Monthly Update May 2025
Dear members ,
Welcome to our Monthly Update May 2025!
We hope everyone is having a great third term so far. With just one month to go until the NATECLA Annual Conference 2025, excitement is building, and tickets are selling fast!
Don’t forget, the early bird rate ends on 31st May, so book soon to take advantage of the discount.
Find below all the details about the Conference and some more upcoming events and opportunities from across the ESOL sector.
If you have any queries, get in touch with us by emailing info@natecla.org.uk or calling 07443 601 298.
All the best,
Laura and Irene
NATECLA National Centre
News
Adult Skills Fund Cuts: A Step in the Wrong Direction
Commenting on the proposed cuts to the Adult Skills Fund for next year, NATECLA’s co-chair, Paul Sceeny, has written a very strongly worded but entirely necessary comment piece for FE News.
He expresses concern over the UK Government’s plan to cut the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) by 3% in 2025-26, particularly affecting ESOL provision. With rising demand for language learning, these cuts risk undermining social integration and employability efforts. NATECLA highlights that reducing funding for adult education is counterproductive and goes against the goal of driving national growth.
Book now! - Annual Conference 2025
Book now for the Annual Conference 2025!
Tickets are almost sold out for NATECLA’s Annual Conference 2025, make sure you book yours before the Early Bird Discount expires on Saturday 31 May 2025.
Date: Friday 27th June - Saturday 28th June 2025.
Venue: Conference Aston, Aston University, Birmingham.
Workshops
Choose from over 40 workshops, including:
Beyond AI Detection: Creating and Using AI Tools in ESOL Assessment
Supporting Low-Literate Pre-Entry Students
Bridging the Digital Gap Together - Click By Click!
Using Students’ Other Languages for More Autonomy
Using AI Platforms to Enhance Student Engagement and Teacher Creativity
The Resilient Classroom: We Build Our Students, Our Students Build Us
Teaching English to Learners with Dyslexia
Differentiating and Responding to Learner Needs at Pre-Entry Level
Embedding ESOL in Vocational Programmes
Teaching Mixed Ability Groups for ESOL in the Community
Participatory Photography and Creative Writing in the ESOL Classroom
Teaching Writing in the ESOL Classroom
Nurturing Safe Spaces: Self-Care Strategies for Trauma-Aware Teaching
Plenary events
We are delighted to bring delegates to our 2025 Annual Conference two contrasting plenary events:
FRIDAY AFTERNOON PLENARY:
ESOL everywhere and nowhere: changing perceptions of English language acquisition and the importance of practitioner voice.
Panel-led Q&A on ESOL in devolved authorities
Panel members:
Alex Stevenson - Learning and Work Insitute
Philida Schelleckens - The Bell Foundation
Miguel Silva - West Midlands Combined Authority
Mary Osmaston - The panel convener and NATECLA trustee
Date: Friday 27th June
Time: 13:15 - 14:15
Thanks to National Geographic Learning for sponsoring Saturday’s keynote speaker.
SATURDAY MORNING PLENARY
Emily Bryson: From ESOL classroom to the world: Inspiring Voices that make an Impact
Date: Saturday 28th June
Time: 9:00- 10:00
This session will share trauma-informed approaches that create safe, inclusive spaces for sharing stories and building connections.
Busaries
Thanks to City and Guilds for sponsoring this year's bursaries.
The bursary recipients for this year’s Conference will be announced soon.
Teachmeet
Thanks to Trinity College London for sponsoring this year's Teachmeet.
If you would like to share your most tried and tested activities, approaches or resources for use in the ESOL classroom, take part in this Year's Teachmeet: the perfect CPD opportunity for those who don't feel ready to deliver a workshop.
Welcome to our Catering Sponsor: Amazy!
We’re delighted to welcome Amazy as the Catering Sponsor for this year’s conference, an award-winning platform designed to support teachers and schools with tools that make learning more engaging and accessible.
We're thrilled to have them on board. Visit them in the exhibition area and enjoy some refreshments, thanks to their generous support!
Poster for your staff room
We have created this poster with all the key details about the NATECLA Annual Conference 2025.
You can share it and print it out if you want to promote it.
Thanks for your support!
ESOL Managers' Network Forum May 2025- Migrant Women in Business: A focus on business startup support in West Yorkshire
Date: Thursday 22nd May 2025
Time: 14:00- 15:30
Cost: FREE
Presenters: Dr Deema Refai, Dr Deema Refai: Ewa Lelontko.
The session will introduce the project in ‘Migrant Women in Business’. This project was concluded in 2024, funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and led by Migration Yorkshire in collaboration with the University of Leeds, The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (TERN) and Skylight Ventures. The presenters will highlight the project’s main findings including challenges facing migrant women entrepreneurs, challenges facing business startup-provision in West Yorkshire, positives Outcomes from the project, and main recommendations.
NATECLA South West Update
We’re delighted to share news from our South West branch, which is now active. On behalf of Liz Teixeira and Lorna Rossi, we’re pleased to share their latest newsletter.
