Special Needs Teacher

Kirsty Hodge (nee McCaw)

Bath 1987 - 1992

I have been teaching for eight years. I did a maths degree and then took a PGCE in Primary teaching. I worked in Primary and Infant schools for 7 years, teaching years R, 1 and 2.

I have always had a particular interest in working with children with Special Educational Needs and became the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator at my last mainstream school. I am now working in a special school for children with severe learning difficulties. I work in the infant class and have 7 children with various learning difficulties and medical conditions. It is very different to mainstream teaching and the past year has been a steep learning curve with lots of hard work but even great rewards.

I am very happy to talk to anyone who is interested in a career in teaching or who is thinking of making the move into special education.

For anyone considering a career in teaching, I would give the following advice:

1. Do work experience in a range of different schools and with different age groups (primary and secondary) to get an idea of what area you would most like to work in.
2. It’s a cliché but teaching really is a career you do for the love not the money. The biggest rewards you get are personal not financial. (Having said that I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else!)
3. Be prepared for every day to be different.
4. When training, use your class teachers and mentors – ask questions, use any resources offered. They are doing this because they want to help you become the best teacher possible.
5. Training and your NQT year will be hard work but remember you can’t do everything. Learning to prioritise and then learning to take time to relax are crucial!