Prepare for secondary school in 2026
Parents in Nottinghamshire with children who have just started Year 6 are being reminded to apply for secondary school places for the upcoming year.
Last year, 98% of families who applied on time were offered a place at one of their preferred schools. However, applying late or listing only one preference can reduce your child’s chances of attending a school close to your home.
The council is encouraging parents to use all four preferences when applying for their child’s school place.
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Bringing sunshine to a child’s life, consider fostering for your council
Across the East Midlands, many children in care are placed outside their home communities, not because it is in their best interest, but due to a persistent shortage of local foster carers. Nottinghamshire County Council cares for 910 children with 187 households.
March 2024 saw the establishment of the Foster for East Midlands Councils recruitment hub, a collaborative initiative between Nottingham City, Nottinghamshire, Derby City, and Derbyshire councils. Backed by funding from the Department for Education, the hub centralises enquiries, assessments, training, and ongoing support for both prospective and approved foster carers. It aims to strengthen local fostering provision so that more children can remain in familiar environments such as their schools, friendship circles, and communities.
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Inspectors find partnership is taking ‘effective action’ to improve SEND services
A recent report has found that Nottinghamshire is taking ‘effective action’ to improve services for children and young people with special education needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
In 2023, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) highlighted significant concerns about the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND in Nottinghamshire. The Nottinghamshire Local Area Partnership, which includes Nottinghamshire County Council and NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), was required to address these concerns urgently.
A recent inspection, carried out in July 2025 by Ofsted and CQC, revealed that improvements have been made in relation to each of the areas for priority action detailed in the inspection report.
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Celebrating four years of NottAlone championing local mental health support
This month marks a significant milestone for NottAlone, the dedicated mental health support platform for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, as it celebrates four years of helping local people access free, trusted mental health information and services.
Launched in 2021 through a multi-agency partnership between Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council and the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board, NottAlone.org.uk was created to ensure no one in the area ever feels alone when it comes to their mental health.
Initially designed to support children and young people, NottAlone has evolved into an inclusive, all-ages hub supporting families, carers, professionals and individuals across the city and county. From everyday wellbeing tips to urgent support and training resources, the site offers a gateway to accessing local mental health services.
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Nottinghamshire’s Armed Forces’ champions honoured at Boots and Beret 2025 Awards
The tireless dedication, commitment and service within Nottinghamshire’s Armed Forces’ community was celebrated at the third Boots and Beret Awards on Thursday.
More than 260 guests, including Armed Forces champions and dignitaries, attended the showpiece event, organised by Nottinghamshire County Council, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nottingham.
This year’s awards, sponsored by ARC Partnership, SCAPE and Via East Midlands, were presented across eight categories.
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Top marks for Nottinghamshire’s Historical Environment Record in recent audit
Nottinghamshire’s Historic Environment Record (HER) contains over 25,000 entries cataloguing sites dating from the Palaeolithic through to the 20th Century.
A recent audit, conducted in partnership with Historic England, praised Nottinghamshire HER’s “dynamic content” and “good record quality and record management,” and noted the “significant enhancement over last five years.”
Audits are carried out every five years to analyse how effectively local Historic Environment Records (HERs) are being maintained and improved.
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