Students and staff visited the House of Commons, in February. They were there to support the launch of Unlocking Potential, Natspec’s manifesto ahead of the expected 2024 general election.
Students AJ and Byron, our Principal Meryl Green, and Director of Learning and Curriculum Development Zoe Wood, took a trip to London to visit the Houses of Parliament.
Natspec is the membership association for organisations that offer specialist further education and training for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The manifesto was launched at a reception at the House of Commons. Learners and staff from across Natspec’s member colleges met with MPs to explain the importance of specialist further education (FE). They also set out some of the policy changes needed to ensure young people with complex needs are able to access high quality specialist provision.
The manifesto calls for three key things:
- Fair access to specialist FE for those learners who need it
- Investment in the specialist FE sector to ensure high quality provision is available to these learners
- A joined-up approach across government departments. So that young people with more complex needs have the support they need to thrive once they leave college.
Students and staff met up with North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan and Shadow Skills Minister Seema Malhotra. They were excited to share the vision for young people with learning difficulties or disabilities.
Natspec worked with Association Of Colleges to develop a shared vision of a high-functioning FE system which works effectively for young people with SEND.
Read the full manifesto on the Natspec website.
