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ZoomNatspec’s annual selection box of 12 free, interactive, online sessions for staff across member and affiliate organisations is back.
With a focus on topical issues at the forefront of current practice in specialist FE, the sessions will be of interest to colleagues in a range of different staff roles including, teachers, senior leaders, therapists, learning support staff and college estate managers. You are warmly invited to come and hear from colleagues about their practice, share ideas, swap tips and recommendations, discuss challenges and network.
Choose from a wide range of subjects including: building inclusive sports partnerships; innovative approaches to mental health and wellbeing; effective governance; college-run commercial settings, self-advocacy, taking learners on residential trips, AI tools to support development and delivery and turning your MP into a champion for your college.
Full programme
Monday 19 January
10:00am–11:15am — AI Tools to support development and delivery
An opportunity for an open discussion about where AI tools are assisting, where barriers are to utilising them effectively and ethical issues involved.
Audience: senior leaders, quality improvement leads, digital leads
1:00pm–2:15pm — Taking learners on residential trips
Come and hear about successful ways to plan and implement exciting experiences for learners, including travel abroad.
Audience: staff who have organised or are planning residential experiences for learners
3:15pm–4:30pm — Building inclusive sport partnerships
Discover how colleges can collaborate with sporting National Governing Bodies to create inclusive opportunities for students to engage in sport and physical activity. This workshop will provide practical guidance on developing partnerships that support participation in Pan Disability Football, Boccia, and Disability Tennis. Attendees will learn how to access specialist equipment, funding streams, and expert staff support to deliver high-quality, inclusive sporting experiences.
Audience: staff leading on physical activity and / or events and activities, enrichment leads, sports leads and tutors
Tuesday 20 January
10:00am–11:15am — Turning your MP/MS into a champion for your college and for specialist FE
A practical discussion on how to build a strong relationship with your local MP/MS so that they become an active supporter of your college and specialist FE. We will look at opportunities, obstacles and examples of effective engagement from across the country, including drawing on learning from The Power of Specialist FE campaign.
Audience: senior leaders, PR teams, any staff with an interest in policy
1:00pm–2:15pm — Developing college run commercial settings for employability / lifeskills
Are you are involved in the development of commercial enterprises to support employability and preparing for adulthood programmes? In this session you will hear from Natspec member colleges about their experiences and what has worked well in terms of curriculum, quality assurance and logistical considerations such as health and safety and safeguarding. Come along and share your experiences.
Audience: curriculum managers, careers staff, staff involved in developing and delivering employability programmes
3:15pm–4:30pm — Innovative approaches to mental health and wellbeing practice
This session features two very different projects entered for the 2025 ‘Innovative approach to mental health and wellbeing’ Natspec Award. The winning entry from Chadsgrove Specialist College brings together sound and hydrotherapy to improve the wellbeing of students with complex needs. The shortlisted entry from Portland College is “Tough Talks” a peer support group for male learners. Come and find out more about this innovative work, recent developments and the impact on students.
Audience: physiotherapists, occupational therapists, teaching and support staff, behaviour leads, information, advice & guidance teams
Wednesday 21 January
10:00am–11:15am — Managing bereavement in the specialist college context
Come and hear about staff training and guidance on bereavement support for students at two Natspec colleges. Followed by an opportunity to share information and resources, talk about the challenges you face in this work and any tips or recommendations.
Audience: pastoral staff, counsellors and senior leaders
1:00pm–2:15pm — Improving governor understanding of your provision
Hear how a programme of governor activity called “Seeing is Believing” has improved governor understanding of the provision and raised the profile and visibility of governors within the college community. The college’s approach to SAR scrutiny and validation will be discussed, providing an example of the way in which governors work with college leaders to consider the self-assessment judgements and evidence base in across Ofsted and CQC regulated provision. The charity will also share its experience and the early impact of a Natspec external governance review.
Audience: senior leaders interested in effective governance, governance professionals, governors / trustees.
3:15pm–4:30pm — Developing effective careers programmes
Come along and share your experience of current topical issues such as implementing the updated Gatsby Benchmarks and the associated completion of Compass evaluation. There will also be the opportunity to discuss future meetings of the Natspec Careers leaders network, a forum for sharing information, sector updates and networking.
Audience: careers leads, transition support staff, those with a role in careers support
Thursday 22 January
10:00am–11:15am — How do we make our buildings and facilities appropriate for our learners?
A discussion on a range of issues including principles of design, working with LAs and others to source appropriate buildings, educating non specialists regarding the environmental needs of SEN students, converting inappropriate buildings, and funding new builds.
Audience: senior leaders, estate managers
1:00pm–2:15pm — How do we support our learners to self-advocate successfully?
Members of the Natspec Learner Voice network describe how their colleges support learners to self-advocate. They will share good practice and effective strategies for advocating, alongside barriers and lessons learned throughout their practice.
Audience: learner voice leads, curriculum managers, transition leads and careers leads
3:15pm–4:30pm — Creating sensory friendly education environments
The Occupational Therapy team at Aurora will introduce their work in creating sensory friendly environments. Join this session and share your experiences of this work, share information, discuss ideas, recommendations and challenges.
Audience: occupational therapists, curriculum leads, therapeutic staff, teaching and support staff