Many schools have remained open for children of key workers and children who may be more vulnerable. Guidance was updated to extend this to reception, year 1 and year 6 in primary schools, and year 10 in secondary. For information on who can go to school, click to find out more. 

In May 2020, temporary legislation came into effect regarding SEND duties. This included changes to the EHCP timescales and to ensure reasonable endeavours are made to secure or arrange provision. For Shropshire's full response to these changes please visit the Local Offer

There is an expectation that annual reviews will continue to take place when due. There have been many positive reports of annual reviews that have been undertaken over recent weeks using a range of ‘on-line’ platforms and conference calls. 

For children at SEN support we would expect schools to work alongside parents/carers and use reasonable endeavours to deliver an education provision that is supportive and appropriate to the individual circumstances.  Settings continue to receive Graduated Support Pathway ‘top-up’ funding for all identified children.  All GSP allocations which were due for review during the ‘lockdown’ period have been continued until further notice; none will be ceased.  However, we have requested that schools don’t submit new GSP requests at present.  We will review this shortly so that we can support settings to plan for transitions and the new academic year.

Although we are less visible physically in our communities, Adult Social Care and the Preparing for Adulthood (PFA) are still here, working as creatively as we can to support Shropshire’s young adult with SEND.

The Preparing for Adulthood team are still receiving referrals for young people, and although in most instances, we are not seeing people face-to-face, we are using a range of ways to contact young people and families to begin conversations about the transition into adult life.

For those families who are already supported by the preparing for adulthood team, they will be receiving regular contact from the PFA team. We are working with young people and their families to develop creative uses of direct payments, exploring ways of accessing direct support where this is essential, and continuing to support young people to plan for their futures, including ongoing work towards supported living and independence focused day support.

Please do not hesitate to contact your PFA worker, or make a referral to the team if you think there is support we can offer.

Please refer via Shropshire’s First Point of Contact on 0345 678 9044.

Plans are being put in place to ensure that SEN transport can be delivered safely, in line with Government guidance and further information will be shared in the near future.  If your child requires school transport to return to school please make sure your school is aware of this.

Other forms of assistance may be available for parents in the form of expenses. Please contact the specialist travel team if you have any further queries by emailing special.transport.team@shropshire.gov.uk

We aren’t able to see people face to face at this time because of the Government instructions for social distancing and many of our staff are being redeployed within the wider NHS to support the national response to the virus.  This means that we are not able to provide our full range of interventions. To read the full statement and find out what services are being provided please visit the Local Offer 

Since April 2020, Beam have been offering a call-back telephone service for children and young people who want support for their emotional health and well-being.

The telephone support replaces the Beam drop in sessions and is available for those aged 0-25 years who need some advice, a listening ear or just want to get some more information on how to feel better about themselves. You can find out more about how to access the Beam call back service on the Local Offer, along with guides Beam have produced on managing anxiety. 

Shropshire Information, Advice and Support Service (IASS), provides free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support around Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, including health and social care. Support is offered from initial concerns about a possible SEN and disability, through to complex information and advice.

IASS continues to be available 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. If you would like further independent information, advice and support, email us on iass@cabshropshire.org.uk Alternatively, a message can be left on 01743 280019. Visit the Local Offer to find out more about IASS

Since mid-March we have all been experiencing strange and turbulent times. Everything has been suspended from school closures to working from home or furlough for many of us, and there has been plenty of information coming out trying to help us make sense of this strange new world. Zara and Sarah from PACC have written a brilliant article on recognising the challenges of lockdown 

She is missing the routine of school and being with other children. When I try to get her to do schoolwork she gets very agitated. She has become disinterested and aggressive at times.  I feel she is disappearing into her imaginary world. She has become very vocally loud, which is difficult for her sister who has ME. We do a video call with her friend which is helpful.

I rang her SENCo who is arranging a Teams meeting with herself, my daughter and her key worker after half term. I asked could my daughter’s key worker ring and she will ring once a week now. When they spoke this week, she was very happy to hear from her. Though my daughter is reluctant to do schoolwork most times she does enjoy it once she is into it.  I have used Twinkl resources quite a lot, which she enjoys. 

We have to firmly encourage her to do a daily walk, she will tell anyone that she hates walking but when she’s out, with her music on she enjoys it. She has enjoyed baking and found mindful colouring relaxing. We are trying to spend as much time outside as possible, having her music whilst on her swing, singing at the top of her voice. She has enjoyed board games, it’s a good way to get her interacting with the family. Having her older sister back home has been helpful and takes the pressure off but I don’t like to put on her too much.