Monthly Update September 2025
Dear members ,
Welcome to our September 2025 Update.
As we step into a new academic year, we are delighted to welcome everyone back after what we hope was a wonderful summer. We have plenty to share with you this month, including some exciting events and sector news.
First, our Autumn webinar programme is now live, offering opportunities to continue developing your practice and connect with colleagues online.
The first session takes place this Friday: “How Shakespeare enlivens the ESOL classroom”, led by the winners of the Beacon Awards, and there are still seats available!
We’re also thrilled to bring you two face-to-face conferences: after two years, NATECLA Scotland returns with an in-person event at the University of the West of Scotland, and we’re proud to launch the very first partnered South West Conference.
The Scotland branch forums are back! The first one, presented by Dave Butler “I want my students to go away!”, was sold out and a complete success. Keep an eye out for the next dates!
Alongside these, you’ll find news from across the sector and our regular sections to keep you informed and inspired.
We wish you a fantastic start to the new term and can’t wait to see many of you at our events!
If you have any queries, please 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 Webinars
Our webinars take place approximately every two weeks on weekdays, with sessions offered at different times to try to accommodate everyone’s schedule.
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.
A big thank you to Ascentis for sponsoring this term’s webinar programme.
Webinars cost £30 per person, with NATECLA members paying a reduced rate of £5.
How Shakespeare enlivens your ESOL classroom
Title: How Shakespeare enlivens the ESOL classroom
Date: Friday 19 September 2025
Time: 16:00 - 17:30
Presenter: Esther Willkey / Camilla Fletcher
Discover how Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) rehearsal room strategies – combined with Shakespeare’s narratives and language – can enliven your ESOL teaching. This interactive webinar will show you how to use these approaches to accelerate language learning, build self-confidence and resilience, and watch your learners flourish.
No prior Shakespeare knowledge is necessary: you’ll hear student impact stories and see practical demonstrations of how this pedagogy works online. You’ll leave with tools and ideas to bring Shakespeare-inspired, active learning into your own classroom, with strategies that can be adapted for all levels of ESOL reading, writing, speaking and listening.
A few Lessons in SustAInability
Title: A Few Lessons in SustAInability
Date: Thursday 2 October 2025
Time: 12:30 - 13:45
Presenter: Harry Waters
In this session, we’ll explore the carbon footprints, water footprints, and cognitive footprints of our digital habits. From the weirdly hard to find environmental cost of AI queries to plastic-free time machines, we’ll look at how to use AI responsibly, without outsourcing all the thinking. Expect climate-themed Top Trumps, data-packed games, and prompts designed to engage brains and perhaps even, reduce emissions (in the long run, obviously).
Because teaching with AI shouldn’t mean leaving your students’ brains (or the planet) behind.
Be More Neurodiverse Aware: How Dyspraxia Can Affect Language
Title: Be More Neurodiverse Aware: How Dyspraxia Can Affect Language Learning
Date: Thursday 16 October 2025
Time: 12:30 - 13:45
Presenter: Matt Starr / Rachel Oner
More details will be shared soon.
How to Embed Work Skills into ESOL Classes
Title: How to Embed Work Skills into ESOL Classes
Date: Friday 7 November 2025
Time: 12:30 - 13:45
Presenter: Lauren Saunders
This webinar will explore some of the common challenges in delivering ESOL for Work programmes and provide practical ideas for addressing them. Participants will be able to share their own experiences and see example schemes of work and materials in action. We’ll also look at how authentic workplace materials can be used effectively in lessons.
By the end of the session, you’ll feel more confident and equipped with strategies to embed work-related topics into your ESOL classes.
Unlock learning: AI Escape Activities for Engaged Learners
Title: Unlock learning: AI Escape Activities for Engaged Learners
Date: Friday 21 November 2025
Time: 16:00 - 17:30
Presenter: Viorica Lucuta
This interactive webinar explores how AI-enhanced escape activities can bring immersion and excitement into the online classroom. Participants will experience how digital clues and collaborative challenges can spark curiosity, build language skills, and promote teamwork; all within a virtual setting. You’ll come away with practical strategies and adaptable tools to design engaging, game-based experiences that integrate technology and pedagogy to transform your ESOL teaching toolkit.
