Below is a list of all Natspec events which offer staff development opportunities. Members may also want to check out our member networks as well as our member only events. For a comprehensive list of all Natspec events, including events we hold for students, please see the events calendar.
Natspec National Conference 2025
Tuesday 17 June 2025, 12:00am–11:59pmJoin us at the Natspec National Conference 2025!
Technology for learners with PMLD
Thursday 19 June 2025, 10:00am–12:30pmLearn about the types of technology which can support learners with PMLD and how to effectively support their use with learners.
Planning a ‘Preparing for Adulthood’ Curriculum
Monday 23 June 2025, 4:00pm–5:15pmThis session, facilitated by Natspec, will introduce participants to planning a preparing for adulthood curriculum. It will explore how to deliver an effective, challenging, and creative curriculum that has a positive impact on learners with SEND moving into their futures. There will be opportunities to hear from professional colleagues about their approach to curriculum planning that meets the needs and empowers learners.
Securing employer engagement for work based learning programmes
Tuesday 24 June 2025, 10:00am–12:30pmThis event is for job coaches, work experience coordinators, managers and other staff involved in developing relationships with employers to secure work placements for learners with SEND.
Assistiv – Making work, work for everyone (webinar)
Tuesday 24 June 2025, 12:30pm–1:00pmCome along to discover how Assistiv helps learners fulfill their potential in employment by enhancing their independence skills.
Supporting learners’ Assistive Technology at all stages of their college journey
Thursday 26 June 2025, 1:00pm–3:30pmThis course focusses on key stages in a learner’s journey and highlights the appropriate support required for effective outcomes.
Devising your ‘Preparing for Adulthood’ curriculum
Thursday 26 June 2025, 3:45pm–4:45pmThis free session as part of our 'Preparing for Adulthood' curriculum community of practice will focus on identifying why and how you will devise your curriculum, taking into consideration your learner cohort, their needs, and aspirations. It will also consider the potential difficulties with developing a new curriculum.
The high needs funding system
Tuesday 1 July 2025, 9:30am–12:30pmJoin us for this online course, aimed at anyone who needs to know and understand how high needs funding works for FE providers.
Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement in the RARPA process (session two)
Tuesday 1 July 2025, 10:00am–12:30pmThis training is for staff who already have an understanding of RARPA and want to further their knowledge of how to ensure the process is quality assured.
Understanding and analysing Qualification Achievement Rates
Thursday 3 July 2025, 10:00am–12:00pmA new training on identifying how QARs affect your organisation and how to access your own data tables.
Access the world through a smartphone
Thursday 3 July 2025, 1:00pm–3:30pmThis course will give staff the knowledge to help learners discover accessibility features and apps on phones, which in turn should reduce people’s requirement for human support to support basic skills.
Implementing a ‘Preparing for Adulthood’ curriculum
Thursday 3 July 2025, 3:45pm–4:45pmThis free session as part of our 'Preparing for Adulthood' curriculum community of practice will focus on the implementation of the curriculum, the skills needed by tutors to deliver and the options for timetabling. It will also consider positive risk taking when planning a curriculum and how this impacts on success for learners.
10 practical steps to include more learners
Tuesday 8 July 2025, 1:00pm–3:30pmJoin one of our Assistive Technologists to discuss ten quick fire topics covering a wide range of assistive hardware, software and techniques. An efficient way to raise awareness in staff […]
Tracking progress and celebrating success in a ‘Preparing for Adulthood’ curriculum
Thursday 10 July 2025, 3:45pm–4:45pmThis free session as part of our 'Preparing for Adulthood' curriculum community of practice will focus on the process for monitoring and tracking progress and achievement, including case studies demonstrating life changing successes. It will also include ways to celebrate success, wow moments and summative celebrations.
Built-in access
Tuesday 15 July 2025, 1:00pm–3:30pmComputers, tablets and phones have a wealth of accessibility options already built into the operating systems. All teaching and learning support staff should have an awareness of these features so they can remove barriers for learners.
