SEND Reform Consultation 2026
The Government is consulting on the national SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) Reform White Paper, and we want to ensure the voice of Stockton-on-Tees is strongly represented. This consultation is your opportunity to influence how the national reforms will work for children, young people and families in our borough.
Nothing changes immediately. All current Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) rights, Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) processes and entitlements remain in place.
Stockton-on-Tees Local Area Partnership is committed to making sure our response is firmly rooted in lived experience. We want to hear from:
- parents and carers
- children and young people
- schools, colleges and early years settings
- health partners
- practitioners and wider SEND professionals
Our approach
We want this consultation to feel like your conversation, not ours. Everything we do aims to show that:
- we are listening first
- lived experience is valued as evidence
- your feedback will shape local and national thinking
- we are improving the system together
Consultation
This consultation period is an opportunity to test ideas, gather honest feedback, and identify what matters most to families and professionals, and ensure our reform plans reflect Stockton-on-Tees needs, inequalities and demographics.
Read more about the SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First
How you can get involved
We are hosting a series of local events where you can hear about the proposals, ask questions and share your views.
Key upcoming sessions include:
Who | When | What |
|---|---|---|
SENDCOS | 18 March 2026 | Briefing and listening event |
SEND staff (Local Authority) | 18 March 2026 | Briefing and listening event |
Early years settings | 25 March 2026 | Briefing and listening event |
Stockton Strategic Board | 25 March 2026 | Formal report |
Young people | 26 March 2026 | Listening youth forum |
Parent and carer | 31 March 2026 | |
| Pupil Inclusion Forum | 31 March 2026 | Presentation and listening |
SEND community | 1 April 2026 | Local Offer and video |
| Anyone | 6 May | Darlington SEND event |
Headteachers | 14 May 2026 | Network (Education Matters) |
Schools Forum | 15 May 2026 | Formal report and presentation |
All schools | weekly | Headteacher update briefing |
We'll continue adding dates, recordings and notes as events take place.
Take Part in the National Consultation
You can complete the Government's consultation online.
Your response does not need to be long or technical, it is your experience that matters.
You can also email your views to changeprogramme@stockton.gov.uk
What we hope to achieve
- we want families to say they feel informed and reassured
- we want a strong representation across parents, young people, schools and professionals
- reacting to key messages and concerns from parents and stakeholders with clear Local Offer content
- a clearer, stronger shared vision for the future of SEND and Alternative Provision in Stockton on-Tees and partners to feel informed and reassured
- success for us means a strong, representative Stockton-on-Tees voice shaping the national reforms
Contact Us
If you have any questions, need support, or would like information in a different format, Contact the Local Offer team or email changeprogramme@stockton.gov.uk
