’ve done basic in-house behaviour training, it’s worth including in this section of your CV.
- SEND training – if you have done an inset on supporting students with autism, or any other sort of special need, include it!
- Moving and Handling Training – if you have completed any courses on how to safely move others (this could include using a hoist or how to lift another individual manually using a particular training system) make sure you include it in your CV as many special needs schools will have students on roll with reduced mobility so your training could be very valuable.

Why using an agency can help

Many staff looking to make the transition from mainstream to special needs do so with the assistance of an agency, and at Axcis we recruit ONLY for the special educational needs sector, which puts us in an excellent position to help. There are several reasons why doing it this way can be very beneficial for you:

Your agency should be able to discuss your skills and experience with you and suggest where you’d fit in well in the sector, as well as discussing your overall suitability for SEND work.
Your agency should already have plenty of existing relationships with schools, which puts your consultant in a good position to know which schools will appreciate your skill set, and which schools offer good levels of support for those new to the sector.
Doing supply work will allow you to try out different SEND schools and roles until you find your niche.
Short-term supply work does not usually require a CV to be sent to the school, so if you are looking to increase your experience in order to improve your CV, doing it this way can help (but you need to be flexible and willing to try out different schools and assignments).
Many short-term supply positions become longer-term, or even permanent jobs. So if you are looking for a way to take smaller steps rather than jumping straight into a permanent post, this can be a great way to do it.
Some agencies will offer to provide you with specialist training. For example, at Axcis, we provide Autism Awareness training, Team Teach, Moving and Handling as well as a range of other useful CPD courses to help enhance the skills of our contractors.

If you’d like to talk to a consultant at Axcis about making the transition to special educational needs, get in touch with your local officetoday for a friendly, no-pressure chat, or alternatively, register for work. We’d love to help you!

How to write an effective cover letter in 5 simple steps

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0100

Never underestimate the importance of a good cover letter. If the application process for a vacancy demands one, it's crucial that you make a good job of it. The cover letter should reflect not only why you're suitable for the role, but should also demonstrate a strong grasp of your spelling, punctuation and grammar (so pay particular attention to step 5!)

Step 1 - Read the job description

Never use a "standard" cover letter. Trust me, as someone who has spent a decade doing both internal and external recruitment, nothing turns an employer off faster than a cover letter which is generic and says nothing specific about your suitability for their job. This is why it's of great importance to read the job description for the role for which you are applying carefully, before you start to write your cover letter. Note down the key attributes the employer is looking for, and try to match it to your own skills and experience - do this on a bit of scrap paper to start with. This will form the nuts and bolts of your letter. It's also a very good idea to re-check the application process and criteria at this point in case a word limit is stated or additional documentation has been requested as part of your application. While this might sound obvious to many, when I recently advertised for graduates, I asked for confirmation of availability on a certain date for a selection day plus a statement of no more than 400 words on why they feel they would be suitable for the job. Not a single applicant followed these instructions when they applied!

Step 2 - Ensure that your introduction mentions the job you are applying for

Some employers will have more than one vacancy for which they are recruiting, so be sure to state in your opening paragraph what position you are applying for, along with where you saw it advertised. If you were referred to the vacancy by an existing member of staff, this is a great time to mention it. If you have a friend already working there, it's likely that managers will ask them their opinion of you - and provided their comments should be positive, it can help you to get a foot in the door.

Step 3 - Tell them why you are suitable for the job

Remember those notes you made in step 1? Now is the time to get them out. This part of your letter should be concise, making it clear WHY you are suitable for the job. For example, if the job description says you'll be working with children you should make the most of this opportunity to describe previous experience working with children. Do not get carried away and start to re-write your CV in a long, wordy format. Remember that they also have your CV, so don't duplicate too much of the information on it. Instead, use examples from jobs, or situations which demonstrate why your personal skills and experience make you ideal for their position.

Step 4 - Tell them what else you can bring to their organisation

What OTHER skills and experience can you bring them which might be of interest? This is a great opportunity to show-case any specific achievements you've made in life or work but which perhaps didn't relate specifically to the job description. For example, if you wrote some training materials for your last employer, you could mention this and state that should it be required, this is something you could also do for a prospective new employer. Again - do not waffle on for ages about every last thing you've done in every previous job. Think about whether what you are stating is relevant and useful. If the answer is no, don't include it!

Step 5 - Sum up and spell check

To close the letter, simply re-state your interest in the post and highlight that you are very keen/enthusiastic. This doesn't come off as desperate - instead it simply shows potential employers that you are keen. This is a huge plus since we all want employees who actively WANT to work for us - as generally it means they'll be conscientious and do a great job! Once you have written your letter, check it carefully for spelling and grammar, and ensure that you have had at least one friend look it over in case you've missed any mistakes. When you sign it off, include your contact details (just in case your CV and Cover Letter get separated), and print your name as well as signing (if you are printing the letter to send). If you are emailing your application, don't worry about physically signing it as this is now commonly accepted practice in the world of electronic communication.

