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Latest Issue: June 2025

Improving the lives of children with special educational needs and disabilities in the Dudley borough.

Dudley SEND Strategy Refresh 2025-29

Dudley Council, Dudley Integrated Care Board (ICB), and Dudley Parent Carer Forum (DPCF) have recently launched their refreshed Dudley SEND Strategy for 2025-2029.

This collaborative effort aims to identify strengths and outline a clear pathway for improvement in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services in the borough.

The vision of the partnership is to ensure that every child with special needs achieves their full potential, leading to positive outcomes and enriched lives. This vision is supported by the following principles and values across the Dudley Local Area SEND Partnership, which includes the Council, Dudley ICB, Dudley Parent Carer Forum, NHS Health providers, schools, colleges, employees, parents, carers, and children and young people.

New to SEND? Check out our video!

A brand new video entitled the SEN Graduated Response, has been produced by Dudley Council and the Dudley Parent Carer Forum to walk you through how Dudley identifies children with additional needs and provides them with extra support.

Narrated by children and parents, the video starts with defining what special educational needs means and how children and young people should be supported according to the Department for Education’s Code of Practice.

It highlights the support children and young people can receive within mainstream schools and how this is reviewed. It also talks about the Education, Health and Care Plan process.

Coproduction in Education - New Video

The council has again worked with the Dudley Parent Carer Forum to produce a new video for for parent carers, schools and stakeholders which outlines our coproduction journey and what good co-production should look like in the borough.

Co-production is a particular and empowering way of working, it is about making decisions with others, it involves planning and producing something that benefits all concerned. It recognises that both service recipients and service providers have a vital contribution to make in improving services.

An essential component of co-production is that everyone works on an equal basis and is built on the recognition that people who receive a service are best placed to design and improve it.

"Co-production is where everyone works together on an equal basis, using their skills, knowledge and experience to create better outcomes and find shared solutions to shape more inclusive communities."

Dudley Parent Carer Forum

Dudley PCF (dudley_pcf) is now on Instagram, please give them a like and follow them!

Carers Week 9 – 15 June

To celebrate Carers week in Dudley we are raising awareness of the Dudley Carers Hub and highlighting other support services and offers.

Dudley Carers Hub

Dudley Carers Hub and Wellbeing Service, run by Dudley Council, supports unpaid carers of all ages.

The service is a partnership which includes commissioned providers (Forward Carers, Action For Children, Crossroads Caring For Carers, Bridgit) and community-based services (Hospital Carers Co-Ordinator, Just Straight Talk).

The service supports unpaid carers aged over 18 years and works closely with the Dudley Young Carers Service which supports young carers aged 5 to 17 years.

We offer information, advice and a range of support to anyone caring for a family member or friend. Many people who provide care often do not recognise themselves as a carer, and aren't aware of the support available to them. We aim to empower carers to make informed choices and provide specialist advice and support including: 

• Emotional support
• Advice on respite services
• Specialist training courses for carers
• Information on financial and legal rights
• Help with arranging a carers assessment
• A specialist Dudley Young Carers Service
• Advice on accessing social care and health and wellbeing services
• Support with getting out and about, including social groups and carers groups

There are two hubs located at Queens Cross Network in Dudley and Brett Young Centre in Halesowen.

Dudley Carers Hub events

Stay up-to-date with the latest events, workshops, and activities organised by Dudley Carers Hub. Our events are designed to support and bring together Carers, offering opportunities for learning, relaxation, and connection. Whether you are a young Carer, an adult Carer, or a professional, there’s something for everyone.

Visit https://carerfriendlydudley.org.uk/whats-on/

Up to 9 months free bus travel for unpaid carers

Dudley Carers Hub and Wellbeing Service have partnered with Transport for West Midlands(TfWM) who are offering up to 9 months free bus travel for unpaid carers.  If you are an unpaid carer over the age of 16 years and use or would like to use the bus, you can take advantage of this offer.   You can benefit from 4-weeks of free bus travel via Swift technology and the nBus multi-operator bus ticketing scheme. This ticket allows unlimited travel across the entire West Midlands bus network, making it easier to get out and about.

If you use your free tickers, after the 9 months you will be eligible for a 50% discount on your next 4-week Regional nBus ticket, if you use the bus in that period you can receive two additional discount codes for a further 2 months.

