What are you doing during 1-5 December to celebrate #ThePowerofSpecialistFE movement? #SpecialistFEWorksForMe

From 1–5 Dec, we’re celebrating #ThePowerOfSpecialistFE! Recognising how specialist FE helps young people to gain independence, skills & confidence for life and work. Get involved in the campaign: specialistfe.com Share your story 📢: specialistfe.com/for-learners/ #SpecialistFEWorks #SEND #FE

📚 The education select committee has issued its wide-ranging report of over 40 recommendations, including: 💰 an FE pay review body 💰 devolution of 16-19 education to strategic authorities 💰 reinstatement of funding for some level 7 apprenticeships 💰 modular T Levels feweek.co.uk/fe-engine-ru...

The Education Committee's latest report is a significant moment for the specialist FE sector. We're delighted to see a report that embeds the needs of SEND learners in its thinking on FE policy and importantly, recognises the vital role of specialist colleges. natspec.org.uk/natspec-resp...

The experiences shared by students at Homefield College demonstrate how vital post-16 transport is for learners with SEND. When transport is withdrawn, skills, confidence, and independence can be lost. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CAA...

NEW POST: In the last of our articles highlighting winners of the @natspec.bsky.social Innovation Awards, we hear how integrating therapies and education is driving inclusion for disabled students at @condovercollege.bsky.social in Shropshire: www.specialneedsjungle.com/i...

NEW POST: In the second of our series of innovative post-16 providers who've won @natspec.bsky.social innovation awards, we look at DISC Manchester, the college collaborating with tech firms to train young people with #SEND to succeed in digital and creative careers www.specialneedsjungle.com/c...

NEW POST: Let Me In: How students with disabilities at @treloars.bsky.social College are offering accessibility expertise to transform communities. This is the first of three articles, featuring winners of the @natspec.bsky.social Innovation awards www.specialneedsjungle.com/d...

In today's Rethinking SEND article, David Holloway from Association of Colleges looks at what might happen if EHCPs were replaced, and whether it could, possibly, create a better system. natspec.org.uk/rethinking-s...

🏆 Creating Tomorrow College, a Northamptonshire specialist college, has received an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted grade in its first ever full inspection feweek.co.uk/creating-tom...

How do you build a robust, personalised curriculum? For our latest Quality Times article, Lisa Holland writes about how Pure College has developed their curriculum to prepare students for the world of work. natspec.org.uk/our-journey-...

Come and work with a motivated and highly valuable team, making a difference in Specialist FE (and beyond).

We're recruiting! We are seeking an experienced, dynamic policy officer, with a strong track record in lobbying, providing policy advice, analysing government policy and preparing consultation responses to join our policy team. Apply by 4 August: natspec.org.uk/senior-polic...

On SNJ Today: How a £9 return on every £1 invested, shows that boosting Supported Internships is a moral and valuable imperative in helping disabled young people into work. www.specialneedsjungle.com/9...

4,000 schools in 32 LAs will trial assistive tech “lending libraries” for children with SEND . in a new pilot, funded by up to £1.7m. It will enable schools to borrow and trial a range of devices to suit their pupils’ needs. www.gov.uk/government/news/t...

Hear directly from the winners of our 2025 Natspec Innovation Awards about what made their practice innovative, and about the impact it's having on students: youtu.be/VbUafBQy7X0

We're looking for a Senior Quality Manager to oversee our quality support services. This is a vital post that will be part of our senior leadership team, shaping the way Natspec supports members and the wider sector. Apply by 6pm Weds 25 June: natspec.org.uk/senior-quali...

Help learners fulfil their potential in employment by enhancing their independence skills. Free webinar Tuesday 24 June www.techability.org.uk/webinars/ Register now to hear how The Oaks Specialist College are working with @Assitiv to transform real life work experience.

We're looking for a Senior Quality Manager to oversee our quality support services. This is a vital post that will be part of our senior leadership team, shaping the way Natspec supports members and the wider sector. Apply by 6pm Weds 25 June: natspec.org.uk/senior-quali...

Drum roll please...the winner of our @natspec.bsky.social champagne competition is Kate Vincent from ROC College. Congratulations! Thank you to everyone who entered and signed up for a free accessibility website test. Our experts will be in contact shortly with your results. #NatspecNC25 #A11y

This morning at #NatspecNC25 we're hearing from Dame Christine Lenehan, Shelagh Legrave and Denise Olander, looking at changes and developments in the further education sector for SEND.

Ensuring sites and resources are accessible for all students is essential. If you're at the @natspec.bsky.social Conference, come to table 14 to see how we can enhance the inclusivity of your online space. Learn more about the challenges in #education: zurl.co/cwTss #education#NatspecNC25

Thrilled to be at @natspec.bsky.social annual conference in beautiful Stratford-upon-Avon. We'll be hearing from minister Jacqui Smith a little later, along with FE Commissioner Shelagh Legrave and @ofstednews.bsky.social's Denise Olander #NatspecNC25

Here's a selection of photos from this morning at Natspec National Conference; an inspiring keynote session, busy exhibition and some fabulous informative breakout sessions.

