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5 Practical Strategies to Support Inclusive Learning

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 12:20:00 Z

5 Practical Strategies to Support Inclusive Learning

At Axcis Education Recruitment, we are dedicated to connecting exceptional SEND professionals with schools that truly value their expertise. We understand the challenges educators face in meeting diverse needs in the classroom. That’s why we’re sharing five practical strategies to help you create an inclusive, effective learning environment for every student.

Supporting students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) requires a tailored approach that meets diverse learning needs. Here are five proven strategies to create an inclusive and effective learning environment for all students:

1. Supporting Autistic Students

Strategy: Use clear, literal language and avoid idioms.

Classroom Tip: Create a visual schedule and provide advance notice of any changes.

Why it works: Predictability and clear communication reduce anxiety and support understanding.

2. Supporting students with ADHD

Strategy: Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps.

Classroom Tip: Allow movement by incorporating activities like standing desks or task-based movement.

Why it works: Providing structure and physical outlets helps students stay focused.

3. Supporting students with Dyslexia

Strategy: Provide multi-sensory learning opportunities, such as using touch, sight, and sound.

Classroom Tip: Use audiobooks and coloured overlays for reading materials.

Why it works: Multi-sensory approaches engage different areas of the brain, improving comprehension.

4. Supporting Students with Speech and Language Disorders

Strategy: Use visual aids and gestures to reinforce verbal instructions.

Classroom Tip: Provide extra time for responses and encourage peer interaction during discussions.

Why it works: Visual support and patience foster confidence and understanding.

5. Supporting Students with Social, Emotional, Mental Health (SEMH) needs

Strategy: Develop a behaviour management plan tailored to individual needs.

Classroom Tip: Use positive reinforcement and provide a safe space for self-regulation.

Why it works: A structured, supportive approach builds trust and encourages self-control.

The key to supporting SEND students lies in understanding their individual needs and implementing strategies that enable them to thrive. By continuously reflecting on and adapting your approach, you can create a nurturing environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Axcis Academy

Did you know that Axcis has a CPD Academy to help registered candidates boost their careers? Click here to learn more about the Axcis Academy.

Refer and Earn with Axcis

Axcis offers a unique Refer a Friend bonus that allows you and the person you refer the opportunity to earn. Everyone wins! Click here to find out how to refer your SEND educator friends.

Ready to make a difference in education?

Whether you’re a passionate candidate seeking new opportunities or a school looking for dedicated staff, Axcis is here to support you every step of the way. Choose Axcis as your preferred agency and let’s work together to create an inclusive and enriching learning environment for all. Contact us today to get started! Email info@axcis.co.uk or call us at 0207 580 2956

Transforming Lives in SEND Recruitment

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 12:20:38 +0100

Transforming Lives in SEND Recruitment: A Conversation with Martin Keddie, Associate Director at Axcis Education

At Axcis Education, we believe that every placement we make has the power to transform lives, particularly when it comes to special educational needs (SEND). In a recent podcast interview, Martin Keddie, our Associate Director of HR & Candidate Management, sat down with Susanna Gray-Jones - an esteemed Rec2Rec Recruitment Leader and friend of Axcis to share insights into his journey and the values that drive Axcis as a leader in SEND recruitment.

In this candid discussion, Martin reveals how his background in teaching and performing arts has shaped his approach to recruitment and how Axcis’s unique focus on consultative, relationship-based recruitment is key to our success.

From the Classroom to Leadership: Martin’s Journey at Axcis

Martin’s journey into recruitment began as a teaching assistant, working directly with children with special educational needs. This hands-on experience provided him with a deep understanding of the challenges that schools and SEND professionals face. His story demonstrates that at Axcis, career growth isn’t just possible—it’s expected. Starting as a candidate, Martin quickly rose through the ranks to become a top-billing consultant and now holds a leadership position, helping shape the future of recruitment at Axcis.

“Axcis allowed me to grow my career, giving me the tools to succeed while ensuring I never lost sight of our core mission—to support children with special educational needs.” – Martin Keddie

Why Axcis? Passion Over Profit

One key theme from Martin’s interview is the genuine passion that drives Axcis recruiters. Unlike some agencies that may focus solely on profits, Axcis is committed to making a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children. By placing the right people in the right roles, we help schools create inclusive learning environments where every child has the chance to thrive.

“SEND recruitment isn’t just about filling vacancies—it’s about making a lasting impact. Every school is unique, and every candidate we place needs to fit the specific needs of that environment.” – Martin Keddie

A Tailored Approach for Schools and Candidates

For schools looking for dedicated SEND professionals, Axcis offers more than just a transactional service. Our consultative approach ensures that we work closely with schools to understand their unique needs and find the perfect match for their environment. Martin shared how his experience on both sides of recruitment - as a candidate and now as a leader - gives him a unique perspective on the importance of tailored recruitment solutions.

“We don’t just place people; we build long-term relationships. We make sure every placement benefits both the school and the professional, creating a positive impact on the students we serve.” – Martin Keddie

Building Strong Relationships in SEND Recruitment

One of the key takeaways from the podcast is the importance of relationships in recruitment. Martin explains that trust and communication are vital—both with candidates and schools. By fostering open lines of communication and supporting candidates throughout their journey, Axcis builds lasting partnerships that set us apart from competitors.

“Recruitment is about relationships. At Axcis, we don’t just focus on the short-term; we’re here for the long haul, ensuring both schools and candidates succeed.” – Martin Keddie

Ready to Transform SEND Recruitment?

Whether you're a school looking for dedicated SEND staff or a professional seeking a career that makes a difference, Axcis Education is here to help. Our consultative, personalized approach ensures that we find the right fit for your needs, creating lasting impact for children with special educational needs.

