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Latest Issue: MAY 2025
Improving the lives of children with special educational needs and disabilities in the Dudley borough.
Keeping stakeholders, parents and carers informed about Dudley’s
SEND Improvement Programme.
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Sal Thirlway, Service Director of Education, SEND & Family Solutions
This month we published our plan to address improvements required following their recent SEND inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission.
Inspectors highlighted improvements in Dudley’s local SEND services but said that inconsistent experiences and outcomes remain for some children.
The plan, focusses on how the local area partnership, comprising council, health, and local school services, will work together to reduce waiting times for mental health support, neurodevelopmental diagnosis, and access to wheelchair services.
The plan also details how the partnership will improve the quality and oversight of the Education and Health Care Plans (EHCP) as well as ensuring that they reflect up to date views from children, young people and their families.
Area three of the plan covers how we must do more to communicate the further improvements we have made to the Dudley SEND Local Offer, an online resource and statutory requirement.
This month we will also we will be publishing our SEND Strategy and SEND & Alternative Provision Improvement plan.
In the meantime you can view the plan and the final Ofsted & CQC report at Dudley SEND Local Offer/sendinspection
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Consultation on proposed changes to Education Travel Support Policy
The council is undertaking a review of its Education Travel Support Policy (compulsory school age) and it’s Post 16 Travel Support policy.
Deadline for feedback is Wednesday 14 May 2025.
As part of this review, we want to consult with all stakeholders on the changes to the policies that are being considered.
These changes would come into effect for new applications from the 30th June 2025 for 2025/26 academic year (September 2025 onwards).
Existing students accessing travel support will have their transport reviewed for academic year 2026/2027.
The council has a statutory duty to support eligible children and young people with travel support that meets their individual needs. This duty is mandatory in relation to students of compulsory school age. For more information on the changes and how to have your say please visit https://www.dudley.gov.uk/home-to-school-consultation
New council - maintained special school set to welcome children of nursery age in New Year
New-build, Pens Meadow Special School will welcome children to a new nursery provision from January 2026.
The council will be placing 15 children in its state of art special nursery facility located in Pensnett.
In addition to the nursery pupils, the school will provide specialist education for up to 140 children and young people aged 3 to 19 (155 in total).
The purpose-built building, will deliver better facilities for pupils with complex needs and severe learning difficulties, including autism and those with profound and multiple learning difficulties.
The new nursery facilities are the first, purpose-built, council-funded specialist nursery in the borough, and we are sure the school will provide the best opportunities for our children to thrive.
We are also working with the existing provider of specialist nursery places, Phoenix Centre Specialist Pre School to explore different operating models for the setting. We would like to offer our thanks for the care and support they have taken with our children over the years.
The contract with independent specialist nursery provider, Phoenix Centre Specialist Pre School in Wordsley, will come to an end in January 2026.
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Delivering Better Value Programme draws to a close
April has seen the Dudley Partnership conclude our Delivering Better Value in SEND (DBV) programme.
The programme began April 2023 and the Department for Education provided a grant of £1m.
In summary we had 4 key workstreams that were:
Workstream 1 Redesigning our specialist services
Enhancing accessibility by maximising staff impact, equipping mainstream
schools with the necessary tools and resources to support pupils to remain in
mainstream and without the need for an EHCP
Workstream 2 Developing and delivering our SEND & AP Sufficiency
Strategy Developing local provision to support the needs of children and young people which is in borough and cost effective, supporting children and young people to access appropriate education in their locality
Workstream 3 Post 16
Clear Pathways for young people which are appropriate for their age, aptitude, and ability – leading to jobs, supported employment and apprenticeships.
Workstream 4 - Redesigning our Spend Profile
Newton Europe’s projections showed accelerating overspends with increases in both number and cost of EHCPs without mitigating actions
We have received DfE support throughout the DBV programme and our adviser has advised that we are in the top quartile of DBV authorities in terms of progress.
DfE have been very complimentary in relation to the work completed, co-production, service development and joint working between Finance and Children’s Services.
All of this has led to a spend profile within the High Needs Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant of £3.4m less than was projected by external advisors at the beginning of the programme alongside the significant improvements we have made across the partnership for children with SEND and their families.
However we recognise that there is still much work to do and next month we will be publishing our co-produced SEND Strategy and Improvement Programme Action Plan.