Quick and Easy Pre-entry Prep!
Title: Quick and Easy Pre-entry Prep!
Date: Friday 5 December 2025
Time: 16:00 - 17:30
Presenter: Dave Butler
Do you find yourself spending ages looking for material and planning your lessons for the week? This session will focus on approaches, strategies and material for teachers to draw upon in order to make planning lessons for pre-entry as fast and effortless as possible! I will use material from my pre-entry series, 'Read and Write every day'
but will also look at how to create your own resources (esolbooks.com for more details).
AI Prompt Craft
Title: AI Prompt Craft
Date: Thursday 18 December 2025
Time: 19:00 - 20:30
Presenter: Eve Sheppard / Rachel Oner
More details will be shared soon.
NATECLA Scotland Annual Conference
Title: NATECLA Scotland Annual Conference
Date: Saturday 15 November 2025
Time: 10:30 – 15:30
Location: Paisley Campus, University of the West of Scotland (UWS), High St, Paisley PA1 2BE.
Cost: £35 members / £70 non-members
NATECLA Scotland proudly presents their first conference in 2 years! Join us for a day of ESOL presentations, workshops, discussions, and networking at University of the West of Scotland, Paisley Campus.
Highlights:
Opening Plenary
Networking and mingling sessions on ESOL literacies, policy, and community teaching
Parallel workshops
Exhibitor space.
More information will be shared soon, stay tuned!
South West Annual Conference
Title: NATECLA South West Conference 2025
Date: Friday 3 October 2025
Time: 09:15- 16:00
Location: Taunton Conference Centre, Somerset College, Wellington Road, Taunton.
Price: FREE.
We’re excited to announce the first NATECLA South West Conference, in partnership with South West Councils, Somerset ESOL Network, and Thrive! Join us for an in-person event packed with insights, learning, and networking.
Overview:
National ESOL perspective
The Southwest ESOL picture
Learner Voice sessions
ESOL practitioner workshops
Networking opportunities.
Voluntary ESOL Forum
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
IATEFL ESOL SIG Webinar
Title: ESOL outside the classroom: who has regional and strategic oversight for ESOL provision?
Date: Saturday, 27 September
Time: 12:30 pm (UK time)
Presenter: Emma Taylor
Price: General registration: £8, IATEFL members: £5, Free to ESOL SIG members.
This session will explore ESOL provision beyond the classroom, highlighting the different agencies that shape the ESOL landscape in Yorkshire, Humber, and across the UK. Emma will outline the role of the Strategic Migration Partnerships (SMPs) and share research from the Migration Yorkshire team, including:
ESOL for refugees: a toolkit for commissioners and practitioners
ESOL Needs Analysis and Placement for Refugee Learners: a toolkit for providers
Resources
NATECLA In-House Training: Book now for your CPD day
After the summer break, it’s a great time to focus on professional development.
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.
Resource of the Month
This month we’d like to highlight the British Council’s free course Teaching English to Refugees and Displaced Learners.
It offers practical ways to support learners who may have experienced trauma, are learning in challenging contexts, or have limited access to resources. There’s also space to reflect on inclusive, trauma-informed approaches and share ideas with colleagues through an online community.
What’s included:
Trauma-informed strategies for building safe and supportive classrooms
Practical ideas for teaching in low-resource or large class contexts
Approaches to working compassionately with challenging behaviour
Opportunities to connect with other teachers and share practice
Open until March 2026, the modules can be completed at your own pace.
It’s a valuable resource for anyone working with refugee or displaced learners, or for those looking to strengthen their inclusive teaching practice.
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 and volunteer opportunities
The Ruth Hayman Trust, NATECLA’s charity, currently has two trustee vacancies:
Grants Team Trustee – to join the team who allocate grants for education and training.
Secretary – to take on the role left vacant following the sad passing of Sally Staples.
The Trust is also looking for a volunteer to help with student fundraising. This would involve helping to encourage students in colleges across the UK to raise funds for the Trust and also updating and improving the student fundraising materials on the website.
If anyone is interested please contact info@ruthhaymantrust.org.uk and we can provide more information.