Autism Central for Parents and Carers have launched a new series of six webinars on looking after yourself as a parent or carer of an autistic person.
Learn about the impact of self-critical thinking, and what we can do to be more compassionate with ourselves.
There are 6 episodes, covering:-
- Am I doing this all wrong?
- Dealing with other people
- Looking after yourself
- Not what I signed up for
- Why do I feel so drained?
- I can’t relax
Click here to access these Wellbeing resources for parents and carers.
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We are really pleased to update you on how the BeeU emotional wellbeing and mental health service will be supporting children, young people and their families for the year ahead (2024/25).
The BeeU service commissioned by NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and delivered by Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) provides:
- Emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people (0-25)
- Neurodevelopmental assessments for children – autism for 5-18 year olds, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) for 6-18 year olds
- Community Eating Disorder Services for 0-18 year olds
They have also previously commissioned the Beam service who delivered the emotional health and wellbeing drop ins.
From April 2024 MPFT will enhance the BeeU service offer, with additional investment from NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. MPFT will bolster its capacity by growing the BeeU team, with more registered mental health professionals able to respond to the increased demand; and developing the prevention offer available in schools and communities.
You can read more about the changes here.
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Families in Shropshire are being asked to share their views by taking part in a survey on Short Breaks services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Short breaks (previously known as respite) enable children to have fun and take part in activities and social opportunities whilst giving parents carers some time away from their caring responsibilities. Short breaks can include activities such as sports, arts, music, trips, clubs, and overnight stays. It also provides children and young people with activities that will help prepare them for adulthood.
The survey has been designed in partnership with Parent and Carer Council Shropshire (PACC) to collect the views and experiences of families of children and young people with disabilities and find out how they may benefit (or have benefitted in the past) from short breaks provision, what works well, what could be improved, and what SEND families would like to see in the future.
To find out more and to have you say click here.
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Moving up and changing school is a big change for children and parents or caregivers. It’s a new stage of growing independence and separation. Fears and worries are normal as well as excitement, as with each stage of childhood development.
A new short specialist course is for parents, relatives or friends of children who have additional needs has been developed to help. Your child may be dyspraxic, dyslexic, very anxious, autistic, really dislike change, have ADHD, a learning disability, a physical disability or any other additional need.
The new course is designed to support both you and them as they transition into secondary school. Building on the principles of nurturing emotional wellbeing shaped by the Solihull Approach, the course will help you to develop your communication and support their development. Find out more about the course here.
There's also a general course on moving up to primary school and other courses you might be interested in here.
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The transport application deadline for the new academic year 2024/25 for both new application and post 16 is June 30th 2024 to guarantee transport to be in place for the start of the academic year.
An application submitted after this date will still be processed but with no guarantee it will be in place for the first day of the academic year.
To find out more please visit the Local Offer website.
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Health leaders in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin are urging parent carers to check their children are up to date with their essential childhood vaccinations, and book any that have been missed.
Essential, routine vaccinations like measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), human papillomavirus (HPV) and the whooping cough vaccine can save a child’s life.
Vanessa Whatley, Director of Nursing for NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said: “One of the best ways to protect our children is by making sure they have all their vaccinations.
“It’s important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection, but if your child has missed a vaccine, it’s not too late – contact your GP to catch up. Please don’t delay it.”
For more information about childhood vaccines visit Childhood Vaccinations - Essential information.
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Is bedtime a battle? Is your child struggling to go to sleep and stay asleep? Our Sleep Tight workshops may be for you. This free, five week course run by our Parenting Team covers sleep issues in children of all ages and will give you the support you need to get bedtime back on track.
Find details of virtual and face-to-face courses, which start in June, on the Family Information Service Directory.
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Did you know that sensory bags are available for loan during a visit to Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings?
Bags can be signed in/out at the onsite shop, and include a variety of fidget toys, and a magnifying glass. Ear defenders (adjustable to child and adult sizes) are also available to loan. They hope these bags will help any visitors who would benefit from them during a visit.
To find out more about the Flaxmill, please visit their website Home - Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings
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The Sensory Inclusion Service (SIS) produce two newsletters, one is for visual impairments and the other is for hearing impairments.
The newsletters contain lots of useful information, updates and resources for families in Shropshire.
You can read the newsletters on the SEND Local Offer.
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The Visual Impairment Resources Library is for the use of parent carers of children and young people with a visual impairment.
