Welcome to the latest edition of Shropshire's SEND newsletter, co-produced by Shropshire Council's SEND Local Offer, Shropshire 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
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Are you a parent carer of a child with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)?
Then please join us on Thursday 19 June 2025, between 2 and 4pm at Raven House, Market Drayton, for an informal drop-in session where they can ask questions, get advice, and explore the support available to them within Shropshire. Speak to a range of professionals who can help with:
- Education, health, and Care Plans (EHCPs)
- School support and advocacy
- Health and Wellbeing for children with SEND
- Social care and family support
- Mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Advice for navigating SEND challenges
Each session will have different professionals available, so come along, have a chat, and find the help you need!
Visit our Family Information Directory to find a full list of SEND Meet and Chat sessions.
The Healthy Lives Programme is about supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of children and young people from the Shropshire SEND community, especially those from the Learning Disability and /or Autism communities.
It is about making community-based activities accessible to this group, bringing together activity providers into one co-ordinated programme that offers meaningful opportunities to learn new skills, build confidence, make friends and get active.
Importantly it provides these opportunities during the school and college holidays, a time families tell us can be difficult, when young people miss their friends and routines, and Parent Carers sometimes struggle to balance the demands placed on them.
The programme is not childcare, does not provide 1:1 support and a PA or Parent Carer will need to support children/ young people at activities. The Healthy Lives team ask for a contribution of £5 per child/ young person per activity attended.
To register your interest please complete this form PACC Healthy Lives Programme 2025- Registration form
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Shropshire SEND Information, Advice and Support Services (SENDIASS) are here to empower parent carers with the information, advice, and support you need.
Shropshire SENDIASS provides free, impartial, and confidential support to parents and carers of children aged 0 to 25, as well as young people aged 16 to 25, who have or may have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).
When you contact them, they’ll discuss the best way to support you. You don’t need a formal diagnosis to access their services—if you live in Shropshire, they’re here to help.
They will
- Listen to your concerns, provide relevant information, and help you explore your options.
- Support you to prepare for upcoming meetings, including annual reviews.
- Explain reports written by professionals.
- Provide information about SEND law to help you make informed decisions about your child’s education.
- Support you in building positive relationships and improving communication with schools and the local authority.
- Signpost you to other relevant organisations or sources of information.
- Help you prepare for tribunals and mediation processes, ensuring you feel confident and informed.
Find out more by visiting their website or downloading their flyer.
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Free Sleep Tight Groups Join us on one of our virtual or face-to-face groups which run for 5 weeks and:
- Find out why sleep is important for our health and emotional wellbeing
- Get support to help improve sleep and bedtime routines
- Meet other parents/carers to share and discuss experiences
Our next groups start:
Sleep Tight SEND Monday 9th June 2025 from 12.45pm to 2.45pm Virtually Via MS Teams or
Sleep Tight Monday 16th June 2025 from 9.15am to 11.15am Virtually via MS Teams
SEND groups are for parents/carers of children who might have special educational needs and disabilities, no formal diagnosis is needed to attend the groups. To book a place email Parenting.team@shropshire.gov.uk or call 01743 25095
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There’s another school holiday just round the corner, and so our Family Information Service (FIS) has been working hard to find out what’s on this half term.
Their directory is filled with a fantastic line-up of events and experiences that will make this week truly memorable for families
You can find information about things to do or if families need registered childcare the FIS has that covered to.
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The Parenting Help and Support Line are here for parents with a friendly listening ear and practical advice on everything from behaviours that challenge to sleep issues. No judgment, just support.
Call 01743 250950
Monday - Thursday, 9.30am - 4.30pm
Friday, 9.30am - 3.30pm
Email: parenting.team@shropshire.gov.uk
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It’s fair to say that all parents from time to time need some help and support with issues that impact on family life. There is help and support available in Shropshire through our Early Help coffee and chat drop ins – some of which are also stay and play sessions.
You can get free Information, advice and support on all aspects of family life, at our Family Drop-Ins. You can chat, have a cuppa and see how we can help you with:
- Family life
- Parenting support
- Domestic abuse support
- Money worries
- Housing support
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
- and much more
To find your local drop in please visit the Shropshire Family Information Service Directory
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Shropshire Parent Carer Council (PACC) latest Mad, Sad, Glad report reflects on the feedback Parent Carers across Shropshire have provided.
This year's report is unsurprisingly hard to read. Many families are experiencing difficulties, and these are often not single isolated issues, but a complex collection of concerns and needs that are increasing the frustrations felt by families.
You can read the report from the link below, which will give you an insight into how many SEND families are feeling. Click to read the report Mad, Sad, Glad Report 2025.
Remember that you are not alone, there is support available. The SEND Local Offer list some of the local parent carer run support groups
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Access to Healios digital service to undertake Autism Assessment online for those waiting.
Healios is a fully digital service that will undertake your Autism Assessment online. All the clinicians have the qualifications, skills and experience that we would expect from a member of our team and the assessment has the same elements as the assessment that would be completed by BEEU ND Service.
If you have an assessment and diagnosis with Healios it will be recognised as an NHS assessment.
Healios will offer you an appointment within 8 weeks of them receiving your referral and the assessment process will be complete within a further 8 weeks. If you remain on the waiting list with BeeU your waiting time is likely to be up to 24 months
So, what does this mean for you?
This means that your assessment will be completed via your computer/tablet by a specialised clinician.
Healios uses a secure software that can be accessed via your browser and will use your webcam and microphone, similar to Zoom, MS Teams or FaceTime. You will be able to see and hear your clinician and you will also be able to use some of the interactive features during the session.
Following your assessment with Healios, you will receive a report with the outcome of your assessment, which will include recommendations and further signposting to resources and support in your local area. Your report from Healios will be shared with BEEU and your GP.
You will also be able to share a copy of your report with whomever you feel appropriate.
To access a Healios assessment you would need to confirm that you have access to the internet (WiFi) and have a suitable device (laptop/ipad) for your sessions. You will not be able to use a smartphone for your sessions.”
For further information please contact BEEU. The administrators will be able to direct the call to the appropriate Team/ staff.
The BEEU number is 0300 124 0093
The caller would then need select option 2 when prompted.
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Shropshire Early Help are looking for young people who are interested in taking part in the recruitment of those people who provide support to children, young people and families. You will: - design interview questions, - sit on our interview panels, or - meet candidates in a more informal setting and give feedback about them. Every family at some point in their lives needs a little bit of extra help and support. Being involved in this recruitment process means you can have a real say and a real impact on the people that will support you and your loved ones, and the way these services are delivered.
Training will take place at the Guildhall, Shrewsbury on Tuesday 27 May 2025, 1.45pm - 4.30pm.
If you are interested in taking part, please contact Becky.Wells@shropshire.gov.uk or tel: 07811 971998.
Do you know any young filmmakers aged 13-19 with a powerful story idea just waiting to be shared? Could their vision inspire others? If so, encourage them to enter Time to Inspire.
This exciting and educational competition aims to engage students and help them develop their creative skills and imaginations with the aim of designing a hