Welcome to the latest edition of Shropshire's SEND newsletter, co-produced by Shropshire Council's SEND Local Offer, PACC (Parent Carer Council) and NHS Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin. 

The newsletter aims to provide easy access to key information for SEND families.

Please do continue to provide feedback on this newsletter, we want this to work for you and we are keen to hear what you think of it, and what articles you'd like to see in future editions. You can email us your thoughts at Local.Offer@Shropshire.gov.uk

There’s another school holiday just round the corner, and we know how some families can find the holidays a challenge with the juggle of work and keeping the children entertained.

If parent carers are looking for thinks to do and places to go, then the Shropshire Family Information Service Directory is the place to visit. Click here  for fun during the school holidays.

There’s also the Actio activity offer  for those children and young people who are registered for All In Short Breaks and Autism West Midlands have a family event in Shrewsbury and fun days out for teens at Attingham Park and Cardingmill Valley,  you can find out more about and book on the Autism West Midlands events page.

Being a parent can be tough sometimes. We are here for you with a friendly listening ear and practical advice on everything from behaviours that challenge to sleep issues. No judgment, just support, through this anonymous and confidential service. 

Call 01743 250950 Monday - Thursday, 9.30am - 4.30pm or Friday, 9.30am - 3.30pm or email: parenting.team@shropshire.gov.uk

Did you know you can share your views on what you think about the SEND local offer website – which is designed to give you easy access to information to help you and your family.

You can give your feedback by completing a short survey   or if you prefer, you can email your comments to local.offer@shropshire.gov.uk

The survey results will help us understand if the information on the SEND local offer website is accessible, what you like/dislike, and if there are any gaps in the information provided that need addressing. We value your comments.

Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin children’s emotional wellbeing and mental health services are provided by BeeU, for children and young people up to the age of 25. The service is delivered by Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) and also provides neurodevelopmental assessments for children – autism (ages 5 to 18) and ADHD (ages 6 to 18).

Since 2017, MPFT has worked in partnership to deliver the BeeU service, including The Children’s Society’s Beam service (which provides emotional wellbeing support through face-to-face drop-ins in Shrewsbury and Wellington); Kooth (a website open to 11-19-year-olds offering 24/7 emotional support on an anonymous basis); and Healios (which provides online psychological therapies).

MPFT's contract to provide the BeeU service has been extended until 31 March 2025.  As part of this extended contract, MPFT will continue to deliver BeeU in partnership with Healios and Kooth. The sub-contract with The Children’s Society Beam service will come to an end. This decision was informed by engagement where the views of children and families were sought and from service user feedback.

In replacement of this sub-contracted service, MPFT will continue to support children and families via an alternative service provision. This will prioritise a reduction in both the numbers of children and young people awaiting access to appropriate assessment and support, and the length of time they are waiting. There will be a greater focus on providing accessible services to children, young people and families; this is likely to include a growth in the prevention offer within schools.

To ensure the BeeU service continues to serve the needs of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin residents and is fit for the future we remain committed to working collaboratively with all our partners, stakeholders, service users and the public.  Our goal is to shape future services collectively, making sure that children, young people, and their families are central to the design and have a key role in decision-making.

If you would like to get involved or provide any feedback on the BeeU service, please contact: stw.getinvolved@nhs.net

For more information on the BeeU service and how to access emotional wellbeing and mental services, contact the BeeU Access Team on 0300 124 0093 or visit the BeeU website

We know that parenthood can be extremely rewarding and enjoyable. It can also be demanding, frustrating and exhausting. In Shropshire the Parenting Team offer parenting workshops and groups which provide easy to implement, proven parenting solutions.

The latest dates for the Understanding your child from toddler to teen with SEND group –have been released and can be found on the Family Information Service Directory.

The groups encourage parents and carers to identify the most important issues in their relationship with their child and to reflect on why things sometimes go well and sometimes do not. It is about looking at what you are already doing well and building on that to make it even better. It is then easier for you as a parent to identify how to work together with your child.

There are groups planned to start in April and will be face to face and online.

The latest dates for the Sleep Tight workshops have been released and can be found on the Family Information Service Directory.

This 5 week workshop aims to support parents and carers to make positive changes to their child’s sleep patterns. Life can be difficult when children have sleep issues. The aim is to support families to get a better night’s sleep by using a behavioural approach to sleep and work in partnership with families, as we know that they are the expert on their children.

Workshops provide parents and carers with the opportunity to meet other families in similar situations and to gain tips on how to support a better night’s sleep for them and their child.

"Absolutely fabulous workshop. Should be offered to first time parents when their babies are old enough for the skills learned to be applied. I have a disabled daughter and naively thought that the workshop wouldn't apply to her needs, well I was wrong, I believe it applies to most children and every parent can take massive positives away from this workshop! Awesome!"

Parent carer

There are groups planned for April and June, both face to face and online.

Hints and tips - Vaccinations

Vaccinations help to protect us against serious illness and diseases, but for some children and young people they can feel a little anxious about having a vaccination. This is perfectly understandable. You can talk to your GP or Nurse to see what reasonable adjustments can be put in place to help ease any anxiety. Here are some other hints and tips you can try to help your child or young person feel more comfortable and less concerns about getting vaccinated:

1. Open Communication: Maintain open and honest communication with your child about vaccinations. Explain why vaccinations are important for their health and safety. Use simple language, visual aids, and social stories to help them to understand.
2. Prepare in Advance: Prepare your child for the vaccination appointment in advance. Talk to them about what to expect during the appointment, including where it will take place, who will be there, and what the procedure will involve. This can help reduce anxiety about the unknown.
3. Create a Visual Schedule: Create a visual schedule or timeline of the vaccination appointment to help your child understand the sequence of events. Use pictures, symbols, or written descriptions to illustrate each step of the process, from arriving at the clinic to receiving the vaccination.
4. Visit the Clinic in Advance: If possible, visit the vaccination clinic in advance to familiarise your child with the environment. If possible allow them to explore the waiting area, see where the treatment rooms are, and any medical equipment they may encounter during the appointment.
5. Use Comfort Items: Bring along comfort items from home, such as a favourite toy or blanket, to provide a sense of familiarity and security during the vaccination appointment. Having a comforting object can help soothe anxiety and provide emotional support.
6. Practice Relaxation Techniques: Teach your child relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, to help them cope with anxiety during the vaccination appointment. Practice these techniques together beforehand so they feel comfortable using them when needed.
7. Provide Reassurance: Reassure your child that you will be there to support them throughout the vaccination process. Offer words of encouragement, praise their bravery, and remind them that the procedure will be over quickly.
8. Offer Rewards: Offer incentives or rewards for your child's cooperation during the vaccination appointment. This could be a small treat, a special activity, or extra screen time as a way to acknowledge their bravery and make the experience more positive.
9. Plan for Sensory Needs: Consider your child's sensory needs and preferences when planning for the vaccination appointment. Bring headphones to block out noise, provide a weighted blanket or compression vest for comfort, and schedule the appointment during a time when your child is most alert and calm.
10. Follow Up with Support: After the vaccination appointment, follow up with your child to see how they are feeling and address any concerns or questions they may have. Provide ongoing support and reassurance as needed to help them feel comfortable and confident about future vaccinations.

Remember, every child is unique, and what works for one child may not work for another. Tailor your approach to meet your child's individual needs and preferences, and don't hesitate to seek support from healthcare providers if needed.

The SLCN workstream has met in January and February. January's meeting focused on the impact of speech, language and communication interventions and included evidence around the impact of Talk Boost interventions.

Locally the majority of mainstream primary schools and early years settings have been trained to deliver Talk Boost which is an approach to identify needs and support language and communication. However, we are aware that not all parent carers are aware if their child is being supported by the Talk Boost intervention. As a workstream we are encouraging schools and early years settings to communicate with parent carers about the ways in which they are supporting children and young people’s speech, language, and communication including through Talk Boost.

Ask your education setting if they are supporting your child through Talk Boost.

You can find out more about Talk Boost through these websites

Early Talk Boost parent hub link.

Key Stage 1 Talk Boost parent hub link.

Key Stage 2 Talk Boost parent hub link

When thinking about impact we are also keen to understand experiences of parent carers, Shropshire local area SEND partnership have just launched their 2^nd survey in relation to their Accelerated Progress Plan. Please share your recent experiences of support for SLCN, Neurodiversity and Education Health and Care Plans over the past 6 months. To complete the survey, click here.

We also want parent carers to know that Speech and Language UK have updated their Progress Tracker for speech, language and communication. Visit the local SLT service's Facebook page to find out more Shropcom Children's Speech and Language Service | Facebook 

Finally, we are pleased to share that the Speech, Language and Communication Needs Workstream has been nominated for a NHSE SEND Award. The workstream are finalists in the Health and Education Settings Partnership Award, finalists have been chosen by a panel of SEND experts so we are proud to have reached this stage. The award ceremony takes place in London on the 12^th March and we are delighted to have local parent carer representatives attending the award ceremony.  

Schools who are receiving the support have been very welcoming to our new Neurodiversity Practitioners (NDPs). For example, from the initial planning meetings, schools have been very open to systemic development to enhance understanding and support offered to their neurodivergent children.

Interviews for Band 5 Lead Specialist Nursery Nurse have taken place where excellent candidates were interviewed.

A parent of a child who has been through MDA C&I Pathway shared that she has been delighted with the process and how smoothly everything has gone and wanted to say thank you to the whole early years team.

The Children's Speech and Language Therapists, Childrens Development Centre (CDC) Specialist Nursery Nurses with some Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Paediatricians attended an overview of Autism Education Trust (AET) training presented by Judith Pilkington. This will ensure we are able to reference the training content and culture in our work with each other, parents and settings. A further event for staff not able to attend is planned.

The last pieces of information for the ‘Supporting Neurodivergent Young People 18-25’ page on Healthier Together are being collated so we can share the page with young people for their feedback ahead of the page going live.

Communities in south Shropshire are being asked to take part in a survey, to share their thoughts and experiences on what would make their community a healthier and better place to live.

The survey aims to seek the views from people of all ages – living in and around Bridgnorth, Church Stretton, Cleobury Mortimer and Craven Arms – around what makes somewhere a good place to live, what are the biggest concerns, and what can be most improved?

To find out more and to take part in the survey please visit this Shropshire Council webpage.

The closing date for comments is 21^st April 2024