The 1st-5th December was #ThePowerOfSpecialistFE week, a new campaign by Natspec to help raise awareness of the importance of colleges like ours in an inclusive education system. We share some amazing success stories and voices as we fully supported the campaign. Here, we share our highlights from the week, in case you missed it!
“Specialist further education is more than gaining qualifications – it creates meaningful pathways, builds futures, and strengthens communities through inclusion and contribution. By opening doors to independence and purposeful engagement, we ensure every young person has the chance to thrive. When young people with SEND succeed, communities grow stronger, workplaces become more diverse, and society benefits from a culture rooted in equality and opportunity. Our Moreton campus continues to be a vibrant space, rich in success stories, and we’re all committed to doing our part in ensuring this continues for all who attend.” – Heather Helm, Deputy Head of Education, Moreton
One of the key aims of #ThePowerofSpecialistFE is to show policy-makers and decision-takers across the country the value of specialist FE and its essential place within an inclusive education system we all strive for.
Lloyd Hatton MP for South Dorset and Dorset Councillor Clare Sutton visited EMA this year to see first-hand what we do, and connecting with individuals like them allows us to demonstrate how we enable students to achieve and how specialist FE benefits our communities – with students going into work, volunteer roles, and better prepared for adulthood and independence.
“We are always taking steps to invite key stakeholders to our campuses and show them around, so they can see our students and staff in action. Welcoming Lloyd and Clare through our doors were two brilliant opportunities to highlight to them the need for environments like EMA in the local area. We were able to discuss all the work we do, but also share with them the challenges we face. We felt listened to, and both individuals have followed up with us since. We will continue to celebrate the successes of our young people, and we hope the Power of Specialist FE campaign gets in front of as many eyes as possible.” – James Dunham, Head of Education
#ThePowerofSpecialistFE week continues with stories of EMA graduates. Whether it’s short-term goals for confidence and independence, or landing a new job in the pursuit of a career, the power of specialist FE is evident in our young people.
- Eleanor – overcame many barriers to find work experience at Allendale Community Centre utilising skills developed at EMA, and then eventually moved on to employment with Pets UK!
- Felix – graduated our CTH – Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality courses and found employment as an apprentice Chef with prestigious five-star venue Lime Wood Hotel
- Alice – built up confidence that enabled her to travel independently, and gained employment with ODEON Cinemas.
- Taryn – we recently highlighted his journey through education, and supported living, leading to his employment with Dorset Community Action’s GreenCare team! You can read more of his story on our website.
Person-centred support in our classrooms and training spaces is key in guiding young people on to their next steps, and we’re proud to see them achieve at college, and after they graduate. These are just a few former EMA students who are shining examples of what this support can lead to.