For more information contact Dudley Carers Hub on 01384 818723 or complete our online carer registration form and we will contact you to have a chat.

Learning Disability Week 16 – 22 June 2025

User led organisation, Dudley Voices for Choice have teamed up with CHADD to celebrate Learning Disability Week by running a free bowling and lunch session at Hollywood Bowl Merry Hill.

Book by emailing Amy careactivities@chadd.org.uk

Dudley Voices for Choice are also running  free golfing session at Sedgley Golf Club on Thursday 19 June 12 – 1pm – call Cameron Butler to book on the Dudley Voices for Choice slot on 01902 880503.

And later on that day they are having a bakeoff and artwork session from  2 – 3.30pm at Dudley Voices for Choice, Holloway House, Martin Hill Street, DY2 8RT. Contact kellyslade@dudleyvoicesforchoice.org.uk

FREE Health and Wellbeing Courses - June and July 2025 

Motivation – Empower Yourself

16^th June / 30^th June – 12:30 - 14:30

This course will help you develop strategies to boost your motivation and achieve your goals.

Confidence and Self-Esteem – Creating the Life You Want

1^st July – 10:00 – 12:00 and 17^th June – 12:30 – 14:30

Learn how to build your confidence and self-esteem to create the life you want

Creative Journaling

5^th June / 19^th June / 3^rd July – 9:45 - 11:45

Explore creative journaling techniques to support your personal growth and motivation

Creating a positive image using colour

 18^th June / 2^nd July – 10:00 - 12:00

This course will enable you to recognise colours that suit you and express your personality in a positive way

Details:                  

These flexible courses run by Dudley's Adult Community Learning team  allow you to enrol in all available sessions or select the ones that best suit your interests

Venue: Brierley Hill Neighbourhood Learning Centre Hill St, Brierley Hill DY5 2UE

Contact: 01384 818143 or email: acl@dudley.gov.uk for details

Local Offer

Dudley’s Local Offer has recently been updated and has a new home on the Dudley Council’s website.

It has been redeveloped to make it easier for parent carers, children, and young people (aged 0-25) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to access information and support services in the borough.

The Local offer has been developed in partnership with the council partners across the local area, parent carers and young people.

For advice on health, education, social care and community support visit the Local Offer website:

Join us for a fun filled Fun Day - Saturday 14 June

Children's Services at Dudley Group of Hospitals NHSFT are hosting a Children’s Appeal Family Fun Day, taking place on Saturday 14th June 2025 at DK Rugby Club in Kingswinford, Dudley. This is a charity event, with all funds raised going to the Dudley Group NHS Charity in aid of our Children’s Appeal. Through ticket sales, we aim to have 300 + participants on the day. The event will consist of a quiet hour for our neurodivergent children from 10-11am and then opens up for families between 11am-3pm. It is a ticketed event costing £5 per family.  

There's something for everyone:

• Handmade crafts and goods 
• Food and drinks vendors
• Old fashioned games
• Inflatables
• Sporting activities
• Tombola
• Music
• Face painting 
• DKRC bar will be open     

Please scan the QR code to register for your tickets.

Workwell

This is a new initiative set to support thousands of people across the Black Country with health conditions and disabilities.

WorkWell is a service designed to support anyone with a health condition or disability to either:

• Return/Remain in work
• Find and Access work
• Refer or signpost into various services available in your local area.

 📞 Telephone the service on 0800 952 6955

📧Email the service on bchft.workwellteam@nhs.net

Spread the word about the SEND bulletin!

If someone you know is interested in receiving this communication, please share the following link so as they can sign up to receive the latest SEND-related news and events: 

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKDUDLEYMBC/signup/31736

More information:

Visit the Local Offer website to learn more about the services available in the borough. To find out more about the SEND Improvement Programme, please visit Dudley's Health and Wellbeing Board. 

Useful contacts:

• Head of SEND – Sue Powell susan.powell@dudley.gov.uk
• Service Manager CDT – Andrew Hyde andrew.hyde@dudley.gov.uk
• SEND Manager - Samantha Edwards samantha.edwards@dudley.gov.uk
• Designated Clinical Officer for SEND - Sarah George s.george9@nhs.net