Shropshire Council would like to invite you to join the public consultation about a document that will influence how we support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Shropshire. Your opinions and feedback are really important as we work to create a system where everyone can succeed.
The SEND and AP Draft Strategy and Outcomes Framework shows our commitment to building a system that helps not just those with SEND but also those in alternative provision (AP). It builds on past strategies and includes insights from various reviews and plans.
The Outcomes Framework highlights our promise to ensure that all children and young people with SEND in Shropshire are healthy, happy, safe, and able to reach their full potential. It explains how we plan to measure our success and the effects of our efforts on children and young people over time. We encourage you to look at these draft documents and share your thoughts with us.
Your feedback and ideas will help us improve our strategies to better serve our community.
Let’s work together to make a positive impact on the lives of our children and young people. Please encourage your child or young person to review, with help if needed, the Shropshire SEND Outcomes Framework, especially the sections for children and young people. Their feedback is very important to us.
The closing date for all survey responses is the 6th December 2024
Click on the link to have your say
SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) Draft Strategy and Outcomes Framework 2024-2029 | Shropshire Council
|
At Shropshire Council, the SEN Team have been working to make improvements to the way we support our children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). One of our main priorities is to increase the number of education, health, and care (EHC) plans that are issued within the 20-week statutory timeframe and improve the annual review timeliness. EHC plans are crucial to ensure that timely support is in place to help our young people to live their best lives.
One of the challenges we are facing is that we have seen a consistent increase in the number of requests for assessment, from 271 in 2021 to 902 in 2023 and the number of requests continues to be high.
We have issued 705 new EHC Plans so far this year compared to 572 in the whole of the previous year.
We are starting to see a great improvement. In February 2024, new EHC Plans issued took an average of 33.1 weeks. In October 2024 the average time taken to issue an EHC plan was 21.9 weeks.
Find out more about the improvements being made with the SEN team and the Annual Review Recovery Programme to address any slippage in meeting the duty. More information is on the SEND Local Offer under Education health and care needs assessment and annual review timeliness update
|
Hi, I’m Annie Williams, and I am delighted to introduce myself as the EHCP Team Manager for Shropshire. I have around 30 years of experience in SEND and Inclusion, and I join a team who have considerable skills and knowledge in the area too. I have worked within Shropshire Council for 5 years and I also live in the County.
I have joined the team at a time, when there are considerable challenges. The Local Authority is undergoing a transformation, and our SEN team will be re-structured over the coming months, and the new name will be EHCP Team. It is hoped that by the Spring Term of 2025, we will have our agreed structure in place, and we can send out to our partners a formal introduction to the substantive team.
In the interim, we have made a few changes in order for us to endeavour to maintain quality service delivery and maintain our timeliness around Education Health Care Needs Assessments and the issuing of plans.
We are currently working to a model which has two Senior Case Officers supporting the North and Central areas, Keith Melville, and Claire Fellowes who is managing the South and Central areas. We also have Sue Carroll, who is our Early Years Improvement and Inclusion Advisor and Steve Teagle who is our Senior SEN Case Officer overseeing the Annual Recovery Team.
Many posts within the team, have remained unchanged and you can visit the local offer for a full list of the team and their responsibilities. You will also find a list of current SEN Case Officers together with the areas of Shropshire they cover.
It has been necessary to create an Annual Review Recovery Team. Shropshire, like many local authorities across the nation, are finding that keeping pace with the increase numbers of needs assessment requests and plans being issued, has meant that other areas of the statutory work has slipped. We acknowledge this and accept that this causing frustrations for families. In developing a team to address this area of work, the Council, is committing to overcome the backlog and bring us back to a timelier response to the reviews. It is anticipated that this could take 12 to 18 months.
The ongoing revision of services and the way we deliver our offer, may be subject to changes. However, what I can assure readers of, is that the absolute commitment to keeping our communities at the heart of what we do, remains.
|
We are the new Education Quality Advisers for SEND and AP and have been in post since the start of September. We are all teachers and senior leaders by background and have a wide range of experience and expertise in Special Educational Needs.
Our role is focused on ensuring the quality of education for children and young people with SEND is ambitious and consistently high quality across all age ranges (0-25) so that Shropshire children and young people with SEND are healthy, happy and safe, and able to achieve their potential to lead a fulfilling life.
Our role doesn’t include work with individual children although we may support with signposting. We work with schools, Early Years and Post-16 providers and Alternative Provision settings to review and develop their provision, providing support, challenge and training. We view the SEND system holistically and aim to bring together all parts of the system in a connected approach.
We’ll keep you up to date with our work in future newsletters.
Heidi White, Emma Simkins, Sarah Court
|
Most children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including those with Education, Health and Care Plans, can be supported in a mainstream school.
A number of our mainstream schools provide additional specialist facilities on their site which are called a Resourced Provision (sometimes referred to as a Hub).
