Course duration

Course duration
12 Months +  EPA

Master credits

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) 

Face-to-face events

In-school SEND placement
4 days a week

Online learning

Teacher Training
1 day a week

Coaching

Personal Tutor visits & observation

Total learning hours

Once qualified, start on a salary between £31k-£38k

Why Become a Special Educational Needs Teacher?

SEND teachers play a vital role in supporting students with special educational needs during their most formative years. Here’s why choosing to be a SEN teacher is an incredibly rewarding career choice:

  • Inspire a lifelong love of learning: Spark curiosity and creativity in your pupils, making learning fun and rewarding. Through storytelling, hands-on activities, and engaging lessons, you'll inspire the next generation. 
  • Shape well-rounded individuals: Teaching goes beyond academics. You'll nurture social, emotional, and physical growth, empowering children to become confident, resilient and well-rounded individuals.
  • Celebrate growth every day: There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing the progress children make. From their first “a-ha” moments to newfound confidence, you’ll be at the heart of their journey, celebrating every milestone.

Become a SEND Teacher

 
 

Which teacher training route is right for me?

We offer two routes to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS):

  • The Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship – ideal for those already working in schools
  • Fee-Funded Initial Teacher Training (ITT) – best for those not currently employed by a school

Whichever route you choose, you’ll receive expert support, school-based training and a nationally recognised qualification. Not sure which route is right for you? There is more guidance below:

Your situation Recommended route
✅ I work in a school Teacher Apprenticeship
✅ I do not work in a school (yet!) Fee-Funded Initial Teacher Training (we’ll find you a school!)

 

SEND Teacher Training Comparison Table

Use the table below to compare the key features of our Fee-Funded Initial Teacher Training and Teacher Apprenticeship programmes at a glance.

📱 On mobile? Swipe sideways to see the full table →

  Fee-Funded ITT Teacher Apprenticeship
🎓 Awards Qualified Teacher Status only Qualified Teacher Status + Level 6 Teacher Apprenticeship
(opportunity to achieve a distinction!)
💰 Funding Student loan or self-funded £0 – funded by Apprenticeship Levy
💼 Salary Unsalaried Salaried (unqualified teacher scale)
🧭 Placement School Organised by BPN Must be employed by a school
📅 Start date September 2025 September 2025
🗓️ Programme length 11 months 12 months + End Point Assessment
🎯 Ideal for Graduates not employed in a school Graduates already working in a school
📚 Study style 4 days in school, 1 day training 4 days in school, 1 day training
📍 Qualification requirements Bachelor's degree + GCSEs (English and maths) Bachelor's degree + GCSEs (English and maths)
🏠 Residency requirements 3+ years UK residency or valid visa 3+ years UK residency or valid visa
(We cannot sponsor visas)

  How will I train to become a SEND teacher?


Over 12 months, you will complete practical training in two schools. Throughout the programme, 1 day a week (20%) of your time will be dedicated to off-the-job training delivered by Best Practice Network.

Upon completion of your practical training, you will...

  • Present your portfolio and demonstrate your readiness to be awarded Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in July.
  • (For Apprenticeship route only) complete your End Point Assessment, which includes a lesson observation and a professional discussion with an external examiner—giving you the opportunity to achieve a distinction-level award.

 


  • Induction: you will have your first day of learning and ITT Induction before the start of your training to help you prepare for the programme
  • Term 1: You will be in your host school this term. Training in school four days a week and attending online or in-person training one day a week
  • Term 2: you will spend 6 weeks in a contrasting mainstream school placement
  • Term 3: You will return to your host school to prepare for the recommendation of QTS
  • Term 4 (Apprenticeship only): End Point Assessment for Level 6 Teacher Apprenticeship Qualification, where you can reach distinction level in addition to your QTS!

Hear what our student teachers have to say...

 

Why choose Best Practice Network for your teacher training? 

  • Ofsted outstanding: provider of the DfE’s full teacher progression pathway, supporting student teachers from entry into teaching through to executive leadership.
  • 20+ Years experience: Delivering teacher training and professional qualifications for teachers, school leaders, support staff and early years professionals.
  • Subject & phase specific groups: As a leading national provider our enrolment enables student teachers to train alongside peers specific to their phase, subject and specialism.
  • Local placement: Our network of 500+ schools provides our student teachers local access to in-school placements.
  • Supporting wellbeing: Our pathway is QTS-only helping support student teacher capacity and wellbeing on their journey into teaching.
  • Award-winning: Best Practice Network has been named Education Apprenticeship Training Provider of the Year for the past two years.
  • 100% of our 2023/24 graduate teachers have secured employment for September



  



 What qualifications do I need to train to be a SEND teacher?

