Natspec

FE ‘engine’ running on fumes as MPs call for funding and pay reforms Education committee makes 40+ wide-ranging recommendations concluding its future of FE inquiry

📚 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...

These recommendations have the potential to have a real, positive impact on the FE sector and specifically specialist colleges and the young people they support. It is crucial that the DfE acts on these recommendations to build a genuinely inclusive and effective skills system for everyone.

The report acts on many of the recommendations provided by Natspec, including bringing SEND under the Minister for Skills, providing access to capital funding for specialist colleges, extending duties around transport support and reducing the teacher pay gap between schools and colleges.

Natspec response to the Education Committee report: FE and Skills - Natspec Committee report cements the place of specialist colleges in FE policy

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...

Leicester's decision to end all post-16 SEND transport may reduce costs now, but it risks cutting off the support young people need to develop independence and move into employment. It also opens the door for other councils to follow suit, removing all post-16 transport support.

YouTube video by Channel 4 News Leicester City Council to end post-16 school transport for SEND students

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 When transport is withdrawn, skills, confidence, and independence can be lost.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...

image shows staff and students at Condover College celebrating their win

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...

Image shows:The images from inside the post of interns coaching other interns, set inside a laptop and iMac picture frames. Alt text for intern images in post. Logos for the companies involved also shown against a faded background of blue-coloured circuit boards

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...

image shows the Let me In students and lecturers with their award and post title

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...

Rethinking SEND: What if EHCPs were replaced by something better? - Natspec David Holloway looks at what might happen if EHCPs were replaced, and what that could look like in colleges.

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 rated ‘outstanding’ today Ofsted praises ‘dedicated’ leaders at SEND college for creating calm and professional learning environment in first full inspection

🏆 Creating Tomorrow College, a Northamptonshire specialist college, has received an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted grade in its first ever full inspection

feweek.co.uk/creating-tom...

Our journey to building a robust, personalised curriculum - Natspec Lisa Holland writes about how Pure College have developed a curriculum which is championed by local employers and external professionals.

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).

Senior Policy Officer - Natspec - Natspec 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 pol...

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...

Image shows three young disabled people in different work scenarios

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...

Thousands of children with SEND to benefit from assistive tech Government launches innovative pilot with up to £1.7m available to help children with SEND achieve and thrive at their local school.

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...

YouTube video by Natspec Celebrating the winners of the 2025 Natspec Innovation Awards

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

Senior Quality Manager - Natspec - Natspec We're looking for an experienced senior leader to lead our quality improvement services.

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...

Webinars - TechAbility Techability Webinars Access all recordings on the TechAbility YouTube channel Featured Webinars

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.

Senior Quality Manager - Natspec - Natspec We're looking for an experienced senior leader to lead our quality improvement services.

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...

Thank you to everyone who entered our competition to win a bottle of champagne and for signing up for a free site accessibility test. HeX experts will be in touch shortly with your A11y health check results.

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

Denise Olander speaking on the Natspec stage

Dame Christine Lenehan speaks from the Natspec stage

Shelagh Legrave speaks from the Natspec stage

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.

A female student is sitting in a school’s library wearing headphones and using a laptop to complete course work. Text reads “Digital barriers in education: 1. Hardware and software being incompatible with assistive technologies, 2. A lack of accessibility features on websites, e-learning portals, and online documents, 3. Learning resources not being written, presented and structured for all students to access and understand. Shutting students out from having an inclusive learning experience”

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

#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

Clare Howard speaks from the Natspec stage

A group of people in the audience sitting around tables applaud

An exhibitor shows an attendee something on a phone

A breakout session leader gestures, glasses off, at the audience

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.

Alan Watkins speaking on the Natspec stage

Our second keynote speaker is Dr Alan Watkins, speaking to the Natspec Conference about wicked problems; how they are multi-dimensional problems that require multi-dimensional solutions.

Professor Kevin Fong speaking from behind a lectern on the conference stage.

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.

A Natspec banner in the lobby of a hotel while a queue forms

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

Age appropriateness in post-16 SEND provision - Natspec A new training exploring the concept of ‘age appropriacy’ in the context of providing educational opportunities to learners with a complex need or PMLD label.

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...

A female college student is sitting at a desk smiling whilst using an accessible website on both a laptop and mobile device. To the side, text reads “How HeX transforms the learning experience: Accessible design & web development, Website usability audit testing, Inclusive training for teachers, support staff and in-house developers, Empathy lab experiences, and Accessibility consultancy. Between 17-18 June visit us at The Natspec National Conference”

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