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Child playing with puppets- Local Offer Further information

We recommend that you check event details with the provider directly and in advance. You may need to book your place for certain events.

Launch of the West Northamptonshire SEND Ranges (0-25)

The "SEND Ranges (0-25)" will replace West Northamptonshire Council's existing "SEND Descriptors." They are based on the national best-practice in determining and describing the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) 0-25 years.

West Northamptonshire Council has been developing the SEND Ranges over the past 10 months. They have undergone considerable consultation and co-production with parents, services, SENDCos, health professionals, and social care professionals. The SEND Ranges have also been trialled by local nurseries, primary schools, secondary schools, and Post-16 settings.

The new SEND Ranges will be launched at a series of special events on Thursday 17 November 2022. Parents and professionals can learn about the SEND Ranges and how they'll be developed and embedded within West Northamptonshire. Hard copies of the SEND Ranges guidance document will be allocated to establishments, settings, services, and parents. 

Location 

Northampton School for Boys (NSB)
Billing Road
Northampton NN1 5RT 

Date

Thursday 17 November 2022

Please book your free place on one of the following sessions (the content of all 3 sessions will be the same):

The booking deadline is Tuesday 15 November 2022 at 12noon.

All are welcome, including: colleagues and stakeholders from North Northants, parents and carers, school staff, college staff, staff from early years settings, staff from private, voluntary, and independent (PVI) nurseries, childminders, school governors, staff from the local authorities, elected members, health professionals, social care professionals, and people from voluntary groups and charities.

NFA Inclusive Football Festival for Teams

NFA are delighted to announce the first of a series of Inclusion Football Festivals that will be held within the 2022/23 season. The Inclusion Festival series will be an opportunity for people with disabilities and/or impairments to participate in casual and competitive pan-football throughout the county. Each festival will offer a 5-a-side competition for under-12s, under-16s, and open ages. There will also be fun activity stations, mascots, and giveaways.

Location

Wellingborough Old Grammarians Memorial Sports Field
Sywell Road
Wellingborough
NN8 6BS

Date

19 November 2022

Please visit the FA website for more information. Competition structure and rulings are subject to change dependent on the number of entries.

Contact: Keegan Barstow (07983 994988 or keegan.barstow@northamptonshirefa.com)

West Northamptonshire - Meet the SEND Teams

Are you a parent or carer of a child or young person with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)? Do you want to learn about the SEND services in your area?

The Information, Advice, and Support Service (IASS) has teamed up with other local SEND services to host 4 free events in West Northants. The events will enable parents and carers (like you) to meet their local SEND teams. There will be friendly representatives from education, health, and social care services.

Please book your free place on one of the following sessions:

Free refreshments will be included. Please note: Staff will be unable to discuss individual cases.

Autism East Midlands for young people with autism

Autism East Midlands

Senior youth clubs (11 to 18 years)

When​Time​Location
​First Tuesday of every month (term time only)​6.30pm to 8.30pm​AHOF (Abington House of Fun) in Abington Park (corner of Park Avenue South and the Wellingborough Road), Northampton

Youth clubs (8 to 18 years old)

​When​Time​Location
​Second Saturday of the month (term time only)​10am to 2pm​Towcester Youth Coffee House
The Barn, Bransons Lane, Towcester, Northants, NN12 6AX
​Fourth Sunday of the month (term time only)​10am to 2pm​Nether Heyford
1A Roberts Field
Northampton NN7 3BE
​Last Saturday of the month (term time only)​10am to 2pm

​East Northants Club, Saxon Hall
The Hall, Thorpe Street, Raunds, Northants, NN9 6LT

Autism East Midlands run a 'Family Hub'  group for  children age 12 and under to attend with their families on the first Monday of each month from 4 to 7pm. These are drop-in sessions where the whole family can attend and no booking is usually required. However during the Corona virus outbreak, Autism East Midlands would appreciate parents and families getting in touch to let them know if they are attending so that they can manage the social distancing required. Please e-mail northampton@autismeastmidlands.org.uk.

