Welcome to NASS

The National Association of Special Schools

NASS is the membership association for special schools in England and Wales. We provide support, advice, information, events, training and a strong national voice.

We’re a growing community of over 500 schools and organisations, and welcome every type of special school – independent, special academies, multi-academy trusts with special schools, non-maintained, and maintained special schools.

We work in close partnership with our members, other SEND organisations, and with central and local government, providing insight, information and influence to help shape the future of special education. NASS champions high-quality, specialist provision within a modern, inclusive education system that respects the choices of children, young people and their families.

Join us for NASS Connect on Thursday 2nd July 2026

A free online conference for all NASS members, exploring recent updates and what’s ahead, with Special Interest Group sessions focused on the issues that matter most in your role.

Book your place
NASS - Read our latest news Read our latest news
Leadership isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being real
In this guest blog, Julie Liddell from Still Human (Part of Edwin People), writes about how behind every leadership role is a human being navigating complexity, pressure and, at times, isolation. And while leadership can look like certainty from the outside, it often feels like holding everything together for others.
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A new outcome measure tool to measure the impact of therapy on learners' quality of life and access to education
Northern Counties School was our 2025 Innovation Award winner for developing a groundbreaking therapy outcome measure tool, designed to better capture the impact of therapy on learners with complex needs—supporting improvements in wellbeing, independence, and access to education. In this guest blog, Louise Allport, Assistant Head (Therapy), explains more.
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