About NATECLA

NATECLA (National Association for Teaching English and other Community Languages to Adults) is the national forum and professional organisation for ESOL teachers. 

NATECLA aims to advance all aspects of education and training in English for adult speakers of other languages for the public benefit. 

We provide a professional forum for ESOL and community language teachers, managers, and allies, as well as advocating for more inclusive and accessible ESOL provision.

Our vision and values

  • Laura, Irene, Paul and Rachel at a NATECLA exhibition table

    Independence and professionalism in language education

  • Two happy ESOL practitioners

    Support for ESOL and community languages practitioners and learners

  • Teachers doing group work writing on a piece of flip chart paper

    High quality, relevant training opportunities, both local and national

  • a circle of hands with different skin colours

    Respect for diversity and multilingualism

  • Jenny Roden at Westminster talking about the need for an ESOL Strategy for England

    Expert advice to government bodies and other agencies

  • ESOL teachers and learners with placards that read 'Save ESOL'

    Campaigns which promote and protect ESOL and community languages

“NATECLA is democratic, inspiring and far-reaching. Its independence and national reputation amongst policymakers and organisations in the ESOL field make it unique. It is a powerful voice for ESOL, an advocate for practitioners, learners and other stakeholders. It is a dependable provider of ESOL training, support, networking opportunities, resources and research whatever the vagaries of government.”

Jenny Roden, NATECLA volunteer.

Shaping the future of ESOL and connecting ESOL teachers

NATECLA takes part in national debates on ESOL funding, policy and content and responds to other developments as they arise. Management Council members define the NATECLA perspective and co-ordinate this response.

Management Council, trustees and the NATECLA team

Charitable status

NATECLA was granted charitable status in October 2013, allowing the organisation to claim tax relief on income and apply for grants from trusts/donors. We changed to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in 2022. Our CIO charity number is 1198388.

Our trustees

NATECLA's trustees, in collaboration with our Management Council, Branch Network and National Coordinators, manage and support our work. The trustees work for NATECLA in a voluntary capacity. Our current trustees can be found on the who’s who page.

Our policies

Our policies are provided here and will be added to and updated as appropriate:

Find out more about NATECLA and our charitable status by visiting our profile on the Charity Commission website

Join your local branch community

Join your local branch community

ESOL teachers chatting and sharing around a table

When you join NATECLA you become part of the community of ESOL and community language teachers in the UK and Ireland. You will be assigned to a branch where there is one operating. We encourage all members to support their local branch and join the committee, to help inform and shape the future of the organisation. The branches also organise conferences, forums and events several times a year. 

Working with external bodies

Our experienced team are also able to take part in consultancy work for government agencies and other organisations who need expertise and advice on ESOL in the UK and Ireland.  

Find out about the projects we have been involved in and what we can offer on our consultancy page.

The membership body for ESOL professionals working in the UK, Ireland and beyond.

NATECLA