Local learners take the spotlight as Creating Tomorrow College joins national campaign

Led by Natspec, the membership body for specialist FE colleges, The Power of Specialist FE awareness week ran from 1st to 5th December 2025. It brought together specialist colleges and other providers offering specialist FE from across the country to celebrate the important work they do with young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Across England, more than 1.7 million children and young people are identified as having SEND – the highest figure ever recorded. While the growth in numbers and the costs of meeting increasing levels of need is gaining national attention, the focus is primarily on children and schools. The crucial role of colleges, and in particular the specialist provision they offer 16 – 25-year-olds with SEND often goes unrecognised in discussions about long-term solutions.

The existence of specialist FE means that, however complex a young person’s needs, there is college that can support them, give them the opportunities they deserve, and set them up for a bright future.

Creating Tomorrow College offer two specialist study programmes - Pathway to Employment, combining structured work placements, classroom learning, and community engagement, and Supported Internship, which follows Pathway to Employment and are intensive, industry-focused placements designed to support a successful transition into paid employment.

What sets Creating Tomorrow College apart is it’s full 5-days-a-week programme, which mirrors the rhythm of full-time employment, enabling learners to the build stamina, confidence, and consistency needed to succeed in adult life.

Learners benefit from practical training, a college that’s embedded within a live workplace, experience of a wide range of roles in the world of work and local work placements.

Students typically attend for up to three years, progressing in their second or third year to supported internships that provide valuable industry-specific experience and a pathway to long-term, sustainable employment.

During The Power of Specialist FE awareness week, Creating Tomorrow College along with other specialist FE providers across the country throughout the first week of December we celebrated learners’ achievements and highlighted the vital role of specialist provision. We have showcased the impact of specialist FE and shared stories that demonstrate how it changes lives.

Case Study

When Charlie left school, he thought he had his future mapped out. With a job lined up, he was ready to step straight into work. But when that placement unexpectedly broke down over the summer, Charlie found himself without a job or college course to go to. His confidence took a knock, and when he joined our Wellingborough Campus in September 2021 – confirmed only at the last minute – he knew he needed support to get back on track.

Building Confidence Through Support

Charlie began on the Pathway to Employment programme, where staff worked closely with him to rebuild his confidence and explore the kind of work that would suit him best. After a year, he was ready to progress onto a Supported Internship.

His first placement looked promising – a local supermarket agreed to take him on. But on the very day he was due to start, his job coach, Jo, discovered that a change of management meant the opportunity had been withdrawn. Jo had to break the news to Charlie as he arrived, ready to begin.

Determined not to let this setback hold him back, Jo quickly secured new placements at a local butcher and pet shop. While Charlie worked hard, he found the fast-paced, customer-facing roles overwhelming. By mutual agreement, the internship came to an end in April – but by then, Charlie had already gained valuable experience and resilience.

Discovering the Right Path

Throughout his time at college, Charlie had been reluctant to consider warehouse or logistics work. It didn’t feel like the right fit. But after discussing his options with Jo and his tutor, he decided to visit a placement at GXO in Wellingborough.

That visit proved to be a turning point. Charlie discovered a new environment where his skills, and determination could shine. Within just three months of starting, GXO offered him a full-time, paid role.

Thriving in Employment

Charlie has never looked back. He is now acting team leader at GXO, a responsibility he initially turned down officially, feeling he wasn’t ready. But his managers saw his potential and continue to support him in developing his leadership skills.

With his first wage packet, Charlie proudly bought himself an electric bike to commute independently. Today, he has taken a huge step – securing a mortgage for his own home. Charlie has become a role model for current students, often returning to campus to share his journey and inspire others.

He was also the first of seven students to be employed at GXO, paving the way for others to follow in his footsteps.

Charlie’s Words

Charlie often says he “wouldn’t be where he is today without the college”. He is truly grateful for the guidance, encouragement, and belief shown by his tutors and job coach.

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.”

•Creating Tomorrow College is a specialist provider for young adults aged 18 to 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Dedicated to empowering learners with SEND, the college equips students with the skills, confidence, and experience needed for long-term employment success.

•Creating Tomorrow College was rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in July and is part of Creating Tomorrow Trust. It has four campuses at Wellingborough, Kettering, Daventry, and Lutterworth.

•More information, including how to apply, is available at www.creatingtomorrowcollege.co.uk

•The Power of Specialist FE awareness week is coordinated by Natspec, the membership body for specialist FE colleges in England. For more information, visit: www.specialistfe.com