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Dudley SENDIASS available to parents and carers
At Dudley SENDIASS we provide legally based advice, information and support on all matters relating to Special Educational Needs (SEN) and disabilities , including health and social care issues. Our service is free, impartial and confidential.
The service is available to parents and carers of a child or young person with SEN or a disability, up to the age of 25 with or without an EHCP.
We offer termly workshops for parents/carers and young people on information and processes relating to SEND.
Contact details and workshop dates are available on Dudley SENDIASS website
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Please note that the service is no longer based at Saltwells EDC. Enquiries and meetings are now handled remotely via email, telephone or Teams. Contact details for the service can be found on the website (link above).
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Coffee morning for Dudley Parent Carers
Parents carers of children and young people with additional needs and disabilities living in the Dudley area are all welcome to attend a Coffee Morning, hosted by Dudley Parent Carer Forum.
It is an opportunity to chat and share thoughts on SEND in Dudley. We would love to do so over a cup of coffee.
Date: on 5 June 2025
Time: 9:30am - 11:15am
Venue: Brockmoor Community Centre, Pensnett, Brierley Hill DY5 3YH.
No booking required, just turn up and have a drink.
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We love Carers receives a King's Award for Voluntary Service
Congratulations goes to Dudley-based charity we love carers who was presented with the King's Award for Voluntary Service for the support they provide to unpaid carers and their families last month.
Amazing achievement!
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Coming Soon - Learning Disability Week @ Dudley Voices for Choice
User led organisation Dudley Voices for Choice are pleased to announce that they are hosting a series of events and activities to celebrate disability week 16 - 25 June 2025.
Visit their website for more information: https://www.dudleyvoicesforchoice.org.uk/
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National Smile Month .....
is a campaign championing the benefits of having good oral health and promoting the value of a healthy smile.
This year’s National Smile month runs from 12 May to 12 June. Dudley Council will be providing free oral health booklets and toothbrush packs for children through the Family Hubs, early years settings and primary schools in selected areas of the borough.
Themed, Feed Your Smile, the campaign plans to spread key messages to help improve children’s oral health in Dudley borough. They include:
- Limiting the amount of food and drinks that contain sugar
- Forming a good toothbrushing routine
- Parents/carers supervising their children’s toothbrush routine until they are at least the age of 7.
- Children ages 3 to 7 years using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Children under 3 should use a smear of toothpaste only.
- Paying regular visits to your dentist. NHS dentistry is free for children.
Dudley’s Community Toothbrush Scheme is helping to support families in taking care of their teeth from as soon as a child has their first tooth. To participate in the scheme, go to Healthy Dudley Website.
Find out more about National Smile Month 2025.
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Free Courses to Help Dudley Parents and Carers starting in May
Triple P is a parenting programme, but it doesn't tell you how to be a parent. It's more like a toolbox of ideas. You and your family choose the ideas you need. You decide the way you want to use them. It's all about making Triple P work for you.
It aims to create supportive family environments, and to prevent, as well as treat, behavioural and emotional problems in children and teenagers.
Starting in May Dudley Council is hosting several free group courses at our Family Hubs including a course specifically for parents and carers of children with a disability Book now to avoid disappointment.
View and book courses
HENRY (Health, Exercise, Nutrition for the Really Young)
HENRY supports parents and carers to change family lifestyle habits and behaviours and provide a healthy start in life for their children.
In Dudley, starting this May, a range of free HENRY programmes are available for parents and carers with children aged 0-12 and for those expecting a baby.
Visit www.dudleyparents.co.uk and click on the HENRY tile for information about available courses and how to book your place.
Got a question? Contact us on our Dudley Parents Website
Accessible activities at Dudley leisure centres
Dudley leisure centres are all-inclusive, encouraging everyone to access as many sessions as possible. Our centres offer quiet and disability sessions for children and adults. Accessible facilities are available throughout each of the leisure centres, family fun disability swimming sessions run throughout the holidays, details below:
Halesowen LC: Saturday's from 2.15pm to 3.30pm
Crystal LC: Friday's 2pm – 4pm (last admission 2.45pm)
Duncan Edwards LC: details tbc.
SEN sessions can be accessed at Planet Play suitable for children under 11 years of age with disabilities, special educational needs, ASD and their siblings. Sessions take place at Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre and Halesowen Leisure Centre.
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More information:
Visit the Local Offer website to learn more about the services available in the borough.
Useful contacts:
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