All that remains is to remind you to submit your job application by the closing date and keep all your fingers and toes crossed! If you are super-keen on the position, it might be worth following up with a phone call to the organisation to check your application pack has been received. The last thing you'd want is a bounced email in a week or two telling you that it never got through because of a spelling mistake in the email address you typed out! A follow-up call also demonstrates to the employer that you are both conscientious and keen!

Are you looking for SEND staff or work?

10 steps to a great CV

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0100

At Axcis we want to help you find the perfect job. It's not just about seeking out the right role, but the right team and organisation, too. When you consider that the average full-time employee spends more of their waking hours with co-workers than with friends and family, it is easy to see why being in a job which fits you is so important. At Axcis, we want to do our bit to help you in the quest for your perfect position - the first step is to have a great CV! Here are 10 steps to getting your CV ship-shape.

Before we go any further, always have in the back of your mind that a CV should be a sort of "trailer" for you - so imagine you are a film and make sure all the best bits are included - but not everything - nobody likes a movie trailer which contains all the spoilers for the film! But it should make others want to go and see it (or in this case - meet you!)

1 - Make sure your CV follows a clear structure

This can be something simple like:

- Personal Statement
- Qualifications
- Experience
- Hobbies/Charity Work

2 - Stick to a simple, clear design

Contrary to popular belief, complicated formatting won't usually win you any points with employers (unless perhaps you are applying for graphic design roles).

3 - Choose an easily legible font

Stick to one or two fonts and one or two font sizes - NEVER reduce the size to a point where it is difficult to read, just to fit more onto the page - it's a myth that your CV should fit on a certain number of pages. Any length is OK as long as it is relevant. Although there is no problem in using bold fonts, be sparing in the use of italics – some software can be fooled by italics. Avoid underlining for the same reason, and under no circumstances use black - or indeed any other colour - boxes with white text in them. The same goes for shadow, outline and any other of those bizarre typestyles that Word allows you to use.

4 - Keep your personal statement to about a paragraph

Prospective employers do not want to spend hours reading your CV so ensure everything you write is relevant. Try to give a taste of who you are as a person, as well as what makes you a super employee. Remember, you are selling yourself, so if you can't tell people what's great about you, nobody else will (unless they apply for your references, but this won't usually happen unless you are selected for an interview!)

5 - Provide a summary of your qualifications and work experience

Be sure to include dates, your duties as well as achievements for each position you have held. Don’t forget to include anything you have done over and above the call of duty – this shows you to be a dedicated employee, and is possibly the most important element in this section. If you are a newly qualified teacher, list your teaching placements as if they were jobs - this will give you more of an opportunity to demonstrate what you did while you were there.

6 - List qualifications and work experience in chronological order

Start with the most recent and working your way backwards. This is because you want prospective employers to read your most relevant, recent experience first - not the bar job you had when you were at college! However, if your most recent experience is irrelevant to the position you are applying for, you may choose to list "Relevant Experience" before you list your "Other Experience" - each section can then still be listed in a reverse chronological order.

7 - Include other achievements and hobbies

This is essential to show them you are a person as well as potential employee. Include any sports, charity work, team activities and any other hobbies you might have. This can be fantastic as an opportunity to build rapport when you go for an interview. For example, you might be an avid rock-climber... if your interviewer also happens to enjoy this pursuit it can be a brilliant opportunity to have a relaxed chat around the subject and will make you a more memorable applicant, too!

8 - Read it back to yourself

Is your CV clear and concise? Is it relatively easy to read? What typeface/size have you used? Should it be amended? If you can, print a copy! Make sure it looks as good printed as it does on screen and fits well onto the page(s).

9 - Check your spelling, grammar and personal details

Even the best CV is no good if the company you apply to can't get hold of you because there is a mistake in your phone number! And not many prospective employers will be interested in you if your CV is peppered with spelling and grammar errors, so be sure not to miss this crucial step.

10 - Ask friends and family to check it over

Even professional writers have a second pair of eyes on their work - this is because it can be hard to spot your own mistakes. And one simple error can lead to your CV ending up in the bin, so don't discount the importance of this step.

If you need a CV template to work from, you can download one from the Axcis website.

Once you have your CV finished, don't forget to send us a copy to update your file if you are registered with Axcis! And if you're not registered but are seeking special needs teaching or support work, why not register today and see what jobs we can offer you?

Blog Home

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How to Prepare for Your First Day in a SEND Setting

End of Term Guide for Teaching and Education Support Supply Staff

Mastering Your CV: The Ultimate Guide to Landing Your Dream Job

What is a Cover Supervisor?

Kickstart Your Career in Special Needs Education

Calling all unqualified Teaching Assistants!

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Top 5 interview questions for teachers

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