Monthly Update February 2026
Dear members,
Welcome to our February 2026 Update. We hope those who had a half term last week enjoyed the opportunity to take a short break.
We’re happy to share what a fantastic success the NATECLA Midlands Conference was. It was an inspiring day with engaging sessions, thoughtful discussions and a wonderful sense of community. Thank you to everyone who attended, presented and supported the event. We’ve included some photos below so you can revisit the day, or see what you missed.
We’re also pleased to announce that bursary applications for the Annual Conference 2026 are now open, offering support to members who would otherwise be unable to attend.
We’ll soon be sharing the full Annual Conference 2026 workshop line-up, stay tuned!
You’ll also find details of upcoming events and the latest news from across the ESOL sector in this update.
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’s response to UK Government 'Earned Settlement' proposals
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).
Responding to the recent Home Office consultation, NATECLA's Co-Chairs Naeema Hann and Paul Sceeny have criticised the proposals as wrong-headed in principle as well as unworkable in practice. They pit wealthy and privileged immigrants against those who have experienced forced migration, those with disabilities, those with caring responsibilities, those in socially useful but poorly-paid work, those not in a position to engage in performative measures of 'contribution', along with anyone else who finds themselves being 'punished' by these criteria.
NATECLA Midlands Conference: a successful event
The NATECLA Midlands Conference was a fantastic afternoon of professional development, bringing together ESOL practitioners from across the region and beyond at Brasshouse Languages, whithin the Library of Birmingham.
Participants connected with colleagues and chose from four practical workshops that covered creativity in the classroom, resilience, mediation in ESOL, and basic literacy through language experience.
Thank you to the Midlands Branch, to Ascentis for sponsoring it, to Birmingham Adult Education Service for their support and everyone who contributed to such a positive and collaborative event. We look forward to the next opportunity to learn and connect together.
Book now! - Annual Conference 2026
We’re delighted to share that the NATECLA Annual Conference 2026 website is now live and the ticket booking system is open.
After a sold-out event last year, the conference will take place on 26–27 June 2026 at Conference Aston, Birmingham, and we’re very pleased to confirm NOCN as our main sponsor.
Exhibitors and sponsors
Don’t miss the chance to showcase your brand at the NATECLA Annual Conference 2026! Our thriving exhibition area offers the perfect opportunity to connect with ESOL and ELT professionals from across the UK and Ireland.
Whether you’re interested in sponsoring the event or having a stall, we have packages to suit your needs. Enjoy high-quality catering, comfortable overnight accommodation, and endless networking opportunities in a professional setting.
Bursaries
Would you like to attend this year’s Annual Conference but don’t have the funds to cover the full ticket cost?
A limited number of part bursaries are available to support colleagues to access this valuable CPD opportunity. Deadline: Friday 8th May 2026.
🌟 Be a Bursary Sponsor for NATECLA 2026🌟
We’re still looking for sponsors to help us make the conference accessible to more ESOL professionals.
Teachmeet
Thanks to City & Guilds 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.
NATECLA Webinars
Check our upcoming 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 can second language acquisition theory support our learners?
Title: Acquiring language in the ESOL classroom: how can second language acquisition theory support our learners?
Date: Friday 27 February 2026
Time: 16:00 - 17:15
Presenter: Sam Pepper
In this session Sam will introduce some second language acquisition theories which inform the way ESOL classrooms, materials and activities are set up. Sam will be sharing loads of classroom ideas, materials and recommended activities which reflect the key themes of these theories.
How the Neuroscience of Trauma Helps Us Understand Behaviour
Title: How the Neuroscience of Trauma Helps Us Understand Behaviour
Date: Thursday 12 March 2026
Time: 12:30 - 13:45
Presenter: Sheila Mulvenney
In this workshop we will consider what neuroscience can tell us about the impact of trauma on the brain and behaviour. We'll then explore some practical strategies to support students and help them to regulate their emotions and get back to learning.
Participatory photography in the ESOL class
Title: Participatory photography in the ESOL class
Date: Thursday 26 March 2026
Time: 12.30 - 13:45
Presenter: Sarah Sheldon
In this session, we will look at how photography enriches and supports language learning in the ESOL classroom – how it can be used as a simple warmer, as part of a lesson, or as the basis for a full course. We will explore how taking and sharing photos brings learning to life, builds community, works well with mixed-level groups, and leads to powerful writing.
Other events from NATECLA
Natecla Scotland Forum
Title: NATECLA Scotland Branch Forum -Communicative ESOL classes in grassroots settings
Date: Thursday 12 March 2026
Time: 19:00- 20:30
Presenters: Clare Courtney & Alex Holloway
In this workshop, we’ll share examples of community-based ESOL projects from Heart & Parcel, showing how grassroots groups can become supportive “communities of practice” where learners develop language through real-world communication.
Drawing on approaches such as task-based learning and funds of knowledge, we’ll explore practical examples — including Cooking & ESOL, Food for Thought, and creative writing projects — and reflect on how you might set up similar initiatives in your own context.
Natecla Scotland Forum
Title: NATECLA Scotland Branch Forum - The AI Skill Shift: Mastering Critical Thinking, Data Literacy and Ethical Integration
Date: Thursday 30 April 2026
Time: 19:00- 20:30
Presenter: Alexandra Covici
This workshop abstract outlines a presentation on navigating the evolving professional landscape shaped by artificial intelligence. As AI technologies become increasingly integrated into industries, the demand for traditional skills is shifting, creating a critical need for new competencies. This session will explore the essential skills required to thrive in an AI-powered world, moving beyond technical proficiency to focus on human-centric capabilities.
Natecla Scotland Forum
Title: NATECLA Scotland Branch Forum - Communication Skills
Date: Thursday 11 June 2026
Time: 19:00- 20:30
Presenter: Clare Cameron
As teachers we spend our working days communicating with learners, but how often do we reflect on our own communication skills? This workshop covers individual communication styles and behaviours, active listening, body language, delivery, and dealing with challenging people and situations.
Jobs and volunteer opportunities
Trustee opportunities with Ruth Hayman Trust
The Ruth Hayman Trust is NATECLA’s chosen charity. For over 40 years, it has supported refugees and asylum seekers in the UK through small grants for education and training. They are looking for
Trustee Vacancy: Honorary Secretary A key administrative and coordination role supporting the day-to-day running of the charity.
Trustee Vacancy: Grants Group Member A role focused on reviewing grant applications and helping allocate education and training funding.
Join NATECLA’s EDI Working Group
The NATECLA Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group is looking for new members. We meet - briefly, online about once a term. After publishing the member survey last year, we plan to curate resources to support and embed inclusion and could do with some help.
If you’d like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you! You can reply directly to this post, send a message on LinkedIn, or email naema.hann@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you.
Other events and resources
Language Issues- Winter 2026
The latest edition of NATECLA’s peer-reviewed ESOL journal, Language Issues, is now available.
Issue 36.2 (Winter 2026) was edited by Declan Flanagan and features the cover article: “The burden of fluency: ESOL in an era of conditional belonging” (p.58).
This edition also includes:
“Supporting adult language learning beyond the classroom: a reflective evaluation of the ESOL Digital Pathways Project” – Andrew Potterfield
“Linguistic socialisation through creative practice: a migrant woman’s journey of integration” – Josianne Block
“Parental perceptions on children’s use of digital devices and language learning: a post-pandemic study among parents of school children in Ireland” – Md Touhidul Islam
“Migrant women-only ESOL learning spaces in Northern Ireland” – Juana Simpson
“Doing ESOL in times of far-right resurgence: An exploratory ethnography of activism and English Language Teaching in Glasgow” – Katy Highet
NATESOL Webinar: Teaching the quiet ones
Title: Webinar: Teaching the quiet ones
Date: Thursday 26 February2026
Time: 16:00- 17:30
Presenter: Michelle Worgan
Introverted and shy learners can struggle in communicative classrooms where extroverted norms dominate, often leading to disengagement and low confidence.
This session explores how to create more inclusive classroom dynamics so quieter learners can thrive.
Prisoners’ Education Trust: Essential Skills and Inclusion Network
Title: Essential Skills and Inclusion Network
Date: Friday 13 March 2026
Time: 15:00- 16:40
Are you a teacher in Prison Education? The next meeting of the Prisoners' Education Trust's Essential Skills and Inclusion network is on 13th March 26, 3-4.40pm. The latest meeting for this established network will see presentations by Pass Functional Skills and also teams from NOVUS presenting their AI prompt project. NATECLA is proud to support the sub-group, the ESOL working group along with the Prisoners Education Trust, and this group will be presenting too.
The Bell Foundation Conference 2026
Title: The Bell Foundation Conference 2026
Date: Tuesday 23 June 2026
Place: University of Birimgham
The Bell Foundation’s first-ever conference — focused on amplifying the voices and needs of EAL and ESOL learners across the education system — will take place on Tuesday 23 June 2026 at the University of Birmingham.
This event will bring together partners and sector networks for a dynamic day of thought leadership, practical insights and peer learning.
Save the date: Research ESOL Community
Name: Research ESOL Community: ’Doctoral journeys of ESOL practitioners: a panel discussion'
Date: Thursday 23 April 2026
Time: 16:00 - 17:30
The next ESOL Research Community will include a panel discussion featuring four ESOL teachers at different stages of their doctoral journeys. The session will explore experiences of conducting research, from developing proposals to collecting data and publishing findings.
The panel members will be:
Zaina Aljumma, Swansea University
Orsolya Dunn, Ayrshire College and University of Glasgow
Rachid Meftah, Bradford College and University of Leeds
Dr Sam Shepherd, Shipley College
Further details, including how to register and submit questions to the panel, will be shared next month. This event will be hosted in collaboration with the Learning and Skills Research Network and NATECLA.
News and Resources from Migration Yorkshire
We’re sharing some news, resources, and stories highlighted in Migration Yorkshire’s latest newsletter:
Common ground: building cohesive communities offers national advice for councils on tackling misinformation and hate crime, with examples from South-West Yorkshire NHS, North Yorkshire, Doncaster, and the Humber. Relatedly, this article explores how the decline of community institutions can strengthen far-right influence, while also highlighting pushback.
Arman shares his journey from arriving in the UK as a refugee to moving from volunteering into employment.
Connect, Share and Collaborate on NATECLA’s Member Discussion Forums
Did you know that as a NATECLA member, you have access to a growing suite of online discussion forums designed to help you connect, share ideas and collaborate with colleagues across the ESOL and community languages sector?
Whether you’re an ESOL teacher, manager, researcher, trainee, or teacher trainer, there’s a dedicated space for you to exchange resources, ask questions, and contribute to the professional conversation.
Our forums cover a wide range of topics including:
ESOL teaching and training – for teachers, trainees and teacher trainers to share experiences and best practice.
Digital specialists in ESOL – to explore tools and technology in language learning.
Equality & Diversity Working Group – for members committed to inclusive practice.
Events and Management Council forums – to support planning and leadership discussions.
Volunteers in ESOL, Community language teachers, and Teaching young learners (14–19) – for sharing practical ideas and advice.
Whether you want to ask for teaching tips, discuss research, or stay connected with NATECLA initiatives, the forums offer a supportive and professional space for conversation.
👉 Access the forums now via the Members’ Platform — open to all personal members and staff from institutional member organisations.
Join the conversation and be part of the collective voice shaping the future of ESOL and community languages teaching.
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.
Resource of the Month
This month, we’re highlighting two helpful resources from MESH that may be of interest to our members and wider networks.
🔹 Pathways into ESOL Teaching
A useful guide for those interested in training and progressing into ESOL teaching roles:
https://learningenglishplus.org.uk/pathways-into-esol-teaching/
🔹 Immigration Status and Access to ESOL Classes
A clear and accessible resource outlining eligibility for ESOL classes based on immigration status:
https://www.learningenglish.org.uk/immigration-status-and-access-to-classes/