We invite you to listen to the full podcast episode below, where Martin shares even more insights into what makes Axcis the leader in SEND recruitment.

Click Here to listen on Spotify

Ready to make a difference in education? Whether you’re a passionate candidate seeking new opportunities or a school looking for dedicated staff, Axcis is here to support you every step of the way. Choose Axcis as your preferred agency and let’s work together to create an inclusive and enriching learning environment for all. Contact us today to get started! Email info@axcis.co.uk or call us at 0207 580 2956

Graduate Jobs with Axcis – have you thought about a career in recruitment?

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0100

At Axcis, we are always on the lookout for new talent, and that includes graduates! We have an excellent Associate Consultant training programme, so if you are interested in a career in education recruitment, look no further than Axcis!

We’re looking for Associate Consultants to join our team in our Head Office in Central London (Oxford Circus). So if you are a graduate who wants to pursue a career in education recruitment, but don’t quite have the relevant experience yet to take on a fully-fledged Consultant role, look no further!

What is the Associate Consultant training programme?

The Associate Consultant training programme is a 6 month training programme designed to cover all aspects of the 360 recruitment cycle. From interview skills and compliance requirements, to negotiating rates and contracts, to marketing and specialist subject knowledge, you name it, we cover it! So no matter what your degree may be in, if you are a confident communicator who can stay focused whilst multi-tasking and working under pressure, and still deliver first class service to candidates and clients alike, this is the perfect programme for you. All we ask is you have the drive to succeed with a great work ethic. We’ll help you with everything else so by the end of the 6 month programme you’ll be fully equipped to manage your own portfolio of candidates and clients.

Why should graduates consider a career in recruitment with Axcis?

Great rates of pay plus potential for plenty of additional commission
Training and support which is second to none – the Associate Consultant training programme has proven to be effective time and time again
Friendly managers and colleagues who are always there to back each other up – we focus strongly on a supportive team environment in our offices
Work for an agency which can demonstrate an ethical stance (read our blog: 4 Reasons we are the ethical agency)

What do our previous grads say about working for Axcis?

Here is an interview with Tessa, who joined us as a graduate and is now an Executive Education Consultant in our London Office:

What degree did you do?
BA Psychology

Using 3 to 5 words, how would you describe your personality?
Bubbly, Enthusiastic, Calm, Witty

Did you go straight into recruitment or do something else first?
After university I went straight into recruitment – got the job the same day I graduated!

How did you hear about Axcis?
There was a graduate recruitment fair at my university and we were advised to visit websites which were looking for grads to start – and Axcis were advertising on one of the website!

What made you apply for our grad scheme?
The fact that Axcis were looking for grads who didn’t necessarily have the experience, but were looking for people who had the drive. Training would be provided so I wouldn’t be thrown into the deep end. Progression within the company. An opportunity to learn and grow as we know how difficult it is for graduates to secure full time jobs after University

Did you know about recruitment and know what to expect when coming into the industry?
Before applying for the role I made sure I did my research so I knew it was not going to be an easy ride but to be honest this drew me in even more. I knew it would involve working long hours but then again I knew I would be rewarded for my hard work so this did not phase me. Whilst doing my research one quote that kept coming up was ‘each day is different in recruitment’ and this is definitely true which is what I love.

How did you find the training Axcis offered you?
Very useful and effective. You are taught everything you need to know so that when you are putting it into practice you feel confident.

What are the three best things about working for Axcis?
Great team around you. Opportunities for career progression and great commission structure.

What advice would you give other graduates who are thinking about a career in recruitment?
Do your research before applying for the role. If you have drive and determination, and are quite resilient then this role is for you.

What 3 attributes do you think are most important for any graduate who wants to do recruitment?
Resilience. Must be a people person. You need to want it for yourself – drive is key.

If you are a graduate seeking a long-term career opportunity, send us your CV now for one of our graduate Associate Consultant jobs!

Still not sure if a career in recruitment would suit you? If you answer “yes” to these 5 questions, then it probably would!

Find out more about what it takes to be a great Education Consultant here: 5 tips for being a successful education recruitment consultant

We look forward to you starting your recruitment career with Axcis!

Education Recruitment Jobs with Axcis

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 13:13:00 Z

Recruiters – are you fed up with the agency you currently work for? Or are you a service person looking for a career change? Have you considered working for Axcis? Find out why we are a great company to work for and what education recruitment jobs we have available.

Why work for Axcis?

We are the only specialist special educational needs recruiter dedicated to the sector and have an exclusive relationship with nasen - National Association for Special Educational Needs
We are well respected within our field and are approached by many new candidates and clients each week keen to work with us through our sponsorship of charities and presence at many exhibitions and conferences
We offer a generous pay and bonus package as well as further training, social events and many more benefits to our staff
We offer progression and opportunities for professional development in-house
We have an extensive database and our online marketing/website has received huge investment in recent years, which helps to attract lots of new candidates to register with us weekly – making your job as a consultant easier!
We are a friendly, supportive company and many staff who leave come back to us after trying other agencies! What could say more about us than that?

To apply – send your CV to Martin Keddie using the link below – it is also helpful if you state which office you are interested in working in, as well as when you’re looking to start a full-time role with us.

SEND YOUR CV NOW!

What internal vacancies do we currently have available?

Check out our Careers at Axcis page for our current internal vacancies.

Top 5 things we look for in our consultants

A positive attitude – when a candidate/client lets you down, you should be able to start looking for solutions immediately rather than dwelling on the problem at hand or being negative about it
A team player – although it sounds corny, this is really important to us at Axcis – you’ll be sharing candidates and ideas for good practice, so being able to support your fellow team mates is an essential part of the role
Reliability – Axcis is a busy company, and that’s why we need all hands on deck! Turning up late or regularly taking sick days (unless needed of course) won’t go down well with your team mates – and may possibly upset your schools/candidates if they can’t reach you when the office is meant to be open.
Great written and spoken English skills – this role is all about communication – both written and verbal, so your skills in this area must be top notch.
Adaptability – as a rapidly growing company, roles may adapt over time and new team members can change the dynamic in the office – we rely on our staff to be adaptable in the face of such challenges.

