Benefits of Membership

NASS believes that membership offers good value for money. Members can access a range of benefits:

Services

•  Fortnightly e-newsletter, detailing key consultations, policy changes, news and information for the sector

•  Access to support, advice and information from NASS staff via telephone, email and face-to-face meetings

•  Publications e.g. NASS review on outreach

•  Annual conference tailored specifically to the needs and interests of the sector. Members receive a significant discount on conference prices

•  Training days on topics of interest that have been requested by members, e.g. mental health. Members receive a significant discount on training day prices

•  School details logged on NASS website –a source of information for parents and local authorities considering placements

Representation

•  Lobbying of central Government on key policy issues

•  Representation of the sector at a regional and local level on key issues e.g. fee increases

•  Representation of sector on key boards e.g. Ofsted National Consultative Forum, Regional Partnerships National Steering Group, National Centre of Excellence in Residential Child Care Programme Board, Federation of Leaders in Special Education steering group

Networking

•  Ability to network with colleagues at a regional and national letter via regional and specialist email groups and meetings

•  Ability to share policy and procedures amongst members

•  Ability to get a sense of where your school sits within the sector through annual gathering of “market intelligence”

Research and Projects

•  Access to major, university-led, research projects e.g. Making Sense of Mental Health

•  Access to working groups e.g. outcomes framework, outreach