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Welcome to nasen

We are the National Association for Special Educational Needs (nasen) – a charitable membership organisation that exists to support and champion those working with, and for, children and young people with SEND and learning differences.

Rooted in research and evidence-informed best practice, our information, training and resources ensure that our community members in the UK and across the globe are provided with the most up-to-date knowledge and support required to become effective, inclusive practitioners. Together we are able to contribute to the debate and effect change to improve provision within early years, schools, post-16 and wider settings and, ultimately, outcomes for the children and young people that they serve.

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Join for free

Join our growing community to help boost your professional portfolio and save you and your setting time and money.  As a 
member you will receive excellent support, tools, CPDL opportunities and resources to help meet the needs of ALL pupils.

nasen Awards 2024

In the eighth annual nasen Awards, 15 schools, individuals and organisations are to be recognised for their outstanding work to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and learning differences to reach their full potential.

The nasen Awards ceremony will be held at the Grand Hotel Birmingham on Friday 4th October 2024.

Submit your nomination today!

nasen staff and trustees alongside nasen Award 2023 host Samantha Baines

SEND Support Services

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SEND CPD on Demand

Get the highest quality CPD from experts at your convenience, with nasen's SEND CPD on Demand - The ultimate flexible training resource. With individual and school subscriptions starting at just £199, boost your learning with convenient access to over 70 pre-recorded SEND CPD sessions tailored to meet the needs of the entire education workforce. 

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nasen Recognised Teacher / Practitioner of SEND programme

This course is built around a deeper exploration of the implications of the An introduction to SEND in practice and Understanding and supporting universal needs. It has been developed to link with your day to day working practice – it encourages you to develop a resource or professional artefact (for example, a novel intervention; an assessment tool; a lesson plan template or a learning resource) which can be used in your setting.

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SENCO Support Service

A comprehensive information support hub designed for SENCOs. Our online hub is organised into useful topics to help resolve all of your SEND queries. Can’t find what you’re looking for online? You’ll be able to reach out directly to our Education Team.

International Membership

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International Membership

We are constantly striving to work alongside international projects to strengthen the work we undertake with professionals and help support with research, training and resources. For our international colleagues, nasen membership is available for £50 a year.

Upcoming events and the latest news & resources

nasen Connect

Read the latest e-copy of nasen Connect which is packed full of advice, analysis and opinions on the current topics and future trends impacting on the SEND workforce.

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nasen Connect magazine Spring 2024

  • Nasen Connect
  • 13 Feb 2024
Free
nasen Connect 2024
nasen Connect

The spring edition includes articles on the use of digital technology to help bridge the accessibility gap for those with visual impairments and, one school shares how they have developed the use of podcasts to help build and develop communication skills.

nasen Connect November December 2023 front cover alongside text that reads 'November / December Available Now! nasen Connect' on dark green background

nasen Connect magazine November/December 2023

  • Nasen Connect
  • 23 Nov 2023
Free
nasen Connect
nasen Connect 2023

Our November/December edition features an article about forming an inclusive culture in schools and other education settings.

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nasen Connect magazine September/October 2023

  • Nasen Connect
  • 26 Sep 2023
Free
nasen Connect
nasen Connect 2023

The September/October edition includes an overview of the latest national data for SEND, information about the Inclusive Education Hub, which is a free resource designed to help teachers include all young people in their PE and school sport offer.

Our Sponsors

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Axcis Education

Axcis are the foremost supplier of SEND staff to mainstream and specialist schools in England and Wales. Providing teaching, leadership and support staff, Axcis has experience with all levels of recruitment across a wide range of special needs. Visit the Axcis website or contact your local office to learn more about how we can help.

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Rockerbox

Rockerbox is a multi-award-winning provider of non-fiction reading solutions.

Designed to break down barriers to reading in an age-neutral and inclusive way, Rockerbox solutions quickly improve reading engagement, confidence, and learning outcomes while significantly reducing teacher workload.