Resourced Provisions cater for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans who require a more specialist environment within a mainstream school to support their access to the curriculum and activities offered by the school.
The Hubs are relatively small and need to make sure the mix of students is considered so the children will be able to thrive as a group and achieve the best possible outcomes.
All admissions are considered by Shropshire Council in accordance with the SEN and Disability Code of Practice and with consultation with the school before a decision on a placement is made. Admissions are managed in partnership through consultation between the EHCP team, school and Shropshire School Admissions.
Shropshire has recently opened 3 new sites from September 2024 at Bowbrook, Ellesmere and Whitchurch Primary schools.
We now currently have Resourced Provision at the following schools;
We are looking to open more Resourced Provision during this academic year. We are currently undertaking a review to ensure they are opened in areas where we have found there to be the greatest need and where schools have the space and capacity.
We will keep you informed of our progress with this work through the SEND newsletter and on our Local Offer.
|
Online guides and factsheets
Contact: the charity for families with disabled children offer a wide range of online guides packed with detailed advice for families. Whether you need help with specific benefits, education support, social care services, behaviour concerns or something else – their guides are here to help.
You can search their Resource Hub, take a look at their full publications list, or even download their guides in e-publication format for easy on-the-go support when you’re offline.
FAQs tool and Charlie the Chatbot
Even when their helpline team of advisers aren’t around, you can still access advice and information quickly and easily by using their free FAQs tool.
Their online chatbot can also help you find the support you need, whenever you need it – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Private Facebook Group for parent carers
Meet other families like your for mutual support and understanding by joining the Contact private Facebook group!
With over 23,000 members and counting, this community is a private space for parents to chat, ask questions, and get advice in a safe and supportive environment.
Contact also run regular Q&A sessions in the group where parents can get 1-2-1 guidance from their helpline advisers on a range of issues
Free Helpful Guide for families
Contact offer UK parent carers a free 100-page booklet with all of the information and advice you may need to access support and enjoy life with your child – from the early years through to adulthood.
You can order your copy their Helpful Guide here
|
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 groups encourage parent 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.
Two new groups specifically for parent carers of children and young people with SEND are starting in January – one face to face and one online. To find out more or to book on, please visit the Family Information Service Directory Understanding your child with SEND
|
Life can be difficult when children have sleep issues. Shropshire’s Parenting Team aim to support families to get a better night’s sleep by using a behavioural approach to sleep, and work in partnership with families, as they know that they are the expert on their children.
These Sleep Tight 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.
Quotes from parents who have been on the course
"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!"
To find out more or to book on, visit the Family Information Service Directory.
|
BeeU provides emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people (ages 0 to 25) in Shropshire.
The service 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
Children and young people seeking mental health support can call 0808 196 4501, this freephone helpline is available 24/7. They can speak to specially-trained mental health staff and discuss their mental health care needs. Visit the website for more info BeeU :: Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
|
The Christmas period, with lots of change, social interaction, expectations and demands to negotiate, can be a very exciting but often stressful time of the year for many autistic people. With the help of parent carers, the National Autistic Society have put together a list of autism friendly tips for the festive period. There is also a brief list of useful resources that they hope may prove helpful in making this festive period as special and as stress free as possible.
There is also a great video from Purple Ella, an autistic mum with autistic children, who discusses the challenges of Christmas and some strategies to overcome these challenges. You can watch Purple Ella’s Autism and Christmas on her YouTube channel
The PDA Society also has some helpful approaches to special occasions and their information can be found here.
|
Between 23 December 2024 and 3 January 2025 eligible children and young people are invited to take part in a range of fun activities, happening at holiday clubs from across the county.
There are free places available at HAF holiday clubs for:
- Children and young people aged 4 (in reception class or equivalent) to 16, who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals
And
- Children and young people living in areas of high deprivation and/or from low-income households who are not in receipt of benefits-related free school meals. (See our information on referrals)
All bookings are being made directly with the organisations running the holiday clubs.
Find out more from the winter what’s on guide. Or search online HAF holiday clubs | Shropshire Council
The majority of providers are able to offer places to children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).
A lot of the providers also offer additional paid places that are available to everyone, so it's worth taking a look if you need childcare or activities to keep your children busy during the holidays. Find out more about the HAF programme here.
Autism West Midlands have a range of events for Shropshire families coming up! Whether it’s online webinars, coffee mornings or fun family activities, there’s something for everyone!
Don’t forget to mark your calendars and join them for these fantastic opportunities to connect, learn, and enjoy. Find out more at the Autism West Midlands events page.
 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.
Their online directory includes information on:-
They’re adding new events all the time, so keep checking back!
There’s also the Actio activity offer for those children and young people who are registered for All In Short Breaks
The Integrated Care Board (ICB) supports the health element of the SEND agenda for children and young people. We work in partnership with local authorities to contribute to the implementation of the SEND reforms. We would like to introduce our team to you and outline the areas we are working on.
