Inclusivity and diversity are two crucial elements required in any education system aiming to provide quality education for all students. These values become even more critical when it comes to the inclusion of students with special educational needs (SEN), who require additional support and individualized assistance. To provide the best support for SEN students, schools and colleges recruit specially trained teaching assistants. However, the recruitment process should not stop there. Including SEN teachers can provide significant benefits for everyone involved in the recruitment process.
1. Experienced Input: Special Education Needs (SEN) teachers have vast experience working with SEN students and are familiar with their learning styles and individual needs. Involving SEN teachers in the recruitment process can help ensure that teaching assistants selected are knowledgeable, sensitive, able to provide personalized support for SEN students and fit well with the rest of the team. They can help ensure that the recruitment team is selecting the right candidate with the right attitude and knowledge of SEN students' needs.
2. Better Quality of Recruitment: SEN teachers can help evaluate and review the quality of the practices used in the recruitment process, assist with training programs, and support ongoing professional development of teaching assistants. They can provide valuable insights into different methods of communication, engagement, and teaching strategies customized for SEN students. This approach can lead to a better-quality recruitment process and, ultimately, better quality teaching assistants who can provide high levels of support for SEN students.
3. Enhanced Student Support: Including SEN teachers in the recruitment process can help schools discover and improve the weaker areas in their current support system. They can provide recommendations on how to structure support and training programs for teaching assistants and other support staff to enhance student support. The feedback they provide can also be used as the basis of planning interventions to positively impact student achievement.
4. Diverse Hiring Process: Involving SEN teachers in the recruitment process promotes inclusivity and diversity in hiring, which is a key characteristic of transparent and fair recruitment. Inclusivity ensures that the recruitment system does not discriminate against candidates with different needs, abilities, and backgrounds. It helps select the best candidate, including those that have SEN experience, who can bring new ideas and approaches to the job.
5. Retention of Qualified Staff: Recruiting and retaining high-quality support staff can be a challenge for any educational institution. Working with SEN teachers during the recruitment process can create a more favourable and supportive environment for candidates and lead to higher retention rates. Higher retention rates are beneficial for both the educational institution and students, who need stability and continuity in their support system.
Including SEN teachers in the recruitment process can provide numerous benefits for all involved, especially when it comes to recruiting qualified SEN teaching assistants. They have valuable insights and expertise that can ensure that the right teaching assistants are selected and that students with SEN receive the necessary support to achieve their potential. This approach can create an equal opportunity for all, enhance student support, and provide a more transparent and fair recruitment process. Ultimately, the inclusion of SEN teachers enhances the overall quality of education and contributes positively to the growth of students with SEN.