What do we offer?

In addition to your competitive base salary, you will also start earning personal commission immediately as part of a highly attractive bonus scheme.

Our offices are modern and well equipped, with a database which is second-to-none, giving you instant access to clients and candidates you will be able to utilise. We operate on a rotating shift pattern of 7am – 4pm or 9am – 6pm, which helps to manage the traditionally long hours associated with recruitment work. In addition to this, we offer reduced working hours during non-term time and additional days of leave over Christmas and Bank Holiday weekends.

Oh, and did we mention we still have a hybrid working model so you can work from home for two days per week?

If you believe you have the qualities and skills needed to be successful in this role, and would like to work in a company that offers fantastic commission, training and support, then now is the time to think about what you want from your career.

SEND YOUR CV NOW!

All applicants need to be eligible to work in the UK. Please note, as this is an office based appointment, the company cannot offer Visa Sponsorship. If you do not have a valid Visa / Work Permit for the UK your application will be rejected. If you do not hear back from Axcis within six weeks of forwarding your details, you may assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

Axcis: 4 Reasons We Are The Ethical Agency

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0100

Axcis: 4 Reasons We Are The Ethical Agency

Recruitment agencies are often tarred with the “greedy, unethical” brush. At Axcis, we regularly hear horror stories from candidates and schools who have had a bad experience with an agency. This could be anything from outrageous fees, to poor compliance or just a downright rubbish service. So what makes Axcis any different to the rest? Why should you consider working with us, or feel secure in your choice of agency if you already are? Here are four solid facts which demonstrate why Axcis is “the ethical agency”.

1 – Charitable Partnerships

We are immensely proud of our partnerships with charities and partner organisations. Axcis sponsors nasen 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. 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.

2 – Reasonable Rates

While I am not denying that agencies can have high overheads – staff to pay, rent to cover and all the other standard operational business expenses, that’s not to say rates need to be unreasonable to cover that and still turn a fair profit.

The press have been known to demonise agencies for paying low rates of pay to their staff while charging huge fees to clients – then laughing all the way to the bank with the resulting profits. One of the ways you can tell if an agency operates in this way is to simply ask them what they pay and what they charge. If they are cagey about telling you, the chances are they’ll struggle to justify the figure. At Axcis, we hear stories from schools who have discovered that teaching assistants are being paid as little as £65 a day, while their agency charges the school £140 a day – making a tidy profit of £75 for every day each person works. Multiply that up to hundreds of contractors working full-time, and you can see why some companies are reporting huge profits. Although on the flip side, when the school finds this out, they’ll often ditch their agency and search for one offering a fairer deal!

At Axcis, we focus our energy more on developing high quality, long-term relationships with our schools. We often negotiate rates based on our minimum operating margin and are clear and transparent with schools and candidates. We want to offer fair rates of pay to our staff and reasonable charges to our clients – after all, isn’t this, combined with a decent service what will keep people coming back and telling their friends and family about us? And isn’t that what we want in order to grow our business in an ethical way? Doing anything else just doesn’t make sense to us at Axcis.

Watch the video below to hear what our clients say about us.

3 – 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 which 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, and we are always seeking opportunities to expand our training offerings. We want to demonstrate the respect we feel for all the teaching and support staff who work so hard for us.

4 – Consultants Who Care

Agencies are essentially people selling people to people – so it’s an industry which relies almost completely on relationships. With this in mind, at Axcis we recruit only consultants who we feel can offer a service which 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 a school to hire one of our staff – 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.

From a personal perspective, I’d like to add that I’ve often seen Axcis consultants do something way above and beyond the call of duty for their staff. This has included situations such as physically taking money to a candidate who has forgotten to submit a timesheet after the banks have closed on a Friday in order to help tide them over the weekend, or visiting the school they work in to help organise paperwork which needs updating in order to save them the time and cost of a trip to our office. To us, it’s about understanding that we are all human and need to take the time to support one another.

So, if you are looking for a recruitment company which offers good quality special needs staffing solutions combined with fair rates, great training and staff who care – look no further than Axcis!

Candidates – Register Now

Schools – Email a Vacancy

Working for Axcis

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 12:00:00 Z

What’s it like to work for Axcis Education? Hear from our staff members and decide for yourself

Kira

I have been at Axcis since 2017 and it was the best decision I made. Prior to joining Axcis, I always thought I would not go into recruitment especially after working for cut throat sales companies. However, once I went for an interview and found out more I can honestly say that Axcis is great company that really make you feel like part of a family as appose to just a number. I had no recruitment experience before joining Axcis and I really benefited from all the training and support that was offered to me. After a year of being here and working hard I was promoted to a Senior Consultant and could really see that the hard work I put in was appreciated and valued. Axcis really look after their staff and reward hard work. I can’t wait to continue growing my career here at Axcis!

Kira - Executive Education Consultant - Axcis London

Louise

I worked for a large corporate education agency for 13 years and always swore I would never work for another agency, it was always a case of ‘the grass isn’t greener on the other side!’ However, I was growing increasingly unhappy in my role and heard about an opportunity at Axcis so decided to make the leap. It was, without a doubt, the best decision I made! I’ve been here since 2015 and have progressed from account manager to branch manager to training and HR manager and now Associate Director.

