We've kicked off #NatspecConference26 with a bang, with our student art exhibition last night and a student speech and student performance this morning, with lots more to come!

We're delighted to announce the winners of the 2026 Natspec Innovation Awards, showcasing innovative and impactful practice in specialist further education colleges. Congratulations to our winning colleges! 🎉 natspec.org.uk/announcing-t...

Announcing the winners of the Natspec Innovation Awards 2026 - Natspec

We're delighted to announce the seven winning colleges and their projects!

natspec.org.uk

Preparing to announce the winners of the Natspec Innovation Awards 2026! We'll be announcing them in an online ceremony starting at 1:30pm - all staff and students from member colleges are welcome to join us! natspec.org.uk/events/natsp...

Call for presentations at #TechAbility26 is now open. Showcase your #AssistiveTechnology practice or highlight your impactful research to other #ATech professionals. Complete the presenter call form to be considered bit.ly/ta26presente... Deadline for submission is 24 April.

We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2026 Natspec Innovation Awards! The shortlisted projects showcase an impressive range of inspiring initiative within specialist colleges. Congratulations to all shortlisted! natspec.org.uk/announcing-t...

Announcing the shortlist for the 2026 Natspec Innovation Awards - Natspec

Celebrating innovative, inspiring practice in specialist FE.

natspec.org.uk

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...

Natspec response to SEND training announcement - Natspec

£200 million investment goes to upskilling education workforce.

natspec.org.uk

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...

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.

natspec.org.uk

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

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

"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

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

Celebrating the Power of Specialist FE

YouTube video by Natspec

youtu.be

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

FE Week@feweek.bsky.social · 10mo ago

'A guarantee that excludes young people with SEND is a moral failure' Ben Bastin, @natspec.bsky.social on how the government's youth guarantee fails to reflect the needs of SEND young people

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

FE Week@feweek.bsky.social · 11mo ago

'Beyond the awareness week, The Power of Specialist FE is a movement' Clare Howard, @natspec.bsky.social on the new campaign that puts FE SEND specialists centre stage @plmr.education

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

Supporting the Power of Specialist Further Education

A national awareness week celebrating the transformative impact of specialist further education across England.

specialistfe.com

📚 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...

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

feweek.co.uk

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...

Natspec response to the Education Committee report: FE and Skills - Natspec

Committee report cements the place of specialist colleges in FE policy

natspec.org.uk

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...

Leicester City Council to end post-16 school transport for SEND students

YouTube video by Channel 4 News

youtube.com

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...

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.

natspec.org.uk

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

Creating Tomorrow College rated ‘outstanding’ today

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

feweek.co.uk

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-...

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.

natspec.org.uk

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

Natspec@natspec.bsky.social · last yr.

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...

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...

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...

natspec.org.uk

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...

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.

gov.uk