Introduction to job coaching
Tuesday 9 September 2025, 10:00am–12:30pmThis is an interactive workshop for staff supporting students with SEND in the workplace, including learning support assistants, tutors, teachers, and other support roles.
The ILR drop-in and Q&A session
Tuesday 9 September 2025, 11:30am–1:00pmThis session gives colleagues the opportunity to ask and discuss ILR related issues or queries, especially in advance of upcoming data returns.
An introduction to learner voice work
Thursday 25 September 2025, 12:00pm–1:00pmLet's join us in learning about the services and support Natspec offers its members and affiliates and get a taste for the work going on in the Learner Voice Network and Student Voice Parliament.
New to the ILR? Getting it right first time
Thursday 2 October 2025, 10:00am–12:00pmThis training is aimed at staff who have little or no experience of creating or returning Individual Learner Records (ILR) and require an introduction to the basics.
Quality assuring specialist FE provision
Thursday 2 October 2025, 10:00am–12:30pm & Thursday 16 October 2025, 10:00amLearn how to build a rounded, accurate picture of the quality of provision with different quality assurance activities. This two-part training gives you a chance to put theory into practice and reflect on what works for your provision.
Developing the PMLD curriculum for learners aged 16-25
Thursday 9 October 2025, 9:30am–12:30pm & Thursday 23 October 2025, 9:30amThis is a course for managers who want to develop a PMLD curriculum that supports good quality of life outcomes through focusing on person centred approaches and preparation for adulthood.
The ILR in practice
Thursday 9 October 2025, 10:00am–12:00pmAs a follow up to our “New to the ILR” workshop, we look here at a practical application of the cycle of returning Individual Learner Records (ILR), and importantly the analysis of data checking, error reports and their resolution.
The ILR drop-in and Q&A session
Wednesday 15 October 2025, 11:30am–1:00pmThis session gives colleagues the opportunity to ask and discuss ILR related issues or queries, especially in advance of upcoming data returns.
Creating and implementing an effective RARPA process
Tuesday 21 October 2025, 10:00am–12:30pm & Tuesday 18 November 2025, 10:00amAn interactive online training for curriculum managers and practitioners looking for a systematic way to plan provision for learners with SEND, monitor their progress and record their achievements.
Natspec principals forum
Wednesday 22 October 2025, 10:00am–4:00pmThis free, members-only event is designed specifically for principals of Natspec member organisations, or their designated representatives.
Understanding behaviour as communication
Wednesday 22 October 2025, 10:00am–12:00pmJoin our first training on understanding of the fundamentals of behaviour as communication for learners with SEND.
Understanding and analysing Qualification Achievement Rates
Tuesday 4 November 2025, 10:00am–12:00pmA new training on identifying how QARs affect your organisation and how to access your own data tables.
Introduction to job coaching
Tuesday 11 November 2025, 10:00am–12:30pmThis is an interactive workshop for staff supporting students with SEND in the workplace, including learning support assistants, tutors, teachers, and other support roles.
The high needs funding system
Wednesday 12 November 2025, 9:30am–12:30pmJoin us for this online course, aimed at anyone who needs to know and understand how high needs funding works for FE providers.
Securing employer engagement for work based learning programmes
Tuesday 25 November 2025, 10:00am–12:30pmThis event is for job coaches, work experience coordinators, managers and other staff involved in developing relationships with employers to secure work placements for learners with SEND.
The ILR drop-in and Q&A session
Thursday 27 November 2025, 11:30am–1:00pmThis session gives colleagues the opportunity to ask and discuss ILR related issues or queries, especially in advance of upcoming data returns.
New to the ILR? Getting it right first time
Wednesday 14 January 2026, 10:00am–12:00pmThis training is aimed at staff who have little or no experience of creating or returning Individual Learner Records (ILR) and require an introduction to the basics.