So, what do I love about working for this brilliant company? I could mention the excellent bonus scheme, that when they say candidates are as important as clients they actually mean it, the reduced working hours during school holidays, the training and coaching available, the annual company party, the fact that Axcis, in a sea of competition, actually has a genuine USP (we are the only special needs education agency out there and are offering something that no other agencies are) but one of the main reasons would have to be the people and the supportive senior management team. Many people within the company have worked here for 10 years or longer and are supportive, approachable and passionate about providing a great service. SMT set realistic and achievable margin and KPI targets and are not afraid to pick up the phone to join in on sales hour or go out on visits with consultants (is there anything worse than a manager who thinks they can do your job yet haven’t made a sales call in months?!) Our partnership work with NAS and our training and seminars that we regularly run for our clients and candidates give you so many reasons to call your schools and recruit the best candidates.

Having worked in education recruitment since about 2003, I can honestly say that I’ve never been happier!’

Louise - Associate Director - Axcis South West & Wales

Tessa

My name is Tessa and I have been with Axcis since July 2013. I started off as a graduate recruitment consultant and was quickly promoted after a year. My role started to change in where I was given more responsibility every time I was promoted which has landed me in the position I am in today – as one of the Team Leaders at Axcis Education. I currently run a small team of 2 and couldn’t be happier. I made it clear to my managers from the beginning that eventually I would like to manage a small team and with, hard work, training and coaching, we made it happen! I can honestly say I am happy working for Axcis Education and if I wasn’t I wouldn’t be here!

Tessa - Team Leader - Axcis London

Do you want to work for Axcis?

If you’re interested in working for this fantastic company, why not take a look at our internal vacancies? As a growing company, we are always on the look out for fresh talent – whether you are a service driven person, administration professional or simply looking for a change, we’d be interested in hearing from you. We are also always on the look out for teaching and support staff for the schools we work with, so if an office role isn’t for you, why not register for work in one of the schools we support?

No jab doesn’t have to equal no job!

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 12:00:00 Z

The government’s vaccine mandate for care home workers recently came into effect, meaning that around 50,000 care home staff who have not been fully vaccinated in England and Wales are no longer allowed to work in the care sector as of 11th November 2021.

The unions say they have been contacted by staff to say they are heartbroken to have to leave the jobs they love, and many experienced care workers have said that they are now unemployed and not sure what they can do after having worked in the care sector for so long. We can only imagine how frustrating and upsetting this must be, especially when these people will have a wealth of experience and knowledge that can so easily be used elsewhere.

How can Axcis help?

As a special needs agency, Axcis works with a wide range of schools, colleges, and alternative provisions that are all looking for staff to fill their support roles but have simply not been able to find the volume they need due to shortages of available and experienced candidates. Education settings will be keen to receive applications from those with a background in the care sector as the qualities important for care work are also important when working with special needs children in the classroom. People who have worked in the care sector, either with adults or children, have valuable transferrable skills that are sought after within the education sector.

We at Axcis are always looking for experienced candidates to register! We work with education provisions across the country and offer flexible working and great rates of pay. Imagine being able to take the skills you have acquired working in the care sector and simply apply them to a classroom environment - no more working evenings or overnight shifts! You can enjoy a better work/life balance and help vulnerable children and young adults get the most out of their learning. Best of all, your skills and experience won’t go to waste – no jab doesn’t have to equal no job!

If you would like further information on how Axcis can help you secure a role please get in touch with your local Axcis office today!

How to get noticed and promoted in your job

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 10:52:48 +0100

Fed up with being passed over for promotions? Not sure how to get noticed and promoted in your job? Try these ideas and watch your work life flourish!

1 - Be reliable

This one is a no-brainer. Employers are paying you to work for them, and they won't be impressed if you are late or frequently taking days off for the mildest of sniffles. So stock up on vitamins or get the flu jab in winter, make sure you plan enough time for your journey to work and show your manager that you can be relied upon. You'll score even more points if you make it in to work on a snow day when many other staff are absent, and if you're seen to be one of those people who do their best to come in, even when they are feeling a bit rubbish. However, don't milk it too much! You don't want to come in vomiting and make the rest of your team sick, so use a bit of common sense with this one!

2 - Don't run for the door the moment you finish for the day

Nothing says "I don't want to be here" more than a staff member who leaves a trail of dust behind them the minute they clock off for the day. However, it's not necessarily a good idea to get into a competition to see who can stay the latest, either - we all need our rest and recuperation time, and many of us also have responsibilities outside of work. It's more a case of assessing the situation. Is there a backlog of work that needs to be dealt with? Or do you have a colleague who is stressed and trying to finish something urgent? If so, then taking the time to stay on and help out will definitely help to get you noticed. After all, wouldn't you want to hire people who are conscientious enough to ensure that they are not leaving tasks half complete at the end of the day?

3 - Go above and beyond the call of duty

Are you one of those people who looks at the floor when you have a team meeting and the boss asks for help with something which isn't really in your job description? If the answer is yes, then it's time to have a re-think. The members of staff who put themselves out there are the ones who get more seriously considered for promotions. So, next time your manager needs help with a task why not volunteer, even if you're busy or it's not really your remit?

4 - Notice areas for improvement, and offer to help

It's easy to turn into a robot at work, mechanically doing what is required of you each day and not really thinking outside the box. But are there parts of what you do that would be more efficient if they were done a different way? Could you see ways to improve your department? If so, put them forward. Managers and Team Leaders are usually people who are good at problem solving and taking the initiative, so if you want to get promoted, demonstarating these qualities will certianly help. However, be aware that if you are constantly undermining processes that your own boss has put into place, this could also go the other way and start to irriatate them, so make sure you approach your suggestions with sensitivity!