Held at:

Kingsthorpe Baptist Church,
High Street,
Kingsthorpe,
Northampton

Deaf Connect for young people with a hearing impairment

Deaf connect run two youth groups for junior and seniors twice a month. Ages are flexible dependent on where the child or young person feels more comfortable. Clubs cost £2 per person which includes food (pizza, chicken nuggets, chips). There is also a tuck shop to buy sweets.

Various toys, games and activities are available at each session to make it a valuable time mixing with deaf peers. You are welcome to stay with your child if they are feeling a bit shy. Please sign up on BAND or email Jennie.Higson@deafconnect.org.uk to let her know you are coming.

Juniors (age 4 to 10)

​When​Time​Location
​Alternate Fridays​4pm to 6pm​Spencer Dallington Community Centre
Tintern Ave
Northampton NN5 7BZ

 Seniors (age 11 to 18)

​When​Time​Location
​​Alternate Fridays6.30pm to 8.30pm​​Spencer Dallington Community Centre
Tintern Ave
Northampton NN5 7BZ

SEND Scout Group

​WhenContact​Location

​Alternate Sunday mornings

10am to 11.30am

Accinclusion@northantsscouts.org.uk or phone 07849 348828

​The Boughton Centre (Mencap Building)
Ransome Road
Northampton
NN4 8AA

The Cube Disability Kids 
Performing arts sessions for children with a disability and their siblings

Saturday mornings 11:15 to 12:15
E-mail cubekids@thecubedisability.co.uk to book a place

Y Not Arts

Run by Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts from Northampton School For Girls, Spinney Hill Road, Northampton, this weekly session creates a fun and relaxed environment for the students and staff to participate in dance and drama with a end of year performance. For 9 to 25 year olds.  Saturdays  09:15 to 10:45 and 11:00 to 12:30

contact ​Ynot@NMPAT.co.uk for more information

Youth Works

Youth Works run a group for young people aged 11 to 16 with a special educational need on Mondays from 4.00 to 5.00.

E-mail rfletcher@youthworksnorthamptonshire.org.uk for more details. 

Action for Children

These clubs have been commissioned by Northamptonshire County Council as part of the Short Breaks offer for children and young people with special educational needs. For all Action For Children enquiries, please call 01604 752553 or email Northants.Disability@actionforchildren.org.uk. For all Free Rangers enquiries, please call 01536 521555 or email vicky.bowden@groundwork.org.uk.

When Group details ​Location
Term-time Wednesdays
6.30pm to 8.30pm		 Brackley AFC Youth Club
For children and young people aged 8-17 years
with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD). £5.		​Magdalen College School, Waynflete Avenue, Brackley NN13 6AF
​Term-time Saturdays 9.30am to 12.30pm (Fortnightly)
 ​​Corby Free Rangers
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD). £7.		​Stephenson Way Community Centre, Stephenson Way, Corby NN17 1DA
Term-time Saturdays
10am to 1pm		 Corby Senior AFC Club
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD), or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). £5.		Maplefields Academy, Tower Hill Road, Corby NN18 0TH
Term-time Mondays
6.30pm to 8.30pm		​Daventry AFC Youth Club
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD). £5.		Daventry Methodist Church, 6 Golding Close, Daventry NN11 4FH
Term-time Saturdays
10am to 3pm		​Daventry AFC Club
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD), or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). £10.
​​Daventry Hill School, Ashby Road, Daventry NN11 0QE
Term-time Wednesdays
3.30pm to 5.30pm		 Kettering Free Rangers
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD). £4.		​​The Green Patch, Valley Walk, Kettering NN16 0LU
Term-time Saturdays
9.30am to 12.30pm		 Kettering Free Rangers (AM)
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD). £7.		​The Green Patch, Valley Walk, Kettering NN16 0LU
​Term-time Saturdays
1.30pm to 4.30pm		 ​Kettering Free Rangers (PM)
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD). £7.		​The Green Patch, Valley Walk, Kettering NN16 0LU
​Term-time Saturdays
10am to 1pm		 ​Kettering Senior AFC Club
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD), or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). £5.		​Isebrook School, Eastleigh Road, Kettering NN15 6PT
​Term-time Thursdays
6.30pm to 8.30pm		​Grange Park AFC Youth Club
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD). £5.		​The Kairos Centre, Wilks Walk, Grange Park, Northampton NN4 5DW
​Term-time Saturdays
10am to 3pm		​Northampton Senior AFC Club
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD), or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). £10.		​Blackthorn Community Centre, Longmead Court, Northampton NN3 8QD
​Term-time Tuesdays
7pm to 9pm		​Weston Favell AFC Youth Club
For young people aged 11-25 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD). £5.		​Olympus Care Services, Olympus House, Billing Brook Road, Northampton NN3 8JH
Term-time Wednesdays
7pm to 9pm		 Wellingborough AFC Youth Club
For young people aged 11-25 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD). £5.		Olympus Care Services, 38 Oxford Street, Wellingborough NN8 4JG
Term-time Saturdays
10am to 1pm		 Wellingborough Senior AFC Club
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD), or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). £5.		Olympus Care Services, 38 Oxford Street, Wellingborough NN8 4JG

Commissioned short breaks: youth clubs and holiday club

Northamptonshire Association for the Blind (NAB)

NAB arrange activities for visually impaired children, young people and their families - siblings, parents and carers are all welcome. A great opportunity to make new friends, have some fun and meet other families living with visual impairments.

To book a place, or for more information, contact Hugh on 01604 719193 or email hugh@nab.org.uk

Northamptonshire Deaf Children's Society

NDCS arrange term time and holiday activities for children and young peopel with a hearing impairment. Contact 07597 221165 or email northamptonshire@ndcsgroup.org.uk for more information.

They also arrange a visit to a signed Christmas panto each year.

Northampton Town FC Community (not commissioned by NCT)

Football sessions are arranged during school holidays including 'pan disability' sessions, which are held at a number of venues across Northamptonshire, offering fun, interactive coaching sessions for children aged 6 to 18

Inclusive swimming (not commissioned by NCT)

At Rushden Splash Station Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire NN10 9SJ telephone 01933 410505 (held on Tuesday mornings every school holiday).

Autism East Midlands (not commissioned by NCT)

DetailsContact details​Age range​
​​AEM holiday clubs are usually held on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at either the Elgar Centre in Duston, or Nether Heyford Youth Club. ​​​​Contact Autism East Midlands for more details. Booking is required.8 plus

Action for Children

​These holiday clubs have been commissioned by Northamptonshire County Council as part of the Short Breaks offer for children and young people with special educational needs. For all Action For Children enquiries, please call 01604 752553 or email Northants.Disability@actionforchildren.org.uk. For all Free Rangers enquiries, please call 01536 521555 or email vicky.bowden@groundwork.org.uk.