Our first keynote speaker is Professor Kevin Fong, talking to us about his incredibly varied career (from NASA to medicine) and how all that experience has led him to become a problem solver, tackling very complex systems.

We're all set up and ready for Natspec National Conference in gloriously sunny Stratford-upon-Avon - looks to be a lovely day.

Are your educational opportunities age appropriate? We know this is a question often asked by practitioners working with learners with a complex need or PMLD label. Our training includes case studies and a framework of good practice developed with practitioners. natspec.org.uk/events/age-a...

In 2 weeks time, we will be at the @natspec.bsky.social National Conference. If you're attending, visit our stall, where we will be raising awareness of digital barriers in education. Find out more about our inclusive services: zurl.co/o8AjF #Education #A11y #Accessibility

Natspec chief executive Clare Howard is speaking in front of the Education Select Committee today as part of their inquiry into Further Education and Skills. Watch now: parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

Not long until Natspec National Conference 2025! But there is still time to join us for our packed two day event looking at anything and everything about SEND learners in further education. Don't miss out! More details and booking: natspec.org.uk/events/natsp...

We're recruiting! We're looking for a senior quality manager to have oversight of all our quality support services, developing and expanding the support they provide to the FE and skills sector. See more details and get in touch if this could be you: natspec.org.uk/senior-quali...

Free webinar: Technology – where is the learning? Tuesday 20 May. 12:30 The important question about technology for teaching staff is, "Where is the learning?" What are the questions that you need to ask before introducing a technology to learners? www.techability.org.uk/webinars/

The national digital experience insights survey is now live, open to all FE teaching and professional staff in the UK! Let us do the digital audit work for you and your team, it only takes 10 minutes to complete. #AmplifyFE #Edusky

We're delighted to announce the winners of 2025's Natspec Innovation Awards. The seven colleges are a true showcase of the innovative, exciting practice happening in specialist FE colleges across the country. natspec.org.uk/announcing-t...

We're delighted that the #NatspecInnovationAwards are underway! This is such a lovely opportunity to celebrate our seven award winners, as well as the 18 shortlisted colleges, and their innovative, exciting practice. Stay tuned for who the winners are!

We're looking forward to announcing the winners of the #NatspecInnovationAwards later today! Join us from 1:30pm to celebrate the innovative practice that lies at the heart of the specialist FE sector! natspec.org.uk/events/natsp...

"Safeguarding in further education is an increasingly complex and demanding field that requires strategic leadership, innovative practices, and systemic support," says David Holloway from AoC in our new #ThinkFurther blog. Read more here: www.aoc.co.uk/news-campaig...

Two thirds of colleges have been forced by local authorities to enrol SEND students even though they could not meet the young person’s needs, new data suggests

Yesterday, our Chief Executive Clare Howard spoke to the Education Select Committee as part of their inquiry into solving the SEND crisis. She highlighted issues specifically facing the FE sector, including funding and policy gaps. 🔗 parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

🫵 MPs on Parliament's education committee has demanded government set out its plans and timescales for major SEND reforms after reports a white paper is on the table

"The FE sector cannot help solve the SEND crisis if both types of FE provider are not recognised as equally valuable parts of the same system," says Clare Howard OBE, CEO of Natspec. Read the full blog here: www.aoc.co.uk/news-campaig...

"The FE sector cannot help solve the SEND crisis if both types of FE provider are not recognised as equally valuable parts of the same system." Clare Howard looks at what specialist colleges are and where they sit within the FE system. @aoc-info.bsky.social natspec.org.uk/rethinking-s...

Big day for Natspec staff out and about today! Our Chief Executive Clare Howard is appearing before the Education Committee, looking at how to solve the SEND crisis, whilst Assistive Technologists Fil and Neil are at #Digifest25 to talk about all things AT and accessibility.

Off to #Digifest2025. Co-running the AT and Accessibility drop in with friends from Jisc and the AT Network. 1:15 Hall 3 Community Hub.

We're in Birmingham today for our annual quality improvement event, this year focussing on developing and improving a challenging curriculum. Can't wait to see everyone there!

It's officially Colleges Week 2025! Join us in celebrating the impact colleges have both in their local communities and across the country. Make sure to tag us and use the #CollegesWeek2025 hashtag - we can't wait to see what you get up to! aoc.co.uk/news-campaig...

The Natspec Innovation Awards celebrate innovative practice in the specialist FE sector. A huge congratulations to the 18 projects and their colleges that made the shortlist this year! 🎉 natspec.org.uk/announcing-t...

⚠️ More than half of councils have warned they will become insolvent when a measure keeping spiralling SEND deficits off their balance sheets expires next year

All learners have thoughts and opinions on their educational provision. But when your learners have complex needs, they may struggle to articulate those thoughts and opinions - but that doesn't mean they don't exist We've published two pieces looking at considerations for college learner voice work

Sign up for our Environmental Sustainability pledge to begin your journey to achieving net zero carbon emissions through various projects that aim to have a positive impact on climate change. Find out more: www.aoc.co.uk/sport/get-in...