5 - Be realistic and put in the ground work

I've worked with many staff members who, after a few months, start to complain that they deserve a pay rise and/or promotion. It's not usually a realistic expectation to want this within a few short months of starting a new job, so put in the ground work, do some of the things mentioned above and bide your time. You WILL get noticed and you WILL get promoted, but you need to understand that it doesn't happen overnight. My first promotion came about two years after starting in recruitment and I didn't make Team Leader or take on management responsibility until I had been with Axcis for about four years. But now, I am a senior manager in the company, have had the privilege of helping to manage and re-shape many of the functions in the company and I'm thrilled to say that I've been very well looked after as a result. I'm now in my 15th year with Axcis... patience and hard work pay off!

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?

Photo credit: Pexels

Do you have care work experience? Axcis needs you!

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 14:26:23 +0100

Did you know that many of the schools and residential settings we work with at Axcis require staff with care work experience? This is because lots of children with complex needs or disabilities may require care assistance while at school. So, if you have a background in this area and would be interested in working in a school environment, read on to find out how Axcis can help you!

Why should I use my care experience in a school environment?

There is a shortage of staff in this area, so you’re likely to find work quickly
Hours are usually more sociable than traditional care work – most schools (unless residential) will expect you to work school hours, in term time.
This work often pays better than traditional care work – speak to your local Axcis office for further information on this
There are some great opportunities for training and progression within the SEND education sector for those wanting to progress into this career

What does an educational carer do?

An educational carer will usually provide in-school support for children and young people with complex needs. These needs can vary greatly and may include personal care, moving and handling, assistance feeding and generally completing day to day tasks. As you’ll be in an educational setting, you’ll also be working with the individual(s) during lessons, helping them to participate in activities as directed by the teacher.

What experience do I need for this role?

As with all classroom based work, you must have a good standard of literacy and numeracy. This is because you’ll be communicating regularly with colleagues, parents, medical practitioners and parents as well as the children themselves. You may be asked to write or contribute to progress reports and Education, Health and Care Plans, among other things. You must have a patient and calm attitude and be reliable and punctual. It’s really important for the continuity of learning for there to be as few changes in staff as possible for SEND children. You don’t necessarily need to have any previous experience working with children but this would help your transition to the classroom.

How can I find educational care work with Axcis?

If you think you would be suitable for educational care work, why not register or get in touch with your local Axcis office for a no-pressure chat with one of our friendly consultants? They will discuss your skills, experience and what you’re looking for in your working life, and will be able to advise you on whether they feel this sort of work would be suitable for your situation. So why not give us a call? What do you have to lose?

Resignation date is fast approaching – should you wait or anticipate your recruitment needs?

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 14:25:27 +0100

With the deadline for school resignations fast approaching, should you wait for the outcome of your own recruitment efforts, or consider going out to agencies proactively?

When is the deadline for teachers and school staff to hand in their notice?

Most teachers are required to hand in their notice by the end of the half term holidays if they intend to leave at the end of term, while support staff may be on a four week notice period. However, some provisions may vary, so it’s worth checking your contract/school HR documents if you’re not sure.

When do schools advertise vacancies?

Schools will usually wait to find out exactly what their staffing situation is before advertising vacancies. This means waiting until after the resignation deadline and then advertising for staff once their recruitment needs have been confirmed. There are various legal and financial implications if this process isn’t followed. However, it also means that most schools in a given area will be seeking staff at the same time. As a result, there may be huge competition for the best teachers and members of school support staff, and particularly those with specialist training and skills who will often have their “pick of the vacancies”. So, how can schools overcome this?

Contacting agencies

Agencies are viewed by many schools as a “last ditch effort” to find staff and only contacted when all other efforts have failed. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Agencies can also help with long-term recruitment planning, and provide a useful service which can act both as a backup plan to your own efforts as well as a standalone recruitment process.

A useful strategy for working in partnership with your agency

Rather than wait until you’ve hit a dead-end with your own recruitment efforts, why not work in partnership with your agency right from the start? In this way, you’re likely to get access to the best staff (because they’ve not yet been snapped up) as well as preferential rates because you’re showing your agency that you’re investing in them as a partner rather than as a service to be used last-minute alongside lots of other agencies. Here is a suggested strategy which you might try out:

Have a meeting – take the time to meet your consultant, make sure they know what your setting is like and what sort of people fit in well. You should also talk thought what sorts of skills and experience you usually look for along with any other considerations you usually make when recruiting staff. If you do this proactively, you won’t need to do it when things get busy at the end of term when you’re frantically trying to find last-minute staff.
Anticipate your staffing needs – even if you don’t yet know exactly what your staffing needs are, most school leaders will be able to look at previous years in order to identify a pattern and get an idea of how many staff they are likely to need. You may also have a sense of who is looking to leave. Make a list of what staff you think you’re likely to need.
Formulate a plan with your consultant – talk through your likely staffing needs with your recruitment consultant. This will allow them to start advertising for suitable staff, as well as speaking proactively with existing candidates on their books. Once you nail down your exact needs, you can relay this to them to help narrow their search. By doing this, you get a head-start on finding the most suitable staff for your vacancies. You can, of course still go through your own usual recruitment methods, but with the added benefit of knowing that your agency is also working away in the background. This is also a great time to come to an agreement regarding rates if you hire any of the agency staff. If your agency knows that you’re working collaboratively and exclusively with them, you’re likely to be able to agree a discount on their usual rates.
Consider agency staff alongside your own shortlist – there is nothing to stop you from interviewing agency staff alongside any candidates which you’ve shortlisted as a result of your own advertising. This will broaden your options and help to ensure that you have the best possible person for your vacancy.
Additional benefits if you choose agency staff – If you decide to go with a candidate put forward by your agency, you also have the added benefit of taking them on a supply basis to start with – essentially giving you a trial period with them before offering a longer-term contract. The agency will also do all the paperwork, reducing the amount of compliance you’ll need to do before they can start work. If you prefer to offer a permanent contract from the word go, this is also usually still an option with agency staff.
If you don’t hire agency candidates – if you are fortunate enough to fill your vacancies as a result of your own recruitment methods, that’s super and will mean zero costs are associated with your agency backup plan. Plus, the agency will already have some candidates on their books which you may feel are suitable for short-term supply work or for other vacancies which may crop up last-minute. In addition to this, your consultant will have a really good idea of what you’re looking for, so when future recruitment needs arise, they will already be in a great position to find you suitable people quickly.