To be eligible for our teacher training, applicants MUST hold:

  • A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with a 2:2 or above
  • GCSE grade 4/C* or above in English and maths and science (or recognised equivalent*) 
  • While school experience is not mandatory, we highly recommend it as a valuable way to confirm your interest in a teaching career


*Qualifications in key and functional skills at level 2 are not equivalent to GCSEs in terms of breadth of content.

 The Application Process

What Happens After You Apply?

  1. Application review

    Once you’ve chosen the age phase you’d like to teach and submitted your application, our team will conduct an initial review.

  2. Online interview

    We’ll contact you to arrange an online interview. You'll be asked to complete some pre-interview maths and English task as well as a presentation. 

  3. Conditional offer

    If your interview is successful, you’ll receive a conditional offer to join the programme.

  4. School placement support

    Don’t have a school to support your training yet? No problem! Our dedicated placements team will work with you to secure a placement school, ensuring you’re ready to begin your teaching journey.

  5. Enrolment and onboarding process begins 

 "I do not work in a school" - Apply Here

Whether you're a career changer or about to graduate from university, our fee-funded Initial Teacher Training route is a great way to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in under a year. You’ll train in a school four days a week, with one day of expert-led training either online or face to face — all organised for you by Best Practice Network.

Starting in September, this 11-month course can be funded through a student loan or self-funding. It’s a flexible and supportive route into teaching for those ready to launch a rewarding new career.

Choose from one of two age ranges for our fee-funded Initial Teacher Training:

Specialism Curriculum pathway Start dates
SEND 3-7  September
SEND 5-11  September 

Please apply now for the next intake!

Congratulations! You appear to be eligible to apply. Please click the link below to begin your application

Apply for 3-7 SEND Specialism

Apply for 5-11 SEND Specialism

Return to previous question

Return to previous question

To apply, you must have lived in the UK for the last 3 consecutive years.

Question 1: Have you lived in the UK for at least the last 3 consecutive years?

Return to previous question

To apply, you must have have the right to work and study in the UK.

Question 2: Do you have the right to work and study in the UK?

Return to previous question

To join this programme, you must have one of the following:

  • GCSEs in English, maths and science at Grade 4 (C) or above

  • Equivalency tests for English, maths and science at GCSE level

  • International qualifications equivalent to GCSE English, maths and science as assessed by UK ENIC (comparability Statement)

Question 3: Do you hold these GCSEs or equivalent qualifications?

Return to previous question

To join this programme, you must hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any subject, awarded at a minimum classification of 2:2.

Question 4: Do you have a bachelor's degree awarded at a minimum classification of 2:2?

Return to previous question

 "I currently work in a school" - Apply Here

If you are currently employed in a school, the Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship is an ideal pathway to achieve Qualified Teacher Status and a Level 6 Teacher Apprenticeship in just 12 months + End Point Assessment. 

All training costs are covered by your placement school’s Apprenticeship Levy, so there are no fees to pay. 

During your apprenticeship, you will be employed at a school and receive a salary of between £21k-£27k per year on the Unqualified Teacher Salary (UNQ1) and upon qualification, you’ll step straight into a starting teacher salary of £31k–£38k.

Choose from one of two age ranges – both are full time.

Specialism Curriculum pathway Start dates
SEND 3-7 September
SEND 5-11  September 

Please apply now for the next intake!

Congratulations! You appear to be eligible to apply. Please click the link below to begin your application

Apply for 3-7 SEND Specialism

Apply for 5-11 SEND Specialism

Return to previous question

Unfortunately, you do not appear to be eligible.

Please contact our team to discuss your options.


Return to previous question

To apply, you must have lived in the UK for the last 3 consecutive years.

Question 1: Have you lived in the UK for at least the last 3 consecutive years?

Return to previous question

To apply, you must have have the right to work and study in the UK.

Question 2: Do you have the right to work and study in the UK?

Return to previous question

To join this programme, you must have one of the following:

  • GCSEs in English, maths and science at Grade 4 (C) or above

  • Equivalency tests for English, maths and science at GCSE level

  • International qualifications equivalent to GCSE English, maths and science as assessed by UK ENIC (comparability Statement)

Question 3: Do you hold these GCSEs or equivalent qualifications?

Return to previous question

To join this programme, you must hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any subject, awarded at a minimum classification of 2:2.

Question 4: Do you have a bachelor's degree awarded at a minimum classification of 2:2?

Return to previous question

To apply for the Teacher Apprenticeship, you must be working in a school as a teaching assistant, cover supervisor or other support role. Please confirm you are working in a school.

Question 5: Are you currently employed in a school?

Return to previous question

Meet the team!