Blog Home

Ace Your SEND Education Job Interview

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 06:01:54 Z

The 20-Word Introduction That Gets You the Job: How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” in SEND Interviews

Why First Impressions Matter

Your interview begins long before you finish your first answer. The question “Tell me about yourself” is asked in almost every SEND interview, and many educators lose the interview panel’s attention within 30 seconds.

Why? Because they talk about themselves instead of what matters most: the pupils.

The Mistake Most Education Professionals Make

Interview panels often hear the same introduction again and again:

Qualifications and training dates
Years of experience in order
Job titles and school names
Generic statements like “I enjoy working with children”

The issue? Your CV already tells that story. What interviewers are really asking is: “Why should we choose you for our pupils?”

A Story: TA Sarah’s Turning Point

Sarah, a Teaching Assistant, once began her answer with training dates and school names. She noticed the panel switch off.

At her next interview, she tried a new approach:
“I help non-verbal pupils find their voice and join in with their classmates.”

Twelve words. The panel leaned forward. “That’s exactly what we need, tell me more.”

This time, she got the job.

The 20-Word Interview Rule

Your introduction should be:

Under 20 words
Focused on pupil outcomes
Specific enough to be memorable

Template: “I help [type of pupils] to [key outcome] and [key outcome].”

SEND Interview Examples That May Work Instead

❌ “I’ve worked with SEMH pupils in primary and secondary schools.”

✅ “I help pupils with anxiety and trauma to trust adults, manage emotions and succeed.”

❌ “I’m trained in Makaton and PECS.”

✅ “I give non-verbal pupils tools to communicate, make choices and build friendships.”

❌ “I support pupils with sensory processing difficulties.”

✅ “I help pupils with sensory needs feel regulated, focused and ready to learn.”

Why It Works

A concise, pupil-focused introduction sparks curiosity. It makes the panel picture their own pupils benefiting from your support and invites deeper questions about your approach.

Make Your First Interview Impression Count

Your introduction is more than a formality; it’s your chance to show how you’ll make a difference for children and young people with SEND. Master those first 20 words, and you’ll set yourself apart from the very start.

Download the Free Cheat Sheet

Want to keep these examples handy?

👉 Download our one-page Interview Cheat Sheet for a quick reference to the 20-word rule, sample answers, and a simple action plan.

More Resources for Your SEND Journey

📝 Mastering Your CV: The Ultimate Guide to Landing Your Dream Job

❓ Top 5 Interview Questions for Teachers

🎒 How to Prepare for Your First Day in a SEND Setting

Looking for Your Next SEND Role?

At Axcis, we specialise in SEND recruitment across England and South Wales. By registering with us, you’ll get:

Free CPD training with access to 1,400+ webinars and 180+ online courses through the Axcis Academy
Exclusive SEND opportunities in schools nationwide
The Axcis App to manage your work and admin quickly and easily
Ongoing support from consultants who understand SEND

Register with Axcis today and let us help you find your ideal role.

Spooky Sensory Fun for SEND Classrooms this Halloween!

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 13:54:42 +0100

Halloween can be a fun and engaging time for students, but it’s important to consider how different activities might affect students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). At Axcis, we understand the importance of making these celebrations inclusive and supportive. Here are some sensory-friendly ideas to help make Halloween fun for everyone!

1. Spooky Sensory Bins

Create themed sensory bins using safe and tactile items like dried pasta "brains," rubber spiders, or kinetic sand. These bins allow students to explore textures in a controlled, low-stress environment.

2. Calming Halloween Corners

Set up a “calming corner” with Halloween-themed stress balls, fidget toys, and noise-cancelling headphones. It gives students a safe space to step away if the excitement becomes overwhelming.

3. Pumpkin Decorating (Without the Carving!)

Instead of traditional pumpkin carving, let students decorate pumpkins with paint, stickers, or soft materials. This reduces mess and allows for more sensory-friendly creativity.

