Is it possible to do my induction year in a special school? I’ve been offered supply work in one. Will this experience help in securing a full-time post for induction? I have quite a bit of experience with physically and developmentally challenged children, and I want to work in special education, but my college tutors are not very supportive of the idea. What do you think?

I, too, have reservations about going straight from college into special education. You can do induction in a special school, and a small number of people do so. Doing supply is probably not a brilliant way to start a career, and you can only do induction if you have a term’s supply contract. Try to get a position for at least a year so you have some stability and can make progress.

The problem with doing induction in a special school is that you will be making things difficult for yourself, as you’ll have even more new situations to get used to. You have to meet all the QTS standards again and the 10 induction standards too, but in a setting that is very different to where you did teaching practices.

It’s not impossible, but nor is it straightforward - and the consequence of failing is that you’ll never be allowed to teach in a state school or non-maintained special school again. Another factor you must consider is whether the school has experience of putting newly qualified teachers through induction and if it has a trained induction tutor. If it hasn’t, the risk of your induction going badly increases.

Remember that you have your whole career in which to specialise. There are plenty of children with special needs who are taught in mainstream schools and the experience of teaching children with the full range of abilities will be invaluable whatever you eventually decide to do. Teaching effectively in a special school requires a great deal. Most people go into them having developed their skills and gained experience in mainstream, which is why there is no initial QTS for special education. It is also easier to go from a mainstream to special school than vice versa.

So, for all these reasons, think carefully about going straight into special education. Perhaps spend a few years in mainstream - you’ll be classed as “experienced” then, and be a better proposition for employers.

Whatever you decide, good luck and enjoy it.

Are you a student or NQT? Email your questions to: susan.young@newsint. co.uk. Sara Bubb’s A Newly Qualified Teacher’s Manual: how to meet the induction standards is published by David Fulton, pound;15