The ILR in practice
Wednesday 21 January 2026, 10:00am–12:00pmAs a follow up to our “New to the ILR” workshop, we look here at a practical application of the cycle of returning Individual Learner Records (ILR), and importantly the analysis of data checking, error reports and their resolution.
The ILR drop-in and Q&A session
Wednesday 28 January 2026, 11:30am–1:00pmThis session gives colleagues the opportunity to ask and discuss ILR related issues or queries, especially in advance of upcoming data returns.
Developing the PMLD curriculum for learners aged 16-25
Thursday 29 January 2026, 9:30am–12:30pm & Thursday 12 February 2026, 9:30amThis is a course for managers who want to develop a PMLD curriculum that supports good quality of life outcomes through focusing on person centred approaches and preparation for adulthood.
Creating and implementing an effective RARPA process
Tuesday 3 February 2026, 10:00am–12:30pm & Wednesday 4 March 2026, 10:00amAn interactive online training for curriculum managers and practitioners looking for a systematic way to plan provision for learners with SEND, monitor their progress and record their achievements.
Introduction to job coaching
Tuesday 10 February 2026, 10:00am–12:30pmThis is an interactive workshop for staff supporting students with SEND in the workplace, including learning support assistants, tutors, teachers, and other support roles.
Securing employer engagement for work based learning programmes
Tuesday 3 March 2026, 10:00am–12:30pmThis event is for job coaches, work experience coordinators, managers and other staff involved in developing relationships with employers to secure work placements for learners with SEND.
Quality assuring specialist FE provision
Thursday 12 March 2026, 10:00am–12:30pm & Thursday 26 March 2026, 10:00pmAn online interactive training for managers and staff with responsibility for quality assuring specialist SEND provision. This training will consider key elements for the development of a quality cycle for […]
Specialist FE: essential information
Wednesday 18 March 2026, 9:30am–1:00pm & Thursday 19 March 2026, 9:30am–12:00pmNew to specialist post-16 further education? This event will guide you through aspects of the sector and give you advice and guidance to ensure quality provision.
Introduction to job coaching
Tuesday 21 April 2026, 10:00am–12:30pmThis is an interactive workshop for staff supporting students with SEND in the workplace, including learning support assistants, tutors, teachers, and other support roles.
The high needs funding system
Tuesday 28 April 2026, 9:30am–12:30pmJoin us for this online course, aimed at anyone who needs to know and understand how high needs funding works for FE providers.
Developing the PMLD curriculum for learners aged 16-25
Thursday 30 April 2026, 9:30am–12:30pm & Thursday 14 May 2026, 9:30amThis is a course for managers who want to develop a PMLD curriculum that supports good quality of life outcomes through focusing on person centred approaches and preparation for adulthood.
Creating and implementing an effective RARPA process
Tuesday 5 May 2026, 10:00am–12:30pm & Tuesday 19 May 2026, 10:00amAn interactive online training for curriculum managers and practitioners looking for a systematic way to plan provision for learners with SEND, monitor their progress and record their achievements.
Securing employer engagement for work based learning programmes
Tuesday 12 May 2026, 10:00am–12:30pmThis event is for job coaches, work experience coordinators, managers and other staff involved in developing relationships with employers to secure work placements for learners with SEND.
New to the ILR? Getting it right first time
Thursday 14 May 2026, 10:00am–12:00pmThis training is aimed at staff who have little or no experience of creating or returning Individual Learner Records (ILR) and require an introduction to the basics.
The ILR in practice
Wednesday 20 May 2026, 10:00am–12:00pmAs a follow up to our “New to the ILR” workshop, we look here at a practical application of the cycle of returning Individual Learner Records (ILR), and importantly the analysis of data checking, error reports and their resolution.
The ILR drop-in and Q&A session
Tuesday 2 June 2026, 11:30am–1:00pmThis session gives colleagues the opportunity to ask and discuss ILR related issues or queries, especially in advance of upcoming data returns.