Full Membership

Full membership of NASS is open to all fully registered, Non-Maintained Special Schools, Independent Special Schools catering for children with SEN, Converter Special Academies and Converter Special Free Schools.

Associate Membership

Associate membership is open to:

  • Newly registered Independent Special Schools, Special Free Schools* and Special Academies* catering for children with SEND who are registered with the DfE but have not yet received their first full Ofsted Inspection. (*with the exception of those settings listed in the full membership criteria above). Associate school members are expected to move to full membership status within one year of their first full Ofsted Inspection, on the anniversary of joining date.
  • Individuals working in the fields of special education, residential care and disability outside of Independent Special Schools, Non-Maintained Special Schools, Special Academies and Special Free Schools.
  • Organisations working in the field of special education, residential care and disability outside of Independent Special Schools, Non-Maintained Special Schools, Special Academies and Special Free Schools. Applicants must be able to show a clear connection to children with Special Educational Needs and Disability or demonstrate provision of services to special schools.

Group Membership

Discounted group membership of NASS is open to organisations who have two or more schools eligible to join as full or associate school members, see the criteria above. To qualify for this scheme, all of the organisation’s schools must become members.