Trafford and Stockport College Group is proud to take part in The Power of Specialist FE awareness week, running from 1–5 December 2025. The campaign celebrates the vital role that specialist further education (FE) plays in the lives of young people with the most complex needs. Led by Natspec, the national membership body for specialist FE colleges, the week brings together providers from across the country to highlight the life-changing impact of high-quality SEND provision.
Across the country, more than one million children and young people are now identified as having special educational needs and disabilities, the highest number ever recorded. Yet public focus too often remains on the school phase, meaning the crucial contribution of FE colleges, particularly those supporting 16–25-year-olds with complex needs, receives far less recognition.
Specialist FE ensures that, no matter how complex a young person’s needs may be, there is a college able to support them, expand their opportunities and prepare them for a fulfilling future.
At Trafford and Stockport College Group, we are committed to delivering specialist pathways that build the confidence, independence and progression our students need.
One parent, whose son Charlie took part in a supported internship at Amazon, said:
“The supported internship has been an incredible experience for Charlie and I’m truly grateful for everything the team has done for him. From day one, he was welcomed, encouraged and treated with patience and respect, and so was I, which as a very hands-on mum I very much needed.
I’ve seen his confidence increase, he’s more independent, and his understanding of the workplace has developed in ways I hadn’t expected. He talks about his days with real enthusiasm, and it’s clear he feels valued and supported.”
This year, we are proud to highlight the transformational impact of our new £27m Cheadle Campus. It has been designed with inclusivity, accessibility and specialist education at its heart. The campus brings together modern, multi-use learning areas, a wide range of vocational facilities, sensory-friendly layouts, calm environments and dedicated wellbeing spaces. These features reflect our commitment to raising the standard of specialist FE across the region and ensuring our students learn in environments that support independence, confidence and progression.
Our Choices programme at Cheadle College continues to play a central role in supporting learners with complex SEND needs. The programme promotes confidence, independence and readiness for adulthood through a bespoke range of courses at multiple levels, enabling students to progress into pre-supported internships, supported internships, vocational pathways, volunteering and, in many cases, directly into employment.
Our Supported Internships, delivered in partnership with Trafford Council, Trafford General Hospital, Stepping Hill Hospital, Amazon, HMRC and Pure Innovations, offer young people with an EHCP the opportunity to gain real workplace experience alongside employability training. Learners complete three workplace rotations, supported by job coaches and employment officers who help them develop the skills needed to secure paid employment.
For those not yet ready for external placements, our Pre-Supported Internship provides a college-based programme that builds key employability skills alongside supervised work experience. Together, these pathways are designed to increase independence, build confidence and enable learners to contribute actively to their communities. A very high proportion of students progress into paid employment following their placement, reflecting the strength of our partnerships and the commitment of our staff and employers.
Throughout The Power of Specialist FE awareness week, we will be celebrating the achievements of our learners and recognising the important role specialist provision plays in shaping their futures. We are also pleased to be welcoming Conor Rand MP to Trafford College, Altrincham Campus, on Friday 5 December, where he will have the opportunity to meet students and staff.
Among the many success stories we are proud to share is Oscar Sache, an Aviation student with an EHCP for Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. Through tailored interventions, one-to-one support and consistent guidance from tutors, he has built resilience, independence and confidence. Now in his third year, he is on track to achieve Distinction* grades in Aviation Operations, along with additional qualifications in Maths, Travel & Tourism and Air Cabin Crew.
Another inspiring student is Amy Lin, who is currently studying on the Pre-Supported Internship. Having completed placements in the college canteen, print room and with Age UK, Amy has grown from a quiet and hesitant student into a confident and independent young woman. She now travels independently using the Bee Network app and supports other students with journey planning across the region. Her progress demonstrates the powerful impact specialist provision can have on personal growth.
Commenting on the Group’s involvement in the campaign, Group Principal, Carmen Gonzalez-Eslava, said:
“We are proud to be part of The Power of Specialist Further Education awareness week. The need for truly inclusive, high-quality specialist FE has never been greater. Our newly built Cheadle Campus — together with our investment in specialist resources, personalised progression pathways and highly skilled staff — reflects our commitment to ensuring that every young person, no matter how complex their needs, has the opportunity not only to grow, but to move confidently into further study, employment or more independent lives.
We are determined to give learners the tools, support and confidence they need to progress beyond the classroom. Through tailored, flexible programmes, strong partnerships and meaningful work experience, we open doors for young people with SEND, helping them to realise their ambitions and reach their full potential.”
Clare Howard, Chief Executive of Natspec, added:
“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.”