WhenGroup detailsLocation
School holiday
Tuesdays 10am to 2pm		 Corby Free Rangers
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD). £15.		Stephenson Way Community Centre, Stephenson Way, Corby NN17 1DA
School holiday
Thursdays 10am to 3pm
(2 hours only)		 Corby Junior AFC Club
For children aged 5-7 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD), or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). £5.		Maplefields Academy, Tower Hill Road, Corby NN18 0TH
School holiday
Thursdays 10am to 3pm		 Corby Senior AFC Club
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD), or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). £10.		 Maplefields Academy, Tower Hill Road, Corby NN18 0TH
School holiday
Mondays and Tuesdays
10am to 3pm
(2 hours only)		 Daventry Junior AFC Club
For children aged 5-7 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD), or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). £5.		Daventry Hill School, Ashby Road, Daventry NN11 0QE
​School holiday
Mondays and Tuesdays
10am to 3pm		 ​Daventry Senior AFC Club
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD), or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). £10.		​Daventry Hill School, Ashby Road, Daventry NN11 0QE
School holiday
Mondays and Wednesdays
10am to 3pm		 ​Kettering Free Rangers
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD). £15.		​The Green Patch, Valley Walk, Kettering NN16 0LU
​School holiday
Mondays and Wednesdays
10am to 3pm
(2 hours only)		 Kettering Junior AFC Club
For children aged 5-7 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD), or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). £5. ​		​Isebrook School, Eastleigh Road, Kettering NN15 6PT
​School holiday
Fridays 10am to 3pm		 Kettering AFC Club
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD), or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). £10.
Aged 5 to 7 years 2 hours only £5.
​Isebrook School, Eastleigh Road, Kettering NN15 6PT
​School holiday
Mondays and Wednesdays
10am to 3pm
(2 hours only)		 ​Northampton Junior AFC Club
For children aged 5-7 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD), or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). £5.		​Blackthorn Community Centre, Longmead Court, Northampton NN3 8QD
​School holiday
Mondays and Wednesdays
10am to 3pm		 ​Northampton Senior AFC Club
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD), or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). £10.		​Blackthorn Community Centre, Longmead Court, Northampton NN3 8QD
​School holiday
Tuesdays and Wednesdays
10am to 3pm
(2 hours only)		 ​Wellingborough Trips Out AFC Club
For children aged 5-7 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD), or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). £5.		​Venues will vary
School holiday
Tuesdays and Wednesdays
10am to 3pm		 Wellingborough Trips Out AFC Club
For children and young people aged 8-17 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mild to moderate learning disabilities (MMLD), or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). £10.		Venues will vary

Holiday Activity and Food Project (HAF)

This scheme has been set up by the government and will run for the next two years (2024). It is to support those families who are eligible for free school meals during the school holidays, but also provides activities for any child that a school identifies as a vulnerable learner, including Young Carers and children with disabilities and special educational needs.

Schools issue vouchers for the scheme and parents can then apply for a place at their chosen venue. Some of the activities ask that parents stay with their child, usually due to the event being public. Talk to the provider about your child's needs and how they can support them.

Summer play schemes

The Local Authority commissions summer holiday play schemes as part of the Short Breaks Innovation funding for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Parents are expected to contribute no more than £10 per day per child. Details are published in the Summer term.

Universal play schemes in Northamptonshire

Holiday activities are organised for all children by the local areas. Some of these may be suitable for children with special educational needs and disabilities, although there should be reasonable adjustments in place to ensure that they can attend. See your local area for more information.

​Play

Music

Dance

Discos

Cinema (Autism friendly screenings)

  • Cineworld: first Sunday of the month, 11am
  • Vue: the last Sunday of the month, 10:15am
  • Odeon: one Sunday a month, 10:15am

Outdoors - Northamptonshire Country Parks

Some of Northamptonshire's country parks now offer sensory walks. 

The walks are available at:

National Deaf Children's Society

  • NDCS host regular sessions for children and young people with a hearing impairment. Check out the details on their event page on their website.

​Summer 2022 in North Northamptonshire
A range of summer activities in North Northamptonshire for children

Summer activities 

Northamptonshire Libraries and Country Parks

The Events Calendar provides up-to-date information about activities for children and families in Northamptonshire's libraries and country parks. It includes details and availability of universal children's centre services that are provided by the libraries.

Holiday activities in the country parks this summer   

Northampton Museums

Activities and workshops for children and families Northampton Museum and Art Gallery and Abington Park Museum.

National Museums

See the calendar to find museums to visit that are holding sessions suitable for children with ASD.

Northamptonshire Sport

Northamptonshire Sport is a partnership of local and national organisations working together to provide opportunities for people to participate in sport, physical activity and recreation in Northamptonshire.

TrainingDate and timeVenue​Further information​

Talking Success

Speech and Language training enabling mainstream primary school staff to identify and support children with speech, language and communication needs.

​The course runs over a number of dates and attendance is required at all sessions:

  • 13, 14 September 2022 9:30am to 3:30pm
  • 12 October 2022 - 9:30am to 12:30pm
  • 8, 9, 10 November 2022 9:30am to 3:30pm
  • 7 December 2022 - 9:30am to 12:30pm
​Online

​Talking Success is a comprehensive course compiling both theory and practical learning opportunities

Contact Hannah.Callf@nhft.nhs.uk to book a place. 

