The Pros and Cons of Working in SEN vs Mainstream Education
Thinking about a career in education in the UK and weighing up Special Educational Needs (SEN) roles against mainstream school roles? Whether you’re a qualified teacher, a recent graduate, or exploring support positions like Teaching Assistant (TA) or Learning Support Assistant (LSA), understanding the differences can help you choose a path that suits your skills, values and long-term goals. This guide breaks down the benefits and challenges of working in SEN and mainstream settings to help you make an informed decision.
What’s the Difference Between SEN and Mainstream Education?
Mainstream schools educate the majority of pupils and typically follow the National Curriculum with class sizes averaging 25–32 students. SEN settings include special schools, resource bases within mainstream schools, Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) and Alternative Provision (AP), as well as specialist provisions geared towards needs such as ASD, SEMH, MLD or PMLD. Many mainstream schools also have pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), so SEN practice is relevant across both contexts.
In the UK, SEN is guided by the SEND Code of Practice, with provision tailored to individual needs and outcomes. Staff often collaborate with external professionals (e.g., speech and language therapists, educational psychologists) and implement personalised strategies that sit alongside, or adapt, the National Curriculum.
For an overview of statutory guidance, see the SEND Code of Practice on GOV.UK: SEND Code of Practice (0 to 25).
The Pros of Working in SEN Settings
Many educators find SEN work deeply rewarding. If you value individual progress, creativity and multi-agency teamwork, SEN could be a great fit.
- High impact on individual pupils: You can see tangible progress in communication, independence and behaviour, often celebrated through small but meaningful steps.
- Strong team ethos: You’ll usually work closely with TAs, therapists, SENCOs and families, creating a supportive network focused on pupil outcomes.
- Specialist training and CPD: Expect targeted CPD in areas like autism strategies, de-escalation, PECs, Makaton, sensory integration and assistive technology.
- Creative teaching: Lessons are often flexible, personalised and practical, allowing you to adapt the environment and curriculum to meet needs.
- Transferable skills: Expertise in differentiation, safeguarding, communication and behaviour support is highly valued across education and care sectors.
The Challenges of SEN Roles
Working in SEN can be demanding and requires resilience, patience and careful self-care. Understanding the realities will help you prepare and thrive.
- Emotional and physical demands: You may support pupils with complex needs, including personal care, mobility and behaviour that challenges.
- Pace and progress: Academic progress can be non-linear; success is often measured in small steps rather than big jumps.
- Documentation and planning: Personalised planning, evidence gathering and EHCP paperwork can be time-consuming.
- Behaviour support: You’ll need robust behaviour strategies, training (e.g., Team-Teach), and confidence in de-escalation and restorative approaches.
- Specialist communication: Building rapport often involves alternative communication systems and close collaboration with families and therapists.
The Pros of Working in Mainstream Schools
Mainstream roles suit educators who enjoy pace, variety and a broad curriculum. You’ll work with diverse classes and have clear progression routes.
- Variety and scale: Teach or support across subjects and key stages, with opportunities to lead clubs, trips and enrichment.
- Structured progression: Clear pathways into middle leadership, subject leadership, pastoral roles and eventually senior leadership.
- Curriculum focus: Strong emphasis on pedagogy, assessment and attainment, which can be intellectually stimulating and career enhancing.
- Broad peer networks: Larger staff teams and MATs provide mentoring, moderation and collaborative planning opportunities.
- Transferability: Experience is widely recognised across the UK and internationally, supporting career mobility.
The Challenges of Mainstream Roles
Mainstream settings carry their own pressures, particularly around workload and accountability.
- Workload: Planning, marking, data and interventions can stretch the working week, especially around assessment points.
- Class sizes: Differentiation for 30+ pupils, including those with SEN, can be tough without additional adults or resources.
- High accountability: Ofsted frameworks, league tables and performance measures can add pressure to teaching and support roles.
- Behaviour and inclusion: You’ll still need strong SEN understanding to support a wide range of needs within a busy classroom.
Pay, Contracts and Work-Life Balance
Salaries and benefits vary by role and setting. Qualified teachers in England and Wales follow main/upper pay scales, while support staff pay is typically aligned to local authority or trust bands. SEN-specific allowances may apply in some special schools or leadership roles. Contract types include permanent, fixed-term, and supply, with term-time-only hours common for TAs and LSAs.
- Teachers: Main Pay Scale (MPS) through to Upper Pay Scale (UPS); potential TLRs for responsibility, and leadership scales for SLT/SENCO.
- Support staff: Pay bands vary by region and trust; look for roles titled TA, LSA, HLTA, Behaviour Mentor or Pastoral Support.
- SEN allowances: Some special schools offer additional allowances or enhanced CPD budgets.
- Working pattern: SEN settings may offer more stable routines; mainstream can involve extracurricular commitments and larger marking loads.
- Supply and temp-to-perm: Great for trying different settings before committing; ensure your DBS and references are up-to-date.
Which Path Suits You? Key Questions to Ask
- Where do you get your energy from: individual breakthroughs or whole-class momentum?
- How do you handle behaviour that challenges and sensory needs? Are you comfortable with de-escalation and personal care?
- Do you prefer structured curriculum delivery or highly adaptive, personalised learning?
- What are your long-term goals: leadership, specialist practice (e.g., autism, SEMH), or broad classroom teaching?
- How important are class size, workload balance and access to specialist CPD?
- Are you open to multi-agency working and close family collaboration?
- Would you like to experience both? Many educators build a hybrid CV through supply, resource bases, or inclusion roles in mainstream.
How to Get Started in the UK
If you’re new to the sector, consider entry routes such as TA or LSA roles, graduate internships, or Initial Teacher Training (ITT) with a SEND focus. For teachers, a SENCO qualification or targeted CPD in autism, speech and language, or behaviour can open doors. Ensure you have an Enhanced DBS with the Update Service and current safeguarding training (e.g., KCSIE). Observations or volunteering in both settings can clarify your preference.
- Research local schools and provisions, including PRUs and Alternative Provision.
- Tailor your CV to highlight differentiation, safeguarding, behaviour support and any relevant CPD.
- Show evidence of impact: progress for individuals or targeted groups, successful interventions, and collaborative work with families or specialists.
- Use job boards and specialist education agencies; consider supply to sample different environments.
Useful resources:
Final Thoughts: SEN vs Mainstream
There is no single “best” path—excellent educators thrive in both SEN and mainstream settings. If you love personalised learning, therapeutic approaches and multi-agency teamwork, SEN offers deep fulfilment and specialist growth. If you enjoy curriculum leadership, whole-class pedagogy and varied progression routes, mainstream can be energising and expansive. Many professionals move between the two across their careers, building a rounded skill set that benefits pupils in any context.
Ready to explore current opportunities? Browse live vacancies and take the next step in your education career today: Search UK SEN and mainstream roles. If you’re unsure where to start, consider a short-term or supply role to experience both settings before making your decision.
