NATECLA members involved in the leadership, management or strategic oversight of English language provision are invited to contribute to a national stakeholder survey commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Dear members ,

Welcome to our Monthly Update October 2026!

We’re excited to launch our autumn webinar series, sponsored by NOCN Group, with three practical webinars exploring a range of topics.

The series starts with Countering Racism and Discrimination: Supporting our Students in Dealing with Difficult Situations, an important session exploring how we can support our students when they encounter challenging situations. Find out more below.

We’re also pleased to share the full programme for our Scotland Annual Conference, sponsored by Pearson, including details of the workshops and speakers.

Read the full update to know more.

We’re delighted to welcome Dr. Cathy Clarkson as NATECLA’s new Co-Chair.

Read more here.

Dear members,

Welcome to our Monthly Update September 2026!

We hope you’ve had a chance to switch off, recharge and enjoy the summer. As the new academic year starts, we’re excited to get things moving again and have plenty to share with you.

You may notice a few changes in this month’s Monthly Update. We’ve given it a fresh new look to make it easier to navigate, and we’ve also made some exciting changes to our membership options.

One of our new options is a Large Organisation Membership, designed for larger colleges and organisations that would like to involve more members of their staff in our events. Read on to find out more about our updated membership options and what they mean for you.

We’ll soon be announcing our new season of webinars, with a programme of practical sessions planned for the months ahead. In the meantime, we’ve gathered some interesting events, opportunities and news from across the ESOL sector to help you get the new academic year off to a great start.

Read the full update to know more.

NATECLA has been deeply saddened to learn of the recent death of Matthew Corbett. Matt worked closely with NATECLA when he was part of the ESOL Product team at Ascentis and has been a long standing member and supporter of our organisation for many years.

From 1 September 2026, NATECLA has introduced new look membership packages to make the categories clearer and better reflect the size and needs of our members. Read them here

NATELA is encouraging members and ESOL providers across the country to consider applying for The Bell Foundation Beacon Award for Excellence in ESOL, part of the prestigious Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Awards programme, before 9th September 2026. The award recognises outstanding ESOL provision in further education, celebrating innovation, impact and inclusion in supporting learners who use English as a second or additional language.

We're delighted to launch Bridge to ESOL, our new accredited online course designed to support English language teachers making the transition into ESOL.

Dear members ,

Welcome to our Monthly Update July 2026!

We hope you´re all having a great summer and, if you´re taking a break, getting some time to relax. 

Three weeks after our Annual Conference 2026, we are still buzzing with energy! Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped create such a positive, welcoming atmosphere over what was surely one of the hottest NATECLA conferences ever! Despite the heat wave, everyone’s  enthusiasm and engagement made it a truly memorable event.

We’d also like to extend our thanks once again to our main sponsor, NOCN, and to our supporting sponsors: English Speaking Board International, Ascentis, City and Guilds, and Gateway Qualifications.

Read the full update to know more.

The DfE, with support from NATECLA, is currently gathering information on the effectiveness of ESOL content and qualifications as part of our commitment in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper to review the adult essential skills offer. 

They want to hear from a range of stakeholders and are particularly keen to hear from practitioners who are directly involved in the design and delivery of courses for adult ESOL learners funded through adult skills funding.

Dear members ,

Welcome to our April 2026 Update.

As we move closer to the summer, preparations for the Annual Conference are in full swing, and there’s still time to take advantage of our Early Bird tickets, available until 31st May.

We’re also pleased to share that applications for our Teachmeet are open: a great opportunity to share ideas and connect with colleagues in an informal and supportive space.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be launching our conference app, designed to help you make the most of your experience, from exploring the programme to planning your schedule and connecting with other attendees.

As always, you’ll find more details below, along with upcoming events and the latest news from across the ESOL sector.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces important changes affecting sessional tutors, hourly paid staff and ESOL providers. 

Most changes will take effect during 2026–2027, with further detail still being finalised. 

Dear members ,

Welcome to our April 2026 Update.

As we move closer to the summer, preparations for the Annual Conference are in full swing, and there’s still time to take advantage of our Early Bird tickets, available until 31st May.

We’re also pleased to share that applications for our Teachmeet are open: a great opportunity to share ideas and connect with colleagues in an informal and supportive space.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be launching our conference app, designed to help you make the most of your experience, from exploring the programme to planning your schedule and connecting with other attendees.

As always, you’ll find more details below, along with upcoming events and the latest news from across the ESOL sector.

Dear members ,

Welcome to our March 2026 Update.

As our webinar season wraps up, we’d like to thank everyone who has joined us over the past months. There’s still one final session to come, Participatory Photography in the ESOL Class, and tickets are still available to take part in this engaging and creative session.

We’re also thrilled to sharethe full line-up for the Annual Conference 2026. This year’s programme features over 40 workshops and presenters, offering a rich variety of topics and perspectives. You’ll find more details in this update, along with other events and sector news.

NATECLA's Annual Conference 2026 will play host to a small research poster exhibition where posters produced by members of our ESOL Community will be displayed prominently throughout the event.

We are looking for your submissions - submit your poster proposals by Monday 23rd March 2026 . 25% discount off a Saturday only Annual Conference ticket available to all successful contributors. There will also be space on the Saturday programme (27th June) for presentations of these posters to take place. 

The latest edition of Language Issues (36.2- Winter 2026), edited by Declan Flanagan, is now available. Featuring the cover article “The burden of fluency: ESOL in an era of conditional belonging” and a range of research and practice-focused contributions from across the ESOL sector.

Dear members ,

Welcome to our January 2026 Update, and a very belated happy New Year to you all.

We hope you had a restful and enjoyable break and are feeling refreshed as we begin 2026. We’re pleased to share that we have already kicked off our Winter Webinar Programme, sponsored by Ascentis. The programme brings together a range of engaging and practical sessions, and we look forward to continuing to welcome you over the coming weeks. Full details and booking information are available below.

NATECLA has voiced its opposition to the British Government's proposals to lengthen qualifying periods and ramp up English language requirements for Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain).

Proposals by the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA) to defund all of its adult ESOL provision would be disastrous for ESOL learners and providers in the county, as well as deeply damaging to community cohesion and the local economy, says NATECLA.

NATECLA's Co-Chairs have written directly to Greater Lincolnshire Mayor Andrea Jenkyns, outlining their concerns about her plans to scrap funded ESOL and reintroduce a three-year residency requirement for accessing adult education.

Dear members ,

Welcome to our January 2026 Update, and a very belated happy New Year to you all.

We hope you had a restful and enjoyable break and are feeling refreshed as we begin 2026. We’re pleased to share that we have already kicked off our Winter Webinar Programme, sponsored by Ascentis. The programme brings together a range of engaging and practical sessions, and we look forward to continuing to welcome you over the coming weeks. Full details and booking information are available below.