What qualifications should a SEN governess have?

The short answer: real one-to-one experience with children who have additional needs, training in special education, psychology or behaviour support, and references you can call. A teaching degree is not required. A childcare qualification alone is not enough.

What matters most

Experience with a child like yours. Two years beside an autistic six-year-old is worth more to the parent of an autistic six-year-old than a master's degree and no placements. Ask what ages and needs she has worked with, and for how long each time.

Training in how children learn and behave. Backgrounds that transfer well are special education, psychology, early-years education, and therapy assistance in speech, occupational therapy or ABA.

A behaviour-technician credential. RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) and IBT (International Behavior Therapist) both show that someone has been taught to follow a behaviour plan, record data and work under supervision. Neither makes her a therapist.

References from families or schools. These predict the outcome better than any certificate. Ask the referee whether they would hire her again for a child with the same needs.

What matters less than it looks

• A general nursing or childcare certificate, without special-needs experience
• A long list of short online courses
• Years of experience that were all in group settings rather than one-to-one

What she should not be asked to do

A governess is not a therapist. She should not design an ABA programme, deliver speech therapy, or make clinical decisions. Her job is to carry a plan written by someone qualified, and to report honestly on how it is going.

Safety basics

First aid training, safeguarding training, and comfort with any personal care, feeding or medical routines your child needs. Agree these in writing before the first day.

How we check

Every specialist we put forward has given us a CV and two references that we have called. Many hold or are working towards a behaviour-technician credential through our own IBT training. The SEN governess page explains how matching and supervision work.