To anticipate or wait – conclusion

As there is no cost associated with using an agency until you actually find someone you want to hire, it seems that using your agency to both anticipate your staffing needs and to act as a recruitment backup plan is an idea well worth considering. As SEND specialists, here at Axcis, we’d love to be your chosen agency for SEND teaching and support staff needs, so if you’d like to work in partnership with us for your upcoming vacancies, why not get in touch with your local team today and have a chat with your personal consultant?

Why supply teaching can benefit your career

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 14:22:53 +0100

Supply teaching isn’t just a back up option, it can genuinely benefit your career – here’s how:

1 – It can significantly broaden your experience

Experience lots of different settings by doing a stint of supply work and become a more rounded professional.
Many trainee teachers are offered jobs in one of their placement schools, and this is often where they will end up for the first few years of their career. After that, they may move on to another school periodically, but I’ve known some teachers who stay put until the day they retire! While that’s great for job security and feeling settled in your role, it can be detrimental in terms of offering a broad experience to both challenge and develop your practice.

This is where supply work can offer you some real benefit. While I understand that it can be unsettling to be in a new school every day/month/term, supply contracts can certainly keep you on your toes! You’ll often have the chance to work in a range of different schools, with different age groups and with different socio-economic cohorts. By offering you a broad range of experience, supply teaching can deepen your understanding of how to effectively cater for students of all ages and backgrounds. When you add special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) into the mix, this can be even more impactful. Teachers (and indeed members of school support staff) who have the opportunity to work in schools for a range of different needs can gain some really meaningful professional development as a result.

2 – It can help you to find your niche in the profession

It took me a long time to understand that teaching isn’t a “one size fits all” profession. Every child is different, and so is every school. By working in a range of settings while doing supply work, you can gain a fantastic insight into what suits your teaching style, personality and personal fulfilment model most effectively. In fact, I wish I had done this myself. I was offered a role in my second PGCE placement school, didn’t enjoy it and after 2 years, made the difficult decision to leave the profession. Had I taken the time to do some supply work and investigate alternatives more carefully, I may have stuck with teaching. Certainly something worth considering if you’re thinking about leaving the profession yourself…

3 – It can be great for cross-fertilisation of ideas

Meet award winning staff and share great ideas while doing supply work.
Imagine this scenario – you’re working in a school and you see a brilliant behaviour management idea, or a new way of delivering maths to students with autism, and you think – “Wow – what a great idea, I’m going to use that!” It happens all the time. Many teachers have brilliant ideas which work fantastically well, but many are so busy that they don’t have time to share this good practise with other settings. By working on supply in a range of different schools, you’ll have the chance to effectively pinch ideas that work well to add to your own toolkit. This can stand you in excellent stead for your future in the profession. You’ll need to be diligent though, and keep a notebook handy for all of these ideas (if you’re anything like me, that is and have a memory like a sieve!)

4 – It can give you a more rounded understanding of the curriculum and assessment

By working in a number of different schools, you’ll be dipping in and out of the curriculum, covering different subjects, age ranges and levels of SEND need. In this way, you’ll be constantly exposed to the curriculum in different ways. You’ll also be using assessment methods which vary from school to school. Again, this can be a really useful experience for developing your understanding of the curriculum and how it all fits together, as well as how to effectively assess how well your students are picking it up.

5 – Your confidence will grow

One of the greatest things about supply work is that it will help your confidence to grow enormously. You’ll have been thrown in the deep end so many times that something new or challenging just won’t spike your anxiety levels the way it used to. This in itself can be a good enough reason to undertake a stint of supply work (in my opinion!) Instead of looking up to that unflappable teacher, you’ll have others looking up to you for your ability to take it all in your stride – and who wouldn’t want that?

It’s also worth remembering that all of these reasons are excellent interview fodder. If you find yourself being grilled by a panel of school leaders for a job you are desperate to get, remember to explain to them why you’d be a brilliant addition to their team by using these five reasons, coupled with some case studies or specific examples from the schools you’ve been working in.

Are you looking for SEND staff or work?

Would a career in recruitment suit you? If you answer “yes” to these 5 questions, then it probably would!

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 13:48:34 +0100

How do you know if a career in recruitment would suit you? What skills are needed and is it something you can do if you have no prior experience? Find out here by asking yourself these 5 key questions.

1. Are you a confident communicator?

Recruitment is essentially match-making between organisations and job seekers. Therefore, you spend much of your time communicating with people. This may be on the phone, in person or via email. You therefore need to have strong written English skills as well as a confident personality. Knowing when to listen is also crucial to the role, as you need to understand the needs of both your candidates and clients if you are going to do a great job matching them up. If you are a person who would rather spend time on a quiet project than talking on the phone, then recruitment probably isn’t the right job for you.

2. Do you stay strong under pressure?

Being a recruitment consultant can have it’s fair share of pressures – from juggling lots of requirements (or jobs) at once, to chasing up candidates who have not turned up for work, handling complaints (hopefully you won’t get too many of those!) and meeting management targets, the pressure can really mount up at times. You therefore need to be a fairly resilient person if you want to be a successful recruiter.

