Working in a Special Needs School.

The daily rewards and challenges you experience when working in a Special Needs School are something you can only understand if you have worked in this type of environment. The highs are extraordinary and when you see a child you are supporting, (who has extreme disabilities), achieve something they haven’t been able to do before, the sense of pride in that young person is overwhelming. Just seeing them smile as they experience hand-painting for the first time or take their first steps in a specialist walking frame gives a reward that can be experienced daily by a member of staff working in a Special Needs School.

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Being part of a team, working alongside like minded, caring staff who only want the best for the Special Needs children they are supporting is a privilege.  Having all the appropriate training such as attending a Challenging behaviour Course alongside Team Teach, First Aid, Manual Handling and other specific courses is vital.  There are of course many challenges to face when working in a Special Needs School, especially when working with a child who also has challenging behaviours, but with all the essential training offered you should have all the expertise in place to help and support any child.

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There are five things to remember when supporting a child experiencing a negative behavioural episode, the behaviour is challenging, not the child, distract the child and de-escalate, remember there is a reason the child is anxious, have empathy, and don’t take it personally.

Jeffrey Bowman

Jeffrey Bowman