Special education is built around understanding every student's strengths, goals and individual learning journey. While every school and classroom is different, collaboration, personalised learning and strong relationships are at the heart of every day. Here's what teaching in a special school really looks like.
Student-centred learning
Jessica Croston, Head of Department at Aspley Special School, says everything begins with understanding each student's individual needs.
‘There's a full range of assisted technologies and sensory tools based on students' needs and how they wish to communicate. Everything in special education comes back to student-centred learning.’
Learning programs are individualised to ensure every student can access the curriculum while continuing to grow.
Jessica explains: ‘The focus is on where the student is at. The students are at a pre-prep, some at a Year 1 to 3 level. How are they accessing information and how can they be challenged to grow? It's all based on an Individual Curriculum Plan.’
Planning also extends well beyond the classroom.
‘Every student by end of Year 9 will also have an 'end of year path' plan. It's prepared in conjunction with parents, families and stakeholders, with the aim of what can the child do or want to do when they leave school. We then backward map to aim for those goals.’
For Jessica, collaboration is essential. ‘You can't do this job by yourself; it has to be a team effort, everything is done together.’
You're part of a multidisciplinary team
One of the biggest differences many teachers notice is the level of collaboration across the school community.
Special schools bring together teachers, teacher aides and allied health professionals including school nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists, who work alongside teachers to support student learning and wellbeing.
Teachers are supported by experienced colleagues and multidisciplinary teams, receiving guidance and hands-on support in areas such as using specialised equipment, managing feeding tubes and supporting students with additional health needs. Individual health plans help guide student care where required, while the department's Education Futures Institute provides professional learning to build confidence and support ongoing development throughout a teacher's career.
Many pathways into special education
As a preservice teacher Ashlee Scholz, didn't originally plan on working in special education.
‘I thought mainstream education was where I wanted to be. However, after that one-week placement I knew special education was where I belonged and that special school actually offered me a job to start the following term.'
‘The role is creative and full of opportunities to think differently about teaching and learning.’
After teaching special education in Western Australia for four years, Ashlee moved to Queensland. She briefly returned to a mainstream classroom before finding her way back to special education.
Stella Porta, now a teacher at Cairns State Special School, followed a different pathway, beginning her career as a teacher aide in 2020, supporting young children in an Early Childhood Development Program in Cairns, before completing her teaching qualification.
Her experience as a teacher aide laid a strong foundation, building her confidence and understanding of school systems and the diverse needs of students.
While studying, Stella was supported through our Supported Pathway into Teaching initiative, which provided access to paid special leave for professional experience placements and exams. This support enabled her to focus on building her capability and transition confidently into teaching.
Could special education be your first or next teaching opportunity?
Special education offers opportunities for teachers from a wide range of backgrounds. Whether you're a graduate, an experienced primary or secondary teacher, or looking for a new challenge, you'll be supported by experienced colleagues, professional learning and multidisciplinary teams while making a lasting difference in the lives of students.
Explore special education opportunities, read related stories or ask a recruiter about special education roles in your preferred locations.