The SEND team is made up of:
- Vanessa Whatley – Chief Nursing Officer and Executive Lead for SEND
- Laura Powell - Designated Nurse for Safeguarding Children and ICB Senior Responsible Officer for SEND
- Jennifer Griffin - Designated Clinical Officer for SEND (on maternity leave)
- Carrie James - Designated Clinical Officer for SEND (interim)
- Hilary McGlynn - SEND Change Programme Partner (Health)
The team provides oversight and obtains assurance of service delivery regarding SEND to achieve the following:
- Improving health outcomes in population health and care
- Tackling inequalities in outcomes, experience and access
- Enhancing productivity and value for money
- Helping the NHS to support broader social and economic development
We work closely with our commissioned health providers and local partnerships, Parent and Carer Forums and lived experience groups to support the development of service delivery.
Current priority areas:
We are working with partners:
- to understand the referral rates and waiting times, and support children and families while waiting for
- neurodevelopmental assessments
- mental health support,
- therapy services
- community paediatrics
- to improve the quality of EHCPs.
- to enhance inclusive practice - which is the good quality, inclusive teaching and resources which should be available for all children and young people with special education needs/disabilities.
You can read more about the work of the ICB and some of the current SEND initiatives on the SEND Local Offer through this article ICB SEND Health Team update
|
Being a parent can be tough sometimes. The Shropshire Parenting Team 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 confidential service.
Call 01743 250950
Monday - Thursday, 9.30am - 4.30pm or Friday - 9.30am - 3.30pm or email: parenting.team@shropshire.gov.uk
|
Open access clinics are run by Health Visitors throughout Shropshire for parent carers of babies and children aged 0-5 years. No appointment needed, just drop in.
They offer parent carers the chance to get their baby weighed but also to access information, advice and support on a range of topics, including:
- Infant feeding and breastfeeding advice
- Child development
- Emotional health and wellbeing
- Parenting and local support groups
- Behaviour
- Sleep
You can find out where they are and when they run by clicking on the Shropshire Family Information Directory.
|
Supported internships are a structured work-based learning study programme and enable young people with an Education, Health and Care plan aged 16 years plus to spend 70% of their time within an employer base, supported by a qualified Job Coach, and 30% of their time spent at college over an academic year.
Shrewsbury Colleges group are holding an on-line interest event on 10 December 24 for young people 18 years plus who are interested in a supported internship placement at the Royal Shrewsbury hospital or at Cosford, both are 5 days per week over 38 weeks. Further information can be found below.
DFN Project Search; ESS Compass Group at RAF Cosford
DFN Project Search; Shrewsbury Hospital
|
 |
Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Healthier Together is a free website developed by healthcare professionals to help parents and carers keep their children safe and healthy. The website provides clear advice and information for anyone in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin who wants a reliable source of local information and is available by visiting www.stw-healthiertogether.nhs.uk
The site aims to improve outcomes for children and their families and offers practical advice to those caring for babies, children and young people. You will find clear information on numerous health conditions (such as skin rashes, mental health, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea,) and information on long-term conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes and asthma, with details of where to go to seek help if required.
The easy-to-use self-triage tool gives health advice via a system of red, amber, and green signs which directs the user to the right place for the care of the child. If the website suggests the child does not need professional medical care, it may still suggest self-care for minor ailments (green), that can be provided at home or via their local pharmacy with over-the-counter treatments.
For children rated as amber, parents will be directed to primary care services, or NHS111 if outside normal GP practice opening hours. In cases where urgent or emergency treatment could be required (red), the website will signpost the parent or carer to a nearby Accident and Emergency Department.
Other sections of the website are particularly relevant for parent carers of children and young people with SEND. There are sections on asthma, epilepsy, learning disabilities and neurodiversity. Click to visit the Healthier Together website.
The NHS App gives you a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services. Download the NHS App on your smartphone or tablet via the Google play or App store. You can also access the same services in a web browser by logging in through the NHS website.
You must be aged 13 or over to use the NHS App. You also need to be registered with a GP surgery in England or the Isle of Man. Find out more about who can use the NHS App.
What you can do with the NHS App
You need to prove who you are to get full access to the NHS App. With full access you can:
- order repeat prescriptions and nominate a pharmacy where you would like to collect them
- book and manage appointments
- view your GP health record to see information like your allergies and medicines (if your GP has given you access to your detailed medical record, you can also see information like test results)
- book and manage COVID-19 vaccinations
- register your organ donation decision
- choose how the NHS uses your data
- view your NHS number (find out what your NHS number is)
- use NHS 111 online to answer questions and get instant advice or medical help near you
Before proving who you are, you can use the NHS App to:
- search trusted NHS information and advice on hundreds of conditions and treatments
- find NHS services near you
Other services
Depending on your GP surgery or hospital, you may be able to use the NHS App to:
- message your GP surgery or a health professional online
- contact your GP surgery using an online form and get a reply
- access health services on behalf of someone you care for
- view and manage your hospital and other healthcare appointments
- view useful links your doctor or health professional has shared with you
- view and manage care plans
We all face difficulties from time to time, but who can we rely on for support when we need a helping hand?