Voluntary ESOL Forum
Here at last! A forum for the voluntary ESOL sector in the UK!
We are writing to invite you to join this much-needed and long-awaited discussion forum for the voluntary ESOL sector, hosted by jiscmail, moderated by NATECLA.
To subscribe please email the owners at: VOLUNTEERSINESOLFORUM-REQUEST@JISCMAIL.AC.UK and request to be added to the mailing list.
We very much welcome volunteers as well as coordinators to join the group.
Other events from accross the sector
ESOL Research Community
Name: Exploring the effect of rehearsal-room approaches and Shakespeare text on 16–19-year-old ESOL learners
Date: Thursday 12th June 2025
Time: 16:00- 17:30
Location: Online via Teams
Presenters: Esther Wilkey (Bradford College) and Matthew Collins (Royal Shakespeare Company)
In 2022, the Royal Shakespeare Company researched how their rehearsal-room methods support ESOL learners. This session will share findings on benefits like resilience, confidence, language progress, and creativity.
Ruth Hayman Trust - Celebrating Refugee Week: Journeys of Hope
Date: Tuesday 17th June
Time: 19:00-21:0
Venue: City Lit, 1–10 Keeley Street, London WC2B 4BA
Price: £20
Join the Ruth Hayman Trust for a Refugee Week event featuring Lord Alf Dubs and Gulwali Passarlay, two inspiring voices who arrived in the UK as child refugees. They’ll share their powerful personal stories and reflect on the challenges and progress of refugee rights in the UK.
English for Action- EFA Summer training workshops 2025
Session Name: Introduction to participatory ESOL
Date: Friday, 13 June
Time: 10:00 - 16:00
Location: Waterloo Action Centre, 14 Baylis Road, London SE1 7AA
Session Name: Introduction to Participatory Theatre for ESOL
Date: Friday 4 July
Time 10:00 - 16:00
Location: Waterloo Action Centre, 14 Baylis Road, London SE1 7AA
EFA London is offering two all-day workshops that provide a solid theoretical and practical introduction to EFAs’ research-driven, participatory approach to ESOL.
Resources
NATECLA In-House Training: Book now for your summer CPD day
At NATECLA, we understand that high-quality, affordable, and practical in-house training for ESOL departments is hard to find. That is why we offer a training service, connecting highly rated teacher trainers with further education colleges, adult and community education services, and private training providers, including those in EFL. Our goal is to help teachers and managers to develop practical teaching skills. Our expert trainers offer a variety of 90-minute, half-day, or full-day sessions, all tailored to your department’s needs. Some of our sessions include:
Trauma-informed ESOL
Online ESOL Teaching
Creating Active ESOL Learning Programmes
Best practice in developing, sharing and using ESOL resources
ESOL and Neurodiversity
Embedding ESOL in mainstream courses
Basic literacy for ESOL learners
Teaching pronunciation
Differentiation: stretching and supporting learners without over-stretching teachers
Giving effective feedback
Happiness and wellbeing in the ESOL classroom.
IATEFL discount for NATECLA members
NATECLA is an associate member of IATEFL, so all our individual members can benefit from discounted IATEFL membership
IATEFL Individual membership: £74 per year.
IATEFL Associate Individual Membership: £27 per year.
Some of the advantages of being a member of IATEFL include:
Keep up to date with all that's new in your profession interactionally.
Build your network of colleagues from around the world, sharing your ideas and your challenges.
Attend regular webinars on a wide range of topics.
Search their archive of recorded webinars, articles and publications
Get discounted prices on a range of publications and resources.
Benefit from member prices to attend the annual IATEFL International Conference and Exhibition.
Apply for a range of IATEFL scholarships only available to members.
How to join with the discounted price:
Write to info@natecla.org.uk to ask for the discount code.
Go to IATEFL website.
Introduce the code.
Complete the form.
Free IELTS for refugees
A new agreement signed by Cambridge and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will enable refugees to take IELTS tests for free.
Resource of the Month
Film English is a website that offers ready-to-use ESL lesson plans based on authentic short films and videos, along with detailed guides for feature-length films.
It’s a good resource for teaching teens and adults, and lessons cover a wide range of topics and levels.
Share your story with NATECLA
We love hearing from our members! Whether it’s a success story, a useful teaching tip, an inspiring resource, or a special moment from your ESOL lessons or journey—we want to showcase it!
Your contribution could be featured in our social media posts to inspire and connect our community.
Here are some ideas of what you can share:
What you love about teaching ESOL
Why you joined NATECLA
A recent classroom success
Any challenges you’re facing
Classroom tips or activities that have worked well for you
Jobs
Ascentis- External Quality Assurer
Ascentis are looking for enthusiastic dedicated professionals to join their External Quality Assurance (EQA) team. Working as an EQA, you will play a key role in the quality assurance of Ascentis’ qualifications being delivered in their Centres.
Candidates must be situated for verification work and visits to centres in London/the South East.
Deadline: 30th May 2025.