The North Northamptonshire Schools Forum was scheduled to discuss the Local SEND Reform Plan. This plan outlines the council's strategy for improving support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

North Northamptonshire Local SEND Reform Plan

The primary focus of the meeting was the North Northamptonshire Local SEND Reform Plan . This comprehensive plan, detailed in a report pack, outlines the council's strategy for transforming its SEND system over the next three years. The plan aims to create a more inclusive and sustainable system where children and young people receive early, locally delivered support. Key elements include strengthening mainstream education settings to meet a wider range of needs, improving partnerships between education, health, and care services, and ensuring financial sustainability.

The report pack details the proposed reforms, which are structured around five key sections: Vision and Goals, Strategy, Monitoring and Evaluation, Governance, and Central Government Support.

Vision and Goals: The plan articulates a vision for a SEND system where children and young people receive the right support at the right time and in the right place, enabling them to thrive. Three measurable goals are set: improved outcomes for children and young people, increased confidence in the SEND system among parents, carers, and young people, and financial sustainability with improved value for money.

Strategy: The strategy outlines a shift from a reactive, assessment-led system to an integrated, locality-based model. This involves establishing Inclusion Partnerships aligned with health neighbourhoods and Best Start in Life family hubs. A core component is the Experts at Hand Offer, designed to provide mainstream settings with access to specialist multidisciplinary support, such as educational psychology, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy. The plan also addresses strengthening inclusive mainstream practice, transforming alternative provision, and ensuring a needs-led sufficiency model for local provision.

Monitoring and Evaluation: The council plans to monitor progress through a shared SEND performance dashboard, tracking demand, service delivery, service quality, and outcomes. Feedback mechanisms, including engagement with parent carer forums and schools, will be used to adapt the approach.

Governance: A multi-layered governance structure is proposed, including a SEND Accountability Improvement Board, a SEND Reform Operational Programme Delivery Board, and workstream groups. The Assistant Director of Education, SEND and Inclusion, Annita Gray, is identified as the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for the SEND reform plan and sits within the strategic tier of this governance structure.

Central Government Support: The council has requested support from central government in areas such as workforce development and recruitment, access to national tools and data frameworks, and facilitated peer learning. They also highlighted the need for financial flexibility to address legacy high needs pressures.

The report pack also includes annexes detailing the Local SEND Reform Plan template, supporting documents, a risk matrix, and information on funding streams such as the Experts at Hand Offer Funding, Transformation Funding, and High Needs Capital Funding. The plan is expected to be submitted to the Department for Education by 19 June 2026.