Natalie Parish

Natalie specialises in strategy development, problem-solving and supporting performance across the full range of children’s services, for both local and national government.

As a Director of Isos Partnership, she has worked extensively both in the UK and abroad on developing strategies for education, inclusion, children’s services and early help for local and national governments, and has led the production of a number of high-profile research and analytical publications across education and children’s services policy areas. Natalie has significant expertise in the development of the English education system, having led the seminal action research commissioned by the Department for Education and the Local Government Association into the evolving role of local authorities in a more autonomous school system in England.

Natalie’s research expertise extends across the full range of support for children and families. She has led high-profile national research into diverse areas including funding for children with special educational needs, alternative provision, children missing education, supporting children and young people’s mental health, effective partnership approaches to early help, and the challenges associated with high needs funding.

In addition to her national research, Natalie has worked directly with local authorities and partners across England to analyse need, develop strategies and reconfigure systems and services to support children and families, in light of changing priorities and funding pressures. In her recent work, Natalie has been supporting a number of local areas to reshape their offer of early help, particularly in light of the recent challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. Natalie has worked with a range of LAs to review their local strategies to provide a sufficiency of school places.

Formerly, Natalie was Assistant Director for Strategy and Performance in Children’s Services in Tower Hamlets. She began her career in the Department for Education where she led policy development on school improvement and school target setting and worked on implementation of the National Strategies. She was seconded to Hong Kong for 6 months where she worked as a policy advisor in the Education and Manpower Bureau.