A Family Group Conference (FGC) is a child focused/family led meeting which aims to bring family members and significant others together to address issues that have been identified by either the family or professionals. A Family can be anyone who plays an important role in a child’s life. eg. close family, friends, neighbours, community members.
Choosing to take part in a Family Group Conference is completely voluntary and it can have lots of benefits. It ensures families are at the centre of the decision making for their child. An FGC uses the family's own skills, strengths and personal knowledge to resolve difficulties.
An FGC is arranged by an independent co-ordinator who remains neutral throughout the process. Individual work is completed with the child to make sure their voice is heard during the meeting, which might be through drawn or written work. The child is encouraged to attend the FGC when it is deemed appropriate, but the co-ordinator can also arrange an advocate for the child if they feel this is needed. Together during the FGC the family agree their own support plan.
A few examples of where Early Help FGCs can help:
- When families need additional support through a difficult time
- Support for new parents and those with children under 5
- Parental separation/divorce
- Significant illness, mental/physical disability
If you think your family would benefit from this service please telephone - 01743 250400 and ask for the Early Help Family Group Conference Service or email – EarlyHelpFGC@shropshire.gov.uk
|
|
The PINS (Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools) project is going well and we wanted to celebrate that PINS is forging and strengthening relationships between services and within schools, meaning that families can be signposted. Explorations and plans to continue to change after PINS are underway.
More Special Educational Needs Hubs are being opened and the first hub network meeting has taken place as a starting point. The network of best practice is starting to come together and is being celebrated.
Opportunities are being discussed to further enhance training and continued professional development (CPD) opportunities etc. for schools / settings as part of a comprehensive learning and support offer.
The Healthier Together Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) page had been coproduced with Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) and parent carers. The aim is to raise knowledge and awareness of FASD to enable readers to gain understanding and reporting of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
|
A survey was published as part of the local areas large scale review of the Preparation for Adulthood (PFA) processes for Shropshire’s young people with Special Educational needs and/or an Education, health, and Care plan.
The aim of the survey was to gather the views of young peoples, parent/carer and professional regarding their experiences of transition and PFA from year 9 and PFA.
The survey ended on the 31/10/24. We were pleased to have received over 200 responses. The results are due to be analysed with the findings informing the on-going work of the workstream.
|
EHCP Testing Templates Completion We are pleased to announce that the Shropshire EHCP Team has successfully completed 80 of the new EHCP testing templates as required by the Department for Education (DfE). A heartfelt thank you to all parents, carers, children, and young people (CYP), and schools that supported this process. Your participation has been invaluable.
Feedback Session with Julie Johnson An invitation will be extended to all parents and carers involved in the EHCP testing to meet with Julie Johnson and PACC. This session will provide an opportunity to discuss your views and feedback, which will be communicated directly to the DfE.
Alternative Provision Taskforce Implementation Shropshire is now in the phase of implementing an Alternative Provision Taskforce. This taskforce will examine the functionality of Alternative Provision across the county and collaborate with partner agencies to ensure that procedures are in place to support CYP and schools with appropriate resources and direction.
Quality Assurance of Alternative Provisions Significant work has been undertaken by the new Education Quality Advisors to identify strategies for quality assuring all Alternative Provisions across Shropshire. This initiative aims to support our CYP by ensuring that all external partners commissioned are meeting expectations and providing a service that aligns with Shropshire’s standards.
Embracing Inclusive Practice in Shropshire The SENDAP Change Programme has been instrumental in highlighting the importance of Inclusive Practice within our educational community. As a result, Shropshire’s Ordinarily Available Provision document has been meticulously crafted and presented to educational professionals across the county.
This document serves as a comprehensive guide, outlining the strategies and resources that are ordinarily available within educational settings to support learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The expectation is now clear: educational settings are being advised to implement the advised strategies to meet the diverse needs of their learners.
To ensure the successful adoption of these practices, ongoing support will be provided to educational settings. This support aims to equip schools and educators with the necessary tools and knowledge to create an inclusive environment where all students can thrive.
The journey towards full inclusion is continuous, and the SENDAP Change Programme remains committed to working collaboratively with partners to foster an educational landscape that is inclusive and supportive for all.
Thank you for your dedication, continued support and engagement with this important work and for your commitment to the learners of Shropshire. Together, we can make a difference and enhance the educational experiences and outcomes for all CYP in Shropshire.
|
|
