Parents, carers and professionals invited to help shape the future of SEND in North Northamptonshire

18 March 2026

Parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), along with professionals who support them, are being invited to attend a series of workshops taking place across North Northamptonshire this April.

Following on from the successful SEND workshops held in November, new SEND Reform and Inclusion workshops will focus on two key areas: the Local SEND Reform Plan and Travel to School for SEND pupils.

Recent national policy changes mean that every local area must now develop a Local SEND Reform Plan, setting out how education, health and care partners will improve support for children and young people with SEND.

Local authorities are required to produce a draft of this plan by May 2026, which will form part of the criteria for access to the Government’s new SEND financial stability arrangements. These arrangements aim to help councils address the significant High Needs budget deficits that many areas are facing.

This means the next few months are a crucial opportunity for partners, schools, families and professionals to help shape a plan that reflects the real needs and experiences of children and young people with SEND in North Northamptonshire.

The workshops will give attendees the opportunity to explore what the national reforms mean locally, share their experiences of the current system, and help identify priorities for improvement.

The sessions will also focus on Travel to School for SEND pupils. North Northamptonshire Council is developing a programme of improvements to its Travel to School service, with the needs of children and young people at its heart. Earlier this year, the council asked families and schools to share their experiences of the current service. That feedback has been carefully considered and used to identify five priority areas for improvement. These workshops are an opportunity to hear plans in more detail, to discuss those priorities, and to give families a direct say in shaping specific aspects of how the service can be strengthened going forward.

The workshops will bring together parent carers, schools, health partners, voluntary organisations and local authority teams to share views and help shape the future of SEND locally.

They will be hosted by the North Northants SEND Partnership, which includes North Northamptonshire Council, Northampton Children’s Trust, Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and North Northamptonshire Parent Carer Voices (NPCV).

The workshops will take place at the following locations:

• Corby – 15 April 2026, 9am–12.30pm
  Council Chamber, Corby Cube, George Street, Corby, NN17 1QG
• Kettering – 17 April 2026, 9.30am–1pm
  Council Chamber, Bowling Green Road, Kettering, NN15 7QX
• Wellingborough – 22 April 2026, 6pm–9.30pm
  Swanspool House, Doddington Road, Wellingborough, NN8 1BP
• Thrapston – 28 April 2026, 9.30am–1pm
  Council Chambers, Cedar Drive, Thrapston, NN14 4LZ

These workshops are an important opportunity for families and professionals to help shape how SEND services develop in North Northamptonshire. With national reforms underway and a new Local SEND Reform Plan needing to be developed over the coming months, it is vital that the voices of parent carers, schools, health partners and our wider community are part of the conversation. I would strongly encourage anyone with an interest in SEND to come along, share their experiences and help us build a system that works better for our children and young people.Cllr Elizabeth Wright, Executive Member for Children, Education and Families

Places are limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Sessions can be booked online via the NPCV website.https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/specialist-send-support-services

Find out more about local SEND services.