Monthly Update October 2026
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.
You’ll also find other events, opportunities and news from across the ESOL sector in this month’s update.
We hope you enjoy reading and look forward to seeing you at some of our upcoming events!
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, Doeon and Irene
NATECLA National Centre
NATECLA News
Welcoming Cathy Clarkson as NATECLA Co-Chair
We are delighted to welcome Cathy Clarkson as new Co-Chair of NATECLA.
Cathy has worked as an ESOL tutor and teacher trainer in FE colleges across West Yorkshire. In 2025, she gained her Doctor in Education from the University of Huddersfield, researching teacher learning through classroom observation.
Cathy was Co-Chair of the Yorkshire & Humber branch from 2012–2017 and has co-convened the ESOL Research Community since 2020. She is now taking on the role of Co-Chair of NATECLA, bringing with her many years of experience in ESOL teaching, teacher education, research and professional development.
We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Naeema Hann for her work and commitment as our outgoing Chair. We are delighted that Naeema will continue to be involved in NATECLA as one of our trustees.
Get involved with the South West NATECLA Branch
NATECLA South West branch is looking for members who would like to get more involved in organising events, sharing ideas, connecting colleagues and helping the branch grow.
Whether you can offer a little time or would like to take a more active role, we’d love to hear from you. No previous experience is needed, and you can contribute as much or as little as suits you.
Interested? Get in touch with the NATECLA team at info@natecla.org.uk or with Lorna at Lorna.Rossi@swcouncils.gov.uk for an informal chat and to find out more.
NATECLA Events
Our webinars take place approximately once a month on weekdays, with sessions offered at different times to try to accommodate everyone’s schedule.
Thank you to NOCN Group for sponsoring this term’s webinars.
Can’t make the live session? No problem! All webinars are recorded, and a recording will be shared with you, accessible for up to a month after the event.
Webinars cost £30 per person, with NATECLA members paying a reduced rate of £5.
NATECLA Webinar: Countering racism and discrimination: Supporting our students in dealing with difficult situations
Date: Thursday 15 October November 2026
Time: 19:00 - 20:15
Presenter: Michaela Hendriks
Join yhis practical session that will explore inclusive, trauma-informed ways to support learners in navigating discrimination and racism.
NATECLA Webinar: Study skills meet AI: Supporting learner autonomy, confidence, and progress
Date: Thursday 3 December 2026
Presenter: Juliana Valadares Saili
Time: 16:00 - 17:15
Explore how AI can support rather than replace learning, with practical, classroom-tested strategies for using AI to develop reading, writing and speaking skills.
NATECLA Webinar: Low-prep - high impact ideas for a creative teaecher's tool kit
Date: Friday 6 November 2026
Time: 16:00 - 17:15
Presenter: Gareth Davies
Join this practical session packed with low-prep, high-impact activities that require minimal resources and can be easily adapted to different levels, contexts and class sizes.
NATECLA Scotland Conference 2026
Date: Saturday 7th November 2026
Time: 10:00 – 16:00
Location: Edinburgh College, Granton Campus
Cost: £35 members / £70 non members
Join NATECLA Scotland for a day of ESOL presentations, workshops, discussions and networking.
Kindly sponsored by Pearson.
Other Events
Developing Fluency in Workplace Communication
Date: Friday 9 October 2026
Time: 13:00- 16:00
Location: University of Reading
Speaker: Professor Parvaneh Tavakoli (University of Reading)
Join us to explore how to help students develop greater fluency and confidence in workplace communication. Free for NATECLA members.
ESOL Research Community
Date: Thursday 22 October 2026
Time: 16:00 17:00
Location: Online, via Teams
Presenters: Professor Richard Smith and ESOL teacher Nermen Kan
Join a session of advice and ideas for teachers who would like to research their own classrooms.
Resources
NATECLA In-House Training: Book now for your CPD day
At NATECLA, we provide practical, affordable in-house training for ESOL departments, connecting colleges and training providers with highly experienced teacher trainers. Sessions are tailored to your department’s needs and can be delivered as 90-minute, half-day or full-day workshops.
OUP- Free English proficiency testing opportunity
Oxford University Press is inviting eligible ESOL learners to take part in a concordance study comparing the IELTS Academic and Oxford Test of English Advanced. Participants can take both tests free of charge, receive official certificates and access free preparation materials.
For any questions, contact ote.research@oup.com.
Migration Yorkshire News Roundup
Migration Yorkshire’s weekly Migration News Roundup brings together recent news, policy updates, research and statistics on migration-related topics. It may be a useful resource for ESOL professionals wanting to keep up to date with developments across the sector.
Resource of the Month: Our Languages
The Our Languages research project has made its full collection of resources available, including classroom tools and texts organised by theme. The materials draw on real experiences shared by ESOL students and teachers and offer useful resources for exploring language, identity and lived experience in the classroom..
Our Languages is a joint project between King’s College London’s Centre for Language, Discourse and Communication and English for Action (EFA London), with partners including Causeway Education and the Bell Foundation.