4. Sensory-Friendly Costumes

For schools allowing costumes, suggest sensory-friendly options like soft fabric costumes without scratchy tags or props. This makes dressing up more comfortable for students who may be sensitive to textures.

5. Halloween Stories with Visuals

Use Halloween-themed stories with plenty of visuals and interactive elements. Adapt the story for different learning styles by incorporating sound effects or using visual aids like puppets or illustrations.

6. Glow Stick Dance Party!

Organize a low-light, glow stick dance party. The soft lighting and colourful glow sticks can create a visually stimulating yet calming environment. Plus, it’s a great way to burn off some energy!

Keeping it Safe and Fun!

While Halloween is a time for fun and excitement, it's essential to ensure the safety and comfort of all students, especially those with SEND. Always be mindful of sensory triggers and individual needs, and create a safe space for students who may feel overwhelmed. With a little extra planning, you can make this spooky season enjoyable and inclusive for everyone.

At Axcis, we’re committed to supporting SEND educators with fun, practical resources like these. Keep an eye on our social media channels for more seasonal ideas and tips to help you in the classroom!

Not signed up with Axcis yet? We’re always looking for talented SEND teaching and support staff. Register with us today or refer a friend to explore the rewarding opportunities we offer.

FREE Festive Season Resources

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 12:00:00 Z

FREE Festive Season Resources

Axcis are thrilled to offer these free printable Christmas worksheets to use with your school, setting or at home. In this pack, we include a festive wordsearch, crossword, maze and maths challenge. Download yours today!

Our FREE printable Christmas worksheets are listed below – simply click on the one(s) you are interested in and they should open ready to print and use with your children at home or school. Alternatively, feel free to email us and we can send you a copy.

Christmas Wordsearch

Christmas Crossword

Amazing Maze

Andy’s Christmas Maths Challenge

If you have any other festive resources or ideas you want to share then please feel free to email us your suggestions, leave a comment below, or simply just @ us across all of our social platforms!

Happy Holidays everyone!!

5 Fantastic Resources For SEND Teachers And Support Staff

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0100

As a SEND teacher or support staff member, you're probably already feeling pretty overwhelmed with the demands of your job. But we hear you! That's why we've collected our favourite resources for SEND teachers and support staff to help make your life easier.

Here you'll find free resources for the classroom, helpful websites, and new ideas for ways to save time and improve your students’ learning.

1) Whole School SEND – Created by our partners, nasen (National Association of Special Educational Needs), this is probably one of our favourite resources for SEND teachers and support staff. There’s also an online community where you can ask questions about SEND, share ideas for new activities, ask for help when things get tough in the classroom, and much, much more!

2) Reachout - This website offers free downloadable resources that can be used by staff working with students who have special learning needs or disabilities in their classrooms, at home or at school. They also offer a blog section filled with helpful tips on how to make life easier. But in even better news, if you are registered as a candidate with Axcis, you have access to all of their amazing CPD courses, absolutely free of charge! Please contact your consultant or our Candidate Training team for more information or to get yourself enrolled.

3) The National Autistic Society (NAS) – Axcis has had links with the NAS since 2011. They offer great Autism specific online training courses.

4) Autism Education Trust - Established and supported by the Department for Education, the AET promotes and supports partnerships throughout the education system to improve educational access, experience and outcomes for autistic children and young people. Underpinned by current research into good autism practice, the AET programme is structured around the three education phases – Early Years, Schools and Post 16.

5) EEF - This site has been designed in collaboration with teachers who have worked with students in mainstream and special needs settings, providing resources like lesson plans and teaching tips. If you're looking for ways to improve your skills as an educator (and not just someone who works with students who have special needs), this website is definitely worth checking out!

We hope you find these fantastic websites as useful as we have!

Are you seeking SEND work or staff?

If you’re looking for a SEND teaching or support job in England or Wales, why not register with Axcis, the SEND recruitment specialists? Or perhaps you need to recruit staff for your school or provision? If so, why not take a look at the Axcis Website, or get in touch today to find out how we can help!