Advice for uk teacher wanting to make the move to Australia!

[Jlwalby]

Hi,

 I'm currently a Primary school teacher in the UK with 4 years experience and a 3 year BEd Hons in Primary Education with QTS.

I've started studying towards a MEd in inclusive education. In the school I'm currently in, there is a wide range of SEND children and I hope to become a SENCO/Special education teacher. I was looking at applying to be a SEN teacher as it is on the SOL once I have completed my masters. However, I have noticed that on the requirements to be a SEN teacher you need an additional 45 days supervised practice in a SEN role. As you're probably aware, they don't require this in the UK. 

I was wondering if there was anyone that has just had SEN teacher experience in the UK and has been able to waiver the 45 day supervised practice. 

Or whether any of you know a way of meeting the requirements. 

[Quoll]

You might want to check that your Masters is going to give you the equivalent of the fourth year because as it stands you aren't going to be eligible to teach (4 year degree with commensurate supervised practice throughout the degree) at all.  Australia is never going to waive any supervised practice requirements as part of the degree process.

[Jlwalby]

With my 3 year degree I had at least 20 weeks supervised teaching practise to teach as a primary school teacher in the UK. 

I spoke to someone before when I was thinking about just applying as a primary teacher that my masters plus my current degree would be more than enough to apply for primary school teacher. 

 

I was was just wondering if anyone could give me any advice about the SEN teacher route. For example, if they've waived it for someone with SEN teacher experience. Or if someone was in a similar situation and how they went about getting a SEN position. 

[Sammy1]

You might qualify to teach here as a primary teacher with the Masters making the four year requirement. However, to follow the SEN route, you must have a qualification in that area as well as the teaching experience, this includes the supervised practicum. They will not waive this requirement. For example, qualified Australian primary school teachers (who do not have this specialism) in WA have to undertake a post grad diploma (with a supervised teaching practicum) in order to be classed as a special needs teacher.