2316 Special and additional needs education teaching professionals: SOC 2020 occupation code

In short

ONS unit group 2316, in minor group 231 (Teaching professionals) and major group 2 (Professional occupations).
Appendix Skilled Occupations (figures as at 3 August 2026, re-checked 26 October 2026): On the list: Table 3.
Going rate as the table prints it:
- Table 3: a national pay scale, set out in the table below.

What the ONS says

Description

Special and additional needs education teaching professionals organise and provide instruction at a variety of different levels to children who have emotional, behavioural or learning difficulties or physical disabilities. These professionals may also work with exceptionally gifted pupils.

Typical entry routes

Entry is with a first degree that provides QTS (qualified teacher status) or, in Scotland, TQ (teaching qualification); or other relevant degree followed by further postgraduate training (most commonly PGCE – Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Education, or, in Scotland, PGDE – Professional Graduate Diploma in Education). Additionally, prior experience in mainstream teaching is usually required, and further training for special needs teaching may be mandatory. A DBS check is mandatory

Tasks

creates a safe, stimulating and supportive learning environment for students
assesses student’s abilities, identifies student’s needs and devises curriculum and rota of teaching duties accordingly
gives instruction, using techniques appropriate to the student’s disability
develops and adapts conventional teaching methods to meet the individual student’s needs
encourages the student to develop self-help skills to circumvent the limitations imposed by their disability
prepares, assigns and corrects exercises to record and evaluate students’ progress
supervises students in classroom and maintains discipline
liaises with other professionals, such as social workers, speech and language therapists and educational psychologists
updates and maintains students’ records to monitor development and progress
discusses student’s progress with parents and other teaching professionals

Related job titles

Behaviour support teacher
Deputy head teacher (special/additional needs school)
Learning support teacher
Special educational needs coordinator
Special needs teacher

ONS note: Unit group title was Special needs education teaching professionals (version V7).

What the Appendix Skilled Occupations says

The Appendix lists this code in the table below, with the table’s own caption and the row as printed. Read the full table, and any condition in it, on GOV.UK.

Table 3: Eligible health and education SOC 2020 occupation codes where going rates are based on national pay scales

SOC 2020 occupation code

2316 Special and additional needs education teaching professionals

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

2316

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

Behaviour support teacher
Deputy head teacher (special/additional needs school)
Learning support teacher
Special educational needs coordinator
Special needs teacher

Going rate (annual)

See relevant pay band in Table 5

Table 5: Going rates for listed education SOC 2020 occupation codes by administration and role

Role	England (excluding London / Fringe)	London Fringe	Outer London	Inner London	Scotland	Wales	Northern Ireland
Unqualified teachers / Probationers	£21,731	£23,140	£25,758	£27,252	£33,594	£21,812	-
Qualified teachers	£31,650	£33,075	£36,413	£38,766	£40,305	£32,433	£30,000
Chartered teachers	-	-	-	-	£52,158	-	-
Principal teachers	-	-	-	-	£55,155	-	-
Leadership group	£49,781	£51,151	£53,731	£59,186	-	£50,653	£47,241
Leading practitioner	£50,025	£51,403	£53,994	£59,478	-	£50,902	-
Head teacher	£56,316	£57,693	£60,266	£65,731	£62,556	£57,304	£53,309

Other unit groups in minor group 231

Sources

Occupation text: Office for National Statistics, SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups (file dated 27 August 2026, version V13). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0. Tables: Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK, page updated 3 August 2026; re-checked against the page updated 8 October 2026 on 26 October 2026, tables unchanged.

All 412 occupation codes

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