3. Are you good at multi-tasking and prioritising?

Following on from question 2, when you have lots on your plate, you need to be able to multi-task and prioritise effectively. You’ll need to be able to identify your most pressing tasks first, but also to know when to stop doing them and move onto the other items on your to-do list. This is especially important in recruitment as you may have more than one client waiting for you to send them candidates for a job, and keeping them waiting for too long may result in you damaging the relationship or even losing their business – and it’s likely that you worked very hard to win this business in the first place!

4. Do you have good attention to detail?

Understanding the needs of your candidates and clients and responding accordingly really is central to being an effective recruiter. For example, you may have a client who has asked you to fill in a form each time you submit a CV. If you forget to do this, your client may go elsewhere in future. Or you may have a candidate who has explicitly told you they can’t do Mondays, so if you contact them about full-time roles, it is clear to them that you’ve not listened to their needs – so attention to detail is hugely important in a recruitment role.

5. Do you care about providing a great service?

It’s easy to provide a great service to your “easy” candidates and clients. But In the world of recruitment, you will come across lots of clients who give you requirements which you know you can’t fill, and candidates who you know you can’t place. It’s easy to disregard these people in favour of the ones you know you can help. However, your reputation hinges on the level of customer service you provide. You must always remember that these individuals talk to other people in the sector, and they also shout loudly via poor reviews online if they feel that you haven’t looked after them. So you’ll need to be able to manage expectations effectively and find time for these people if you want to develop a good reputation (and get more business off the back of it!)

If you answered yes to these questions and would like to be considered for a role as a recruitment consultant with Axcis Education, why not send us your CV today? When doing so, please also take a moment to let us know which of our offices you’d be interested in working in.

5 tips for being a successful education recruitment consultant

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

Thinking about becoming an education recruitment consultant? Want to know more about it? Here are my top 5 tips on what it takes to be great at the job.

1 - You have to want to do it

Being an education recruitment consultant is hard work. In the past, I’ve spoken to people who have applied for consultant jobs because “they need a job” – which is fair enough, but if they don’t know what they are getting themselves into, recruitment can be a bit of a baptism of fire. The skill set required is extensive and some days can be very tough. Hours can be long, candidates and clients can be difficult and pressure to perform can make some people crumble. But if you have done your research, know what to expect and are prepared to put in the work, it can be a fantastic career choice. In short, you have to want to do it.

2 - You have to be prepared to be a sales person

Let’s make no bones about it – there is a sales element to being a successful recruitment consultant. You need to be able to sell the service you provide in an appropriate way, whether it’s to a candidate thinking about registering with you or a new client you’d love to work with. Depending on the company you choose, your tone needs to be suitable too. At Axcis, we do our best not to be “pushy” sales people. It’s more about spreading the word about what we can offer and being there when a candidate or client needs our service. If you are a shrinking violet and would feel awkward selling the service you can offer you should think twice about whether recruitment is the right industry for you.

3 - You have to be resilient

Recruitment consultants are essentially match makers. The job is about finding the right person for the right job/school and ensuring that the match goes ahead in the best interests of all parties. However, people are fickle beasts and can be unpredictable. There will be times when your client calls up because your teacher turned up late on their first day of work and yells down the phone at you. There will be times when a candidate who has been hounding you for work for ages finally gets a job offer and then decides they don’t want to work after all. The trick to being a successful recruitment consultant is looking for solutions rather than dwelling on problems. If you are a naturally negative person and struggle when the going gets tough, you should think twice about whether recruitment is the right industry for you.

4 - You need a broad set of skills and attributes

The skills and attributes required to be a successful recruiter are surprisingly broad. You’ll be writing job adverts, as well as endless emails – so your written English needs to be spot on. I’ve already mentioned sales skills – being an excellent verbal communicator is of huge importance. You also need to be able to juggle your workload and re-prioritise your day at the drop of a hat – you might have a nice, neat to-do list which ends up in the bin when a client calls and needs a member of staff sent to them within 10 minutes. I’ve already mentioned resilience, since things won’t always go your way, and an ability to negotiate is up there with the skills you will be using every day too. Add to that the fact that the most successful recruiters I know are prepared to take calls from their candidates and clients at all hours and on all days, it’s not a 9-5, Monday to Friday kind of job (if you want to be really good at it!) At times you’ll be a councilor for your candidates when things go wrong and at other times you need to know when to stand your ground when someone is pushing for more than is fair. The list doesn’t end there – you’ll need to be punctual, professional, adaptable but also friendly, good at listening and reading body language and an excellent relationship manager too! Oh – and knowing your industry helps, too – if you don’t know anything about schools or the education system you’ll need to do a lot of research before you can consider becoming an education recruitment consultant – let alone a specialist special needs education recruitment consultant (as we are at Axcis).

5 - You need to be prepared to give it time

I’ve met some people who say they want to get into recruitment for a year or two to put some money in the bank before they follow their real dream career. These people should think twice because it doesn’t happen overnight. When you are new to the job, it takes months – sometimes years – to establish trust with your candidates and clients, and to build up a good base of relationships. I’ve told potential employees who are new to the industry that they can’t expect much in the way of dividends until at least 6 months into the job, but realistically they’ll have to graft at it for 1-2 years before they will start to see real results. To me it seems crazy to do all that hard work and then leave just as your relationships start to blossom – after all, that’s when it really starts to be fun, too!

Does this sound like you?

If you’ve read this blog post and are thinking that recruitment sounds perfect for you, feel free to send us your CV. Axcis has offices across England and Wales – and we are always willing to receive the details of those who are keen to show us what they can do! As a company, Axcis is growing rapidly – we are proud to be one of the fastest growing education recruitment companies in the UK – and as such we are always on the lookout for new talent to help us continue to expand.

What other work do we have available?

If being a recruiter isn’t for you, bear in mind that Axcis often has jobs available for other internal roles, such as compliance or payroll support. Or, if you’re interested in a role as a teacher or member of school support staff, why not register free on our website to see how we can help you find this sort of work?

