Intended for staff working within British further, higher, and adult education, this document provides practical examples of how colleges have increased learning opportunities for students with special education needs through flexible practices. The document is organized into the following five sections: (1) an introduction, which explains four areas of flexibility (aims and content; characteristics and stages of development in learners; the learning process; and the method of assessment) that the document explores in relation to those with special needs; (2) "How Colleges Are Developing Flexible Learning Opportunities," in which examples are organized under headings that match the four areas of flexibility; (3) "Overcoming Barriers to Flexibility," which tells how colleges have worked to overcome hostile attitudes, lack of resources, time pressure, entry qualifications, the nature of assessment, and the lack of flexibility in relation to the curriculum; (4) "Developing Flexibility," which discusses three approaches to effecting change; and (5) conclusions and recommendations. The sections on overcoming barriers and developing flexibility each contain a checklist readers can use to decide whether the issues raised are relevant to their colleges. The document also includes a 21-item bibliography and six appendices that contain information about the flexible learning project that resulted in the document. (CML)