Natspec is a national Centres for Excellence in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (CfESEND). Each centre provides expert support for further education (FE) leaders, managers and practitioners to help them put learners with SEND at the centre of their organisation, as part of a Department for Education (DfE) funded national programme.
The aim of this transformational programme is to place inclusion right at the centre of further education so that difference is valued, and all learners fulfil their aspirations. Natspec is working with ETF alongside the other Centres for Excellence in supporting and developing the SEND in FE workforce. Our offer complements the excellent work that the other Centres do and builds on the lessons learnt from our partnership working between specialist and mainstream FE colleges. Our primary focus is on supporting staff in FE who work with young people with complex needs in a wide variety of FE settings. We will be achieving this by sharing highly specialist knowledge, skills, and experience, through live sessions, knowledge exchange networks and provider reviews.
Table of contents
Our 2026/27 programme
Live sessions
This series of live webinars focus on current issues and concerns for FE providers working with learners with SEND. Each live, online webinar is led by one or more experienced SEND trainers and includes guidance and advice from Natspec member specialist colleges who have expertise in the topic in focus.
Inclusive teaching practice for learners with SEND and neurodivergence
Thursday 24 September 2026, 3:45pm–5:00pmDo you teach learners with SEND or neurodivergence in further education? Want to find out more about adaptive teaching and how to create responsive learning environments using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework? Book now on our Centres for Excellence in SEND fully funded session.
Working together to identify progress (How does your learner know when they get there and how do you?)
Tuesday 6 October 2026, 3:45pm–5:00pmHow do you and your learners recognise their progress and success using the RARPA model? Book now on our Centres for Excellence in SEND fully funded session.
Relationships First: Building Belonging through Trauma-Informed and Attachment-Aware Practice
Tuesday 13 October 2026, 3:45pm–5:00pmDo you wish to apply practical trauma-informed and attachment-aware strategies to create safe, supportive learning environments that promote wellbeing, inclusion, and positive student outcomes? Book now on our Centres for Excellence in SEND fully funded session.
Project-based learning: what it is and how it works for learners with SEND
Tuesday 3 November 2026, 3:45pm–5:00pmHow can project‑based learning can create richer, more meaningful opportunities for learners with SEND? Book now on our Centres for Excellence in SEND fully funded session.
Knowledge exchange networks
Our themed knowledge exchange networks enable colleges to share good practice, network and discuss current issues. Each will meet online twice or three times during 2026/27, for around an hour.
Each online meeting will be facilitated by an experienced SEND specialist and Natspec’s Centre for Excellence supporters will be present to discuss their experiences and journey with the group.
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Provider reviews
Our provider reviews are targeted at General Further Education colleges who have recently received a Requires Improvement or Inadequate grade from Ofsted or General Further Education colleges who have areas that they wish to improve in their high needs provision.
The review is intended to help colleges improve provision through a process of supported self-assessment and external review from an experienced SEND professional.
The reviewer will work with you and your team to establish a secure understanding of your current strengths and weaknesses and create a quality improvement plan with clear actions for moving forwards. Please fill out our provider review form to apply.
Get involved
Natspec member colleges graded Good or Outstanding are invited to actively support our Centre for Excellence by sharing expertise from within the specialist sector with mainstream FE providers.
If you are interested in getting involved and becoming one of our supporters, please complete our supporters application form.
Further information
Find out more about the work of the Centres for Excellence in SEND on the ETF website or email CfESEND@natspec.org.uk