The catalogue shows you the resources and items that are available to loan for a period of three weeks. Items are to be collected and returned to the Sensory Inclusion Service.
To find out more and to view the catalogue, visit the SEND Local Offer.
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The Children’s Development Centre (CDC) have recruited a Band 4 Specialist Nursery Nurse for the 0-5 pathway and the CDC will hopefully be fully staffed by June 2024. Liz Vaughan, Kerrie White and Amy Dunphy have been appointed to new Band 5 roles.
There is a new Elevate Group for young people across Children and Adults, 14-24 years.
Autism Acceptance Week has included events across children’s and adult’s hubs.
As part of the Autism in Schools project, the Teens Autism Confident sessions have been going well and there has been excellent feedback from learners, schools and staff. The final series will start next Monday with the Marches Academy Trust.
A couple of parents have raised £5000 for the Shropshire Autism West Midlands service through an online auction.
Autism West Midlands collaborated with PACC on the recent Neurodiversity conference for Parent Carers.
Autism West Midlands are awaiting venue confirmation to offer the first ever series of face-to-face Rising To The Challenge in Shropshire.
Within BeeU, additional resources have been identified and put into contract to grow and expand the Neurodiversity Pathway [5-17-year-olds]. Also, new ADHD/Autism assessment referral forms for professionals have been developed which aim to enhance the information available to BeeU at the point of referral to plan for appropriate steps forwards.
The Neurodiversity Practitioners have received positive feedback from the schools they are already working in. The second wave offering this support to schools has been made to an enthusiastic response from those approached.
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Wow the Summer term is finally here and we are all looking forward to some brighter weather.
We have lots of training coming up both in person and online so please have a look through the list and get booked on, if you can’t get a place, it is always worth emailing us to see if we can squeeze you in. The webinars are a great option as you can watch live or use the recording which is available afterwards for a short time.
We continue to provide online advice appointments, and remember, no diagnosis is needed to access this service to Shropshire residents. Face-to-face appointments can be arranged, email the team and they will let you know availability.
Here is an overview of our upcoming events:
Teen Events – Actio All In (ages 11-17 years)
30th May Nerdy Café Shrewsbury – time to be confirmed 22nd July Belle Vue Youth Club – pizza making & Leo’s Loco Circus workshop 1st August – Out and About, venue TBA 5th August Belle Vue Youth Club - Activities TBA 15th August – Out and About, venue TBA 22nd August Belle Vue Youth Club - sandwich making and picnic
Teens Online
6th June from 6-7pm
Family Events
31st May – Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre 10.30-12.30 29th July – Alderford Lake 10.30-12.30 8th August – British Ironworks 10.30-12.30 12th August – Medieval Madness Soft Play – (To be confirmed) 29th August – Ford Hall Farm 11-1
Face to Face Parent Meetings
20th May – Autism and the Teenage Brain 9.30 – 11.30 Sunflower House
June - Jul (6 weeks, dates to be announced soon) – Rising to the Challenge - Early Years, Shrewsbury Sunflower House
28th June – Coffee and Chat Oswestry 10.30
Book sessions at the below link:
https://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/
n.b. some may not be bookable yet but will be very soon
WEEKLY Teams Advice slots
For those who would like some online advice we are offering this virtually via video appointments. Teams also works well on mobile phones. To book a 45 min advice appointment with a specialist autism advisor please book via our shop.
If the dates/timings of our online advice appointments are not convenient for you, please contact us to make alternative arrangements.
Virtual Support Group for Parents
Wednesday Mornings 10am - 11am & Wednesday Evenings 7.30pm – 8.30pm – 1st and 3rd Weds of each month (term time)
Our online support groups meet twice a month via Teams. This is an opportunity to talk with other parents, share ideas, and offer support. We recommend that you have attended an online advice appointment with a member of the team before joining group sessions (link above).
If you would like to join either of the support groups, please email the team here shropshire@autismwestmidlands.org.uk
Advice and support
We also offer advice and support over the phone and via email. Parents/carers and professionals can contact the team directly to arrange an appointment including face-to-face if preferable.
Shropshire office - 01952 454156
Weds, Thu, Fri - Emma Hegenbarth 07881109480
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu - Dawn Lewis 07706309382
Mon, Tue, Thu - Nicola King 07706337511
Mon, Thu, Fri - Kerry McLafferty 07900784186
Email shropshire@autismwestmidlands.org.uk
Please remember - No formal diagnosis is needed to access the AWM Shropshire service and there is no formal referral route – parents/carers can self-refer by booking an advice appointment or contacting us directly on our Shropshire email address. You can also use our helpline.
