Natspec

Natspec response to SEND training announcement - Natspec £200 million investment goes to upskilling education workforce.

Have a read of Natspec's response to the government's £200 million SEND teacher training programme.

#SEND #SpecialistFE #EducationPolicy
natspec.org.uk/natspec-resp...

Creating Tomorrow College: reimagining special education through employment focussed innovation - Natspec Gareth Ivett discusses Creating Tomorrow College’s innovative, employment-focussed approach that supports students to achieve meaningful and sustainable futures.

In our latest Quality Times article, Gareth Ivett from Creating Tomorrow College writes about the college’s innovative, employment-focussed approach that supports students to achieve meaningful and sustainable futures. natspec.org.uk/creating-tom...

Clare with many learners and staff. The learners are all holding posters with "The Power of Specialist FE" campaign logo on them

A wall of framed logos of various employers logos

Clare Howard's tour continues with a visit to Lighthouse Futures, speaking to learners and learning more about all the employers Lighthouse Futures works with.

#ThePowerOfSpecialistFE #CatchClareIfYouCan

Clare Howard at Rotherham Opportunities College

Clare Howard with students and staff at Landmarks Specialist College. One of the students is holding a pledge board saying Specialist FE works for me

Clare at Creating Tomorrow College with a group of students, one of whom holds a pledge board saying "specialist FE works for me"

Natspec Chief Executive @ClareH_Natspec continues her cross country journey visiting specialist colleges to talk about #ThePowerOfSpecialistFE

Despite nearly 500 miles on the road, she's not done yet, so #CatchClareIfYouCan

Professionals from general FE & specialist colleges pledging their support for #ThePowerOfSpecialistFE campaign at today’s AoC SEND Conference. #AoCSEND25 @aoc-info.bsky.social

Find out more: www.specialistfe.com

Clare Howard stands next to Principal Sarah Miller and students at KITE College. One of the students is holding a pledge board stating "I'm supporting the power of specialist FE"

"The staff really understand me here. I feel so supported, and I can be myself, I've learnt a lot."

Natspec Chief Executive Clare Howard was delighted to visit KITE College as the first stop on her #ThePowerOfSpecialistFE roadtrip! Where will she be off to next? #CatchClareIfYouCan

YouTube video by Natspec Celebrating the Power of Specialist FE

Specialist FE has a life-changing impact on young people. We and our colleges see it every day. But don't just take our word for it; hear directly from learners in our campaign video about how #SpecialistFEWorksForMe

#ThePowerOfSpecialistFE

youtu.be/Zz_vvDDu6a0

A pledge board sitting in the driver's seat of a car. The board reads "I'm supporting The Power of Specialist FE"

Natspec Chief Executive Clare Howard was up early this morning to set off on her cross-country road trip, visiting colleges across the country for #ThePowerOfSpecialistFE week. From Kent to London and Manchester to Birmingham, keep an eye out for her this week, and #CatchClareIfYouCan!

A powerful and important piece - thank you, Ben Bastin, for bringing such clarity to an issue that too often gets overlooked.

Find out more about our awareness week starting on Monday at specialistfe.com #ThePowerofSpecialistFE

Specialist Further Education transforms lives 🚀

Last week our Kingston Supported Interns attended the Access for All Carers fair organised by @AfCKingston @TAGYouthClub

The interns took part in a reverse careers fair and helped at the event.

#ThePowerofSpecialistFE #SpecialistFEWorksForMe

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

#SpecialistFEWorksForMe

Supporting the Power of Specialist Further Education A national awareness week celebrating the transformative impact of specialist further education across England.

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

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...