This highly acclaimed course is now in its sixth year and will cost £225 per person. 

If your school is new to ‘Talking Success’ training it is recommended that three members of staff attend in order to maximise its impact on your school.
Ideally, a combination of the SENCO, one teacher and a teaching assistant.
If your school has previously attended the training but are looking to train new or additional members of staff, single bookings can be made.

​Talking Success

Speech and Language training enabling mainstream secondary school staff to identify and support students with speech, language and communication needs.

It also offers opportunities to examine the links to literacy and social/emotional/mental health difficulties

​The course runs over a number of dates and attendance is required at all sessions
  •  5, 6 October 2022 9.30am to 3pm 
  • 15 November 2022: 9.30am to 12pm
  • 9, 10, 11 Jan 2023: 9.30am to 3pm
  • 7 Feb 2023
    9.30am to 12.00 pm
​Online​Talking Success is a comprehensive course compiling both theory and practical learning opportunities

Contact Hannah.Callf@nhft.nhs.uk to book a place. 

This highly acclaimed course is now in its sixth year and will cost £225 per person. 

If your school is new to ‘Talking Success’ training it is recommended that three members of staff attend in order to maximise its impact on your school.
Ideally, a combination of the SENCO, one teacher and a teaching assistant.

If your school has previously attended the training but are looking to train new or additional members of staff, single bookings can be made.

​Nasen

2022

​Online courses

​Nasen offers training that explores the increased demands and ever-changing landscape in relation to meeting the needs of children with SEND and their
families.

Funded by the Department for Education, online modules address some of the most common SEND training needs across the education sector.

They aim to develop a whole school approach to inclusion and include differentiated learning for all workforce roles.

There are four online modules and within each module, six role-specific ‘routes’ have been developed to ensure content is both relevant and useful to everyone; from those providing direct support to individual children to those providing executive and system leadership across groups of schools.

​National Deaf Children's Society​Online​Online​Various courses:
Technology for Inclusion and Independence: E-learning modules. A new series of  free e-learning modules.
 It’s the perfect place to start learning about the technology available to help deaf children and young people in their education, work and life in general. It will give you a good understanding of how technology can support inclusion and independence. Each module takes about 30 minutes to complete. 
​​National Deaf Children's SocietyOnlineOnline

Various courses for parents and families with deaf children

​​​National Deaf Children's Society​OnlineOnline

​Family Sign Language

​Early years SEN training and foundation courses​Various​​​Various

​Training for staff working with young children with special educational needs.

​Anti-Bullying Alliance​Online ​Online

Free online training about bullying for professionals.

​Disability MattersOnline​​Online

Free online training about disability for the UK workforce.

Northamptonshire Educational Psychology Services ​VariousVarious

Targeted mental health in schools (TAMHS) and learning focused courses for teachers, teaching assistants and SENCO staff in LA maintained, academy and free mainstream schools.

​Disabled LivingVarious​Various​

Training programmes for professionals, parents and carers.

​Adult Learning​Various​Various

BSL courses for adults.

​Specialist Support ServiceVarious​Various​

Courses for parents and carers of children and young people with a diagnosis of autism and other special educational needs or disabilities.

​NAYC​Various​Various

​Training dates

NAYC Eventbrite

Venue: King's Park Conference Centre, Northampton, NN3 6LL

Time: 6:30pm to 9:30pm (unless stated)

​Milton Keynes Play Association (MKPA)Various​2 to 4 Burners Lane
Kiln Farm
Milton Keynes
MK11 3HB

​​Various disability, ADHD and ASD courses suitable for parents and professionals.

Special Needs Index (SNIX) magazine

Sign up to receive SNIX News either by post or by email:

Social media

You can keep up-to-date with news and events with our social media accounts. The accounts are monitored Monday to Friday (9am to 5pm) by Julia. We regularly share information from service providers listed on our website.