Great interview questions for special needs teachers

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 12:06:33 +0100

What makes a good SEND teacher and how can you spot one at an interview? These questions should help…

What would you do if a student was misbehaving or being disruptive?

You should ask this question because SEND students often require a more individualised approach than students in mainstream settings and blindly following the school behaviour policy may not always be appropriate. You will want to find out if your prospective new hire understands this and how they would respond. When they answer, you should listen out for examples of how they have handled similar situations in the past and how this fits in with the ethos of your setting. You should be on the lookout for an understanding that one size does not fit all and that there might be a root cause or trigger in play where challenging behaviour is concerned. Bonus points if they talk about a need to consult the SENCO or an EHCP for tips on how to effectively manage individual students.

How would you assess the students’ learning and behavior progress?

This is a useful question because many SEND children are not able to be assessed using standardised testing. Instead, your interviewee will need to explore alternative assessment methods and will ideally use this opportunity to ask about what assessment methods you use in your setting. Listen out for experience of coordinating assessment data with other teachers or members of staff as they may have valuable information which can form an important part of any ongoing/casual or formative assessment.

What are your preferred SEND teaching methods?

With this question, you want to know that your candidate is aware of a range of established teaching methods and recognises how these vary from mainstream approaches. Specifically, their answer should mention individualised education plans (IEPs) and discuss how strategies will differ from student to student depending on the individual. You should be listening out for answers detailing the need for goal setting and modifying teaching methods to suit the needs and ability of each student.

Tell me about a lesson that didn’t go according to plan and how you adapted it to improve the outcome.

This is a useful question because it pushes your applicant to talk about perceived failure and how they handle such scenarios. Be wary of teachers who say that this has never happened to them – as an ex-teacher myself I am all too aware that your best laid plans will often fall apart before your eyes! An ability to notice when this is happening and adapt your lesson accordingly is essential. Answers may mention how the teacher has collaborated with other staff members after the fact to ensure that future learning materials are pitched appropriately. It may also be useful to ask how such situations made your applicant feel – if they are easily stressed when things don’t go to plan, then you may not wish to consider them for classes where this is likely to happen on a regular basis.

What are some creative activities you’ve planned that your students have loved?

Making learning fun for both staff and students is an important part of being an effective teacher. It helps to build trust, rapport and an enjoyment of coming to school – all very important things! If examples provided are limited to events which are organised by the wider school community such as World Book Day or school productions, try to encourage your applicant to provide examples from their personal lesson plans. Top marks if they mention subjects or topics which are usually harder to bring to life and make fun such as mathematics or handwriting. Explore how they made it fun and how they knew the children had enjoyed it. You might get some rather interesting insights.

Tell me about a scenario where you had to deal with a difficult parent. How did you address the situation?

Establishing supportive and healthy relationships with the students’ parents is almost as important as fostering good relationships with the students themselves. Parents may not always agree with the teacher’s methods, so avoiding friction is important. At the same time, teachers must be able to stand up for themselves and be advocates for their students. Listen out for answers which demonstrate a willingness to work with families and a respect for the opinions of others involved in the care of their students whilst being able to explain and defend any actions they feel are important, even if not agreed with. Balance is key with this one!

What got you interested in working with special educational needs and disabilities?

Understanding what motivates a candidate can help you gauge their fit. For example, a candidate may mention that they have family members or friends who have special needs, which may better equip them for the pressures of the job. Or they may come from another profession or have voluntary experience in the sector if they have no direct SEND teaching experience. You are essentially looking for understanding and empathy – not candidates who think this will be an “easier ride” than a mainstream classroom teaching job.

How do you keep track of your responsibilities?

Keeping track of the needs and evolving education plans for a full class of students can be tricky. This is why you will need teachers with excellent organisational skills. Candidates will have different methods for organising information and tasks, but the best ones will be able to demonstrate a number of effective strategies. If they have an aptitude and an appreciation for diligent record keeping, they are likely to do a more effective teaching job. It is also worth exploring times when they were not as organised, what the outcome of this was and how they got back on track.

What do you think is the most difficult aspect of this job?

Careers in special educational needs and disabilities can be stressful. It’s important that candidates recognise this ahead of time, or it may be tough for them to handle the pressure. Explore how they manage stress or difficult situations such as the loss of a student with a life-shortening condition. Talk also about how they might manage their students when difficult situations arise and how they offer support. Listen out for signs of genuine concern for the children and how they might encourage positivity in the face of adversity.

Do you need help with SEND staffing?

If you’d rather let someone else do the hard work for you, why not consider using Axcis for your SEND staffing needs? We source, interview and vet all teachers and support staff fully so you don’t have to! Or if you’re a member of SEND teaching or support staff seeking a new role, why not register with Axcis and find out what jobs we have available to suit your needs?

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Transforming Lives in SEND Recruitment

Graduate Jobs with Axcis – have you thought about a career in recruitment?

Education Recruitment Jobs with Axcis

Why work for Axcis?

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Top 5 things we look for in our consultants

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Top 5 interview questions for teachers

Axcis: 4 Reasons We Are The Ethical Agency

Axcis: 4 Reasons We Are The Ethical Agency

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Working for Axcis

What’s it like to work for Axcis Education? Hear from our staff members and decide for yourself

Do you want to work for Axcis?

No jab doesn’t have to equal no job!

How to get noticed and promoted in your job

Do you have care work experience? Axcis needs you!

Resignation date is fast approaching – should you wait or anticipate your recruitment needs?

Why supply teaching can benefit your career

Would a career in recruitment suit you? If you answer “yes” to these 5 questions, then it probably would!

5 tips for being a successful education recruitment consultant

Great interview questions for special needs teachers

What makes a good SEND teacher and how can you spot one at an interview? These questions should help…