A strong SEN CV makes relevant evidence easy to verify. It does not rely on a long skills list or repeated claims about passion. The reader should quickly understand the settings you know, the needs you have supported, the strategies you used and the responsibilities you can safely take on.
Use a clear first page
Do not include a photo, date of birth, marital status, nationality or referees’ contact details. Keep the layout plain enough to read on a phone and to copy into recruitment systems.
- Name, phone, professional email and broad location
- A four-to-six-line profile naming your target role and strongest evidence
- Key training or qualifications that are genuinely relevant
- Employment history in reverse date order with month and year
- A short note that references are available on request
Write evidence, not duties
A duty says what the role involved. Evidence shows how you worked and what changed. Use short bullets built around context, action and result. Be precise without identifying a child or school.
- Weak: ‘Supported pupils with autism.’
- Stronger: ‘Used a now-and-next board, reduced verbal instructions and allowed processing time to support two autistic pupils through morning transitions.’
- Weak: ‘Managed challenging behaviour.’
- Stronger: ‘Followed the agreed regulation plan, recorded triggers and used low-arousal responses to reduce repeated escalation during unstructured time.’
Handle limited experience properly
If you are entering education, bring forward the parts of care, youth work, coaching or family support that transfer: communication, routines, personal care, risk awareness, record keeping and professional boundaries. Label the setting accurately. Never add diagnoses, outcomes or responsibilities you cannot defend at interview.
Final CV check
- Every date is accurate and gaps are explainable
- The target role is obvious
- SEN terms are used only where you can evidence them
- Responsibilities do not overstate your level of authority
- The file opens correctly and has a professional filename
- Spelling, phone number and email have been checked