Weston College is proud to take part in The Power of Specialist FE Awareness Week, running from 1st to 5th December 2025. This national campaign, led by Natspec, celebrates the vital work that specialist further education (FE) providers deliver for young people and adults with the most complex needs.

While over 1.7 million children and young people across England are identified as having special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), discussions about support often focus on schools. Yet it is specialist FE and inclusive further education settings like Weston College that help 16 to 25-year-olds with SEND transition into adulthood, build independence, gain employability, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

At Weston College, we support learners with a broad range of support needs. Our Foundation Learning programmes and pathways are highly individualised and include specialist teaching, ensure students have a wide range of experiences in preparation for adulthood. Sessions include functional skills, communication and personal development, independent living skills, accessing the community, and vocational modules such as catering, horticulture, performing arts, and more. Leaners are involved in the student union and represent themselves as part of the student ambassadors giving their voice as part of the whole college learner voice capture.

This week, in line with the Power of Specialist FE campaign, we will be celebrating our learners’ achievements and sharing powerful stories of their journeys. Among them, we are proud to showcase:

• Morgan – now employed as a permanent Teaching Assistant, having progressed from Foundation Learning through Level 1 Early Years, an apprenticeship, and a Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification. Morgan is now a SEND advocate in her workplace, caring for six key children and using her own experience to support others.
• Caitlin – joined Weston College’s Pathways to Supported Adulthood from Briarwood Special School and has worked hard to build her communication through signing and an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device. She has grown in independence, gradually moving from 2:1 support to more group and community settings, forming meaningful relationships and developing social confidence.
• Lucy – studied on our Preparation for Life course, achieving Level 2 English, progressing in maths, and learning to travel independently. Through our "Autism and Me" curriculum, she developed self-regulation strategies, resilience, and independence. She now takes part in animal care enrichment and has completed a placement at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, planning next to do a Level 1 in Animal Care.

In addition to our 16–24 provision, our Faculty of Inclusive Practice provides a range of professional development programmes for Inclusion and SEND, allowing staff and community members to upskill through training from Level 2 onwards.

On the higher education front, University Centre Weston (UCW) offers a BA (Hons) in SEND and Inclusive Practice, designed to prepare graduates to work with and support children and young people with SEND and their families. This degree enables students to develop a deep understanding of SEND needs, inclusive approaches, systems thinking, and organisational context. We also provide short courses (Levels 4–5) for those seeking to develop or refresh their expertise in areas such as autism support.

Clare Howard, Chief Executive at Natspec, said:

“Specialist FE is about unlocking potential and creating positive futures. Our colleges give young people, many with very complex needs, the skills, confidence and independence they need to succeed in their adult lives. They are critical to the government’s mission to create an inclusive education system, where no learner is left behind. Yet despite this, the sector is too often overlooked by policy makers. Through The Power of Specialist FE awareness week, we are shining a light on this vital provision to ensure that it is recognised, valued and fully included in future policy making.”

Weston College is delighted to announce that nominations are now open for the Weston College Business Awards 2026, an annual celebration recognising outstanding collaboration between learners, including apprentices, trainees, and industry placement students and their employer partners. 

The 2026 awards ceremony will be held on Thursday 11 June 2026 at the iconic Winter Gardens, Weston-super-Mare, offering an inspiring evening dedicated to achievement, partnership, and success. 

Recognising Excellence in Partnership 

The Business Awards highlight the powerful connection between education and industry. Each award honours both a learner and their employer, celebrating individual achievement and the essential support provided by forward-thinking organisations. 

Award categories for 2026 include: 

You can find out more about each award here; www.weston.ac.uk/BusinessAwardsNominations 

• Work Experience Partnership Award 
• Adult Training Partnership Award 
• Industry Placement Partnership Award 
• Career Excellence Hub Partnership Award 
• Into Work Partnership Award (Supported Internships / SEND) 
• Apprenticeship Partnership Award 
• University Centre Weston Higher & Degree Apprenticeship Award 
• Community Project Award 

More information on each category can be found at: www.weston.ac.uk/BusinessAwardsNominations 

How to nominate 

Nominations are open until 16 January 2026. 

To submit an entry, please complete the official nomination form: 

Within the form, you can: Business Awards 2026 Nominations – Fill in form 

• Nominate a learner and their employer for a Weston College Business Partnership Award 
• Nominate a project for the Community Project Award 
• Nominate a Career Excellence Hub partner for the CEH Employer Partnership Award 
• Nominate a former Weston College student for the Alumni Impact Laureate 

Judges will be seeking clear evidence of growth, professionalism, real-world impact, and effective collaboration. 

Be Part of the Celebration 

Shortlisted nominees will be invited to the awards ceremony, and each learner will receive two complimentary tickets to bring family or friends. Employers and assessors will also be welcomed to join the celebration. 

To submit a nomination or learn more, visit: www.weston.ac.uk/BusinessAwardsNominations 

For those interested in becoming sponsors, Weston College is inviting organisations to get involved. Sponsorship opportunities offer a way to support the event and gain visibility within a network of dedicated learners and employers. For more details, contact us at marketing@weston.ac.uk 

Year 1 learners from the T-Level in Design, Surveying, and Planning in Construction course recently received an insightful guest lecture by two members of the IKO Group. 

IKO Group is a manufacturing company that produces innovative roofing, waterproofing, insulation and infrastructure solutions, along with a fast-growing highway maintenance range for the construction industry. Their approach to sustainability is one of their core values, ensuring to reduce their carbon footprint whilst improving energy efficiency. 

Emma Howard, Business Development Manager at IKO, and her colleague Louis, showcased the diverse range of materials produced at their three UK-based factories. The primary focus of the presentation was on the sustainability aspects of IKO's materials. They highlighted their commitment to delivering materials with minimal or no packaging.  

Additionally, the speakers shared a case study involving the construction of a new Tesco store, where all off-cuts from the single-ply membrane were collected and returned to the manufacturing plant for recycling. Small samples of materials were then distributed among the learners, allowing them to examine the materials firsthand. 

Daniel Comerford, a Construction Professions lecturer at Weston College, said, “I am very grateful for Emma and Louis for taking the time to come into college. It is guest lectures like these that give our students invaluable insights into different areas of the construction industry, providing them with a more holistic understanding of their options after college. They also explained to the learners about the sustainability factors that need to be considered for the various materials that make up a construction project.”   

A big thank you to Emma and Louis from the IKO Group for sharing their experiences and insight. 

This guest lecture forms part of the Construction Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.  

Progress to the next level in Construction! At University Centre Weston (UCW) our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. Click here! 

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.