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Most people with Tourette Syndrome (TS) are diagnosed as children or teenagers. Children generally start to tic between ages five and seven, but they can start as young as three years old.
There is a lot of information about TS available, but Tourettes Action knows that because it is a complicated condition a lot of the material can be quite difficult to understand, so they have gathered information specifically for young people.
A Tourettes Action group has recently set up in Telford, it is affiliated to the Telford Parent Carer Forum - Parents Opening Doors (PODS). The Telford Tourettes Action group welcomes families that have a child or young person which may be affected by Tourettes (or tics). They welcome families to attend to find out more about this condition and to receive support and share experiences. Their group leader is trained and supported by the national 'Tourettes Action' organisation.
Hopefully, if the groups are popular more will be added, opening them up for Shropshire families. In the meantime, please feel free to join the private Facebook group Tourettes Telford Support Group.
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The NHS National Booking System is now open for spring Covid-19 vaccination bookings,
Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust (ShropCom) are urging people at increased risk from severe illness, including those with a weakened immune system.
The NHS is offering the COVID-19 Vaccine again this spring to those that are most at risk of getting seriously unwell if they catch the virus. COVID-19 can cause hospitalisations and severe illness particularly among older people and those with weakened immune systems.
Eligibility for a spring vaccination is similar to previous years but those with a weakened immune system are now eligible from 6 months instead of 5 years.
Anyone eligible who has not received any previous doses are also being encouraged to get vaccinated during this year’s spring offer, to help protect against serious illness.
There are appointments available across the county including at pharmacies, GP practices and walk in options subject to availability. With those eligible across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin being invited to visit the online booking website to find out more here.
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 Shropshire has gained well-deserved national recognition for its work within the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) arena at the first ever NHS England SEND Best Practice Conference held last month, on Tuesday 12 March.
The national conference brought SEND leaders, children and young people, and parent carers together to celebrate teamwork and partnership working in SEND. The day honoured individuals and systems who contribute to inclusive cultures and positive outcomes for people with SEND.
Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (STW) was highly acknowledged as the runner-up in the category of ‘Health and Education Partnership’ for work carried out through the STW Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) workstream, including the delivery of the Talk Boost intervention programme across Early Years, KS1 and KS2 and the promotion of SLCN as being everyone's business.
Partners were able to celebrate this fantastic achievement in person with colleagues from Shropshire Council, Shropshire Schools, NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust and the Parent and Carer Council (PACC) at the county’s Inclusion Day event in March at the Barnabas Centre, Shrewsbury.
We have explained in previous newsletters that the current contract was coming to an end on 31st August 2024.
Citizens Advice Shropshire currently provide the Shropshire SEND Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) on behalf of Shropshire Council and NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.
This is a free, confidential and impartial service for children and young people that are aged between 0 – 25 years and their parent carers, living in Shropshire.
The service provides information in relation to education, health or social care matters on behalf of children and young people with SEND.
The current position is:
- We published an invitation to tender for the new contract on 9th April.
- The closing date for applications is 9th May
- We will evaluate the applications and are aiming to award the contract by 21st June
We continue to work closely with the current provider, Citizens Advice Shropshire, during this time. We will keep you updated on this in future newsletters and through the Local Offer.
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I am thrilled to introduce myself as the Senior Lead for the SEND and Alternative Provision Change Programme for Shropshire. Since January 2024, I have been dedicated to fostering positive change and enhancing educational experiences for our children.
My Journey So Far
My professional journey has been rich and diverse. I have served as a SENDCO (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator) within mainstream educational settings, a Senior Leader overseeing SEND, Alternative Provision, and Safeguarding across a trust’s schools, and most recently, as the Headteacher of a secondary school right here in Shropshire.
The SEND and AP Change Programme
Together with our neighbouring areas—Telford and Wrekin, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire—we form a collaborative cluster. Our programme is committed to addressing key reform areas, ensuring that every child receives the support they need to thrive. Shropshire has focussed on the following areas since January 2024:
- Local Area Inclusion Plans (LAIP): Our Local Area Inclusion Plan is currently in development and will be finalised by May 2024. This plan aims to identify needs, provide early intervention, and address areas for development for SEND.
- EHCP Standardisation: We are embarking on a trial of new EHCP templates, involving 80 families. Their feedback will be invaluable as we refine and improve our plans. We appreciate both positive and constructive input, which will be shared with the Department for Education and REACh.
- Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC): We have been enhancing the use of Talk Boost and providing additional universal support to selected mainstream primary schools and early years settings.
- Advisory Tailored Lists: We will be reviewing and updating information related to schools and settings included in the Local Offer. As part of this focus, we will be ensuring that that families have their voice heard and have opportunities to feedback.
Your Voice Matters
Over the next 17 months, I will be collaborating closely with PACC (Parent and Carer Council) to ensure true co-production. We value your insights and perspectives. With co production and close partnership working. Together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all our children.
PACC Conference
This week I attended the PACC Conference, where I provide an update on our change programme. This conference also presented an excellent opportunity for me to connect with many of you and engage in meaningful conversations.
Stay tuned for more updates. Thank you for being an essential part of our journey toward positive change.
Julie Johnson Senior Lead, SEND and Alternative Provision Change Programme Shropshire
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During March and April 2024, Early Help once again hosted a cluster of SEND drop-ins across the county. Six SEND sessions ran in a range of settings including at our Oswestry and Shrewsbury Early Help Family hubs, a Community Information drop-in at Highley Library and at St Peter’s Primary school in Wem. These were attended by sixteen parent carers who were able to speak with a range of professionals including members of the SEN team, the Designated and Associate Clinical Officers for SEND, a BeeU Assistant Psychologist, Neurodiversity practitioners, members of our Early Help team and representatives from PACC. Autism West Midlands, SEND IASS, the FIS and SEND Local Offer were in attendance at some of the sessions.
The theme of the Spring sessions was Neurodiversity. Twelve of the parent carers who attended spoke with the BeeU Assistant Psychologist. With chats with SEN team representatives also popular. 31% of parent carers were signposted to make further contact with PACC to find more information out about their Buddies group, Healthy Lives programme and just what further community support they offer. These Spring sessions saw an increased number of families who were already being supported by Targeted Early Help attending showing an increased awareness and understanding of SEND by our Targeted Early Help team.
Feedback from parent carers has been limited but those who have respond have rated the sessions 5 out 5 for being informative and all said they would recommend attending the Meet and Chat SEND drop-in sessions to others. The BeeU Assistant Psychologist said that it has enabled them to speak to a good number of parent carers and professionals who liaised with them have gained a better understanding of BeeU pathways. The SEN team continue to enjoy attending the sessions, enabling them to meet face-to-face with parent carers and in some cases children and young people.
As we move to business as normal with our Early Help service, we plan to continue to hold these Meet and Chat SEND drop-in sessions regularly across the county.
The SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) Partnership Board is a regular meeting of those who are responsible for delivering SEND services in Shropshire and those who use these services. It is an equal partnership of representatives from education, health and care providers, Shropshire Council, the NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and representatives of parent carers and children and young people with SEND.
In this newsletter we wanted to find out more on Board member David Shaw and his role in developing and improving SEND services for children, young people and their families in Shropshire.
I am delighted to introduce myself as the Assistant Director of Education and Achievement at Shropshire Council where I lead the early years, education and Post 16 teams. This includes our work to support children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities through direct work and partnerships with education providers, health and social care professionals, PACC and other key partners.
I joined Shropshire Council in March 2022 having worked in a similar role in another Local Authority in the North West. Prior to this I have enjoyed a range of experience in senior leadership roles, including pastoral, curriculum and teaching and learning positions as a senior leader in secondary schools, progressing into Headship and then into an Education Advisor role with a Multi-Academy Trust in the West Midlands.
I have also held voluntary roles as a parent governor, Trustee and Chair of a Primary Multi-Academy Trust in the North West. All of these roles have been focussed on improving outcomes for children and young people, including those with the greatest vulnerabilities and challenges in their lives.
My wife and I enjoy family days together with our two children. We can often be found enjoying a walk somewhere, whilst our children ride their bikes and see how long it takes for us to catch them up! I also enjoy music and the arts, both as a former musician and an avid listener. I will also occasionally enjoy getting out for a round of golf or a tennis match, but most often just about manage to get to the gym.
As a parent I work hard to ensure that my children have access to a range of opportunities and the confidence and skills to access them. I want the same thing for children and young people in Shropshire, regardless of where they live and their family circumstances.
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