Thinking About Leaving Teaching? Why Some Teachers Choose SEND Instead

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 11:15:46 +0100

It's 10pm.

You've finished teaching for the day.

You've answered emails, dealt with behaviour incidents, attended meetings, updated records, planned lessons, and marked work.

Tomorrow's to-do list is already longer than today's.

And perhaps, for the first time or maybe the hundredth, you've found yourself wondering:

Can I really do this for another ten years

🤝 If that thought has crossed your mind recently, you're not alone.

Across England, thousands of teachers are asking themselves similar questions.

Not because they've stopped caring.

Not because they've lost their passion for education.

But because the job they love sometimes feels very different from the one they signed up for.

Most teachers didn't enter the profession because they loved paperwork, data tracking, meetings, or administrative tasks.

They became teachers because they wanted to help children learn, build confidence, discover their strengths, and achieve things they never thought possible.

And for many teachers, that purpose still matters just as much as it always did.

The question is whether their current role still allows them to focus on it.

When teachers start thinking about leaving, they often assume there are only two choices:

Stay where they are and keep pushing through
Leave teaching altogether

🤝 But what if there was a third option?

🤔 What if the problem isn't teaching itself?

🤝 What if it's the environment you're teaching in?

Many teachers who move into SEND education aren't trying to leave education behind.

They're looking for a different way to use the skills they already have.

A setting that feels more aligned with the reasons they became teachers in the first place.

For some, SEND becomes exactly that.

Let's take a look ...

What Teachers Are Actually Looking For

When teachers start exploring alternatives, they're rarely searching for SEND schools specifically.

They're usually searching for answers to questions like:

Why am I so exhausted?
Is teaching supposed to feel like this?
What else can I do with my teaching qualification?
Are there other types of schools I could work in?
Do I need a complete career change?

What they're often looking for is:

More meaningful relationships with pupils
More time to focus on individual needs
Less time spent firefighting
A stronger sense of purpose
Greater job satisfaction
A way to enjoy teaching again

And for some teachers, SEND becomes one possible answer.

Why Some Teachers Choose SEND Instead

One of the most common things we hear from teachers who move into SEND is:

⭐ I remember why I became a teacher.

That doesn't mean SEND is easier.

It isn't.

SEND comes with its own challenges, responsibilities, and demands.

But many teachers describe it as feeling different.

In mainstream settings, it's common to feel pulled in multiple directions at once.

Data.
Attendance.
Interventions.
Behaviour.
Reporting.
Meetings.
Administrative tasks.
Accountability measures.

In SEND settings, the focus often feels clearer.

🤝 Relationships become central.

👂 Understanding the pupil becomes just as important as delivering the curriculum.

📈 Progress may look different, but it still matters deeply.

For some teachers, that shift changes everything.

You've Probably Been Using SEND Skills for Years

One of the biggest misconceptions teachers have is:

I don't have SEND experience.

But if you've worked in a classroom, there's a good chance you've already developed many of the skills SEND schools value.

Have you ever:

Adapted lessons for different learning needs?
Supported a child with anxiety?
Worked with pupils who struggle to regulate emotions?
Differentiated learning?
Collaborated with teaching assistants?
Supported pupils with EHCPs?
Helped children build confidence and independence?

If so, you've already been developing SEND-related skills.

The difference is that in specialist settings, those skills become a much bigger part of your role.

Many teachers discover they're far more prepared than they initially thought.

What SEND Teaching Actually Looks Like

Many teachers have assumptions about SEND education that simply aren't true.

SEND is not one thing.

It includes a wide range of settings supporting pupils with:

Autism
ADHD
Speech and language needs
Learning difficulties
Physical disabilities
SEMH needs
Complex needs

Some settings follow an adapted national curriculum.

Some focus heavily on communication, independence, and life skills.

Some support pupils who have struggled to thrive in mainstream environments.

Every setting is different.

Which is why many teachers are often surprised by the variety of opportunities available.

What Happens to Your Subject Specialism?

This is one of the biggest questions secondary teachers ask.

The answer?

⭐ You don't leave your expertise behind.

SEND schools still need:

English teachers
Maths teachers
Science teachers
Humanities teachers
PE teachers
Arts specialists
Technology teachers

⭐ Your subject knowledge remains valuable.

What often changes is the way you deliver learning.

Many teachers find they become more creative, more flexible, and more individualised in their approach.

For some, it's one of the most rewarding professional developments of their career.

It's Not About Smaller Classes

People often assume teachers move into SEND because of class sizes.

While some specialist settings may have smaller groups and additional support staff, that's rarely the reason teachers stay.

The teachers who thrive in SEND often talk about something else entirely.

They talk about relationships.
They talk about seeing progress that feels meaningful.
They talk about being able to focus on the individual learner.
They talk about feeling connected to the purpose behind their work.

That's much harder to measure than class size.

But it's often the thing that matters most.

Let's Be Honest About the Challenges

SEND isn't the right fit for everyone.

The role can be emotionally demanding.

You may work with pupils who have experienced trauma.

You may support learners with complex communication needs.

You may face challenging situations and difficult days.

But many teachers also find that specialist settings are highly collaborative.

Teaching assistants, therapists, SENCOs, pastoral teams, and school leaders often work closely together to support pupils and staff.

That sense of teamwork is something many teachers value enormously.

What If You're Curious But Not Ready?

That's perfectly normal.

You don't have to make a career-changing decision overnight.

Many teachers begin by exploring:

SEND schools
Specialist provisions
Alternative Provision settings
Resource bases
Supply teaching opportunities

Experiencing different environments can help you understand whether SEND feels like the right fit before committing to a permanent move.

The Question Worth Asking

If you've found yourself thinking about leaving teaching, perhaps the most important question isn't:

❓ Do I want to leave education?

Maybe it's:

🌱 Do I need a different environment to do my best work?

For some teachers, the answer is no.

For others, exploring SEND opens a door they didn't realise existed.

A door that allows them to continue doing what they love.

⭐ Teaching.

⭐ Supporting.

⭐ Helping children overcome barriers and achieve success.

Not because they left teaching behind.

But because they found a version of it that felt right for them.

Thinking About Your Next Step?

Whether you're simply curious about SEND or actively considering a move, speaking to a specialist education recruitment consultant can help you understand what opportunities are available and which settings might suit your experience.

At Axcis, we support teachers at every stage of their SEND journey and can help you explore the options available without any pressure or obligation.

If you'd like to discuss SEND teaching opportunities, Alternative Provision roles, or simply find out whether a different educational setting might be right for you, complete our candidate enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch:

Candidate Enquiry Form:
https://forms.axcis.co.uk/team/candidates/enquiry-form-candidate

Sometimes the next step isn't leaving teaching.

Sometimes it's finding the place where you can enjoy it again.

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Thinking About Leaving Teaching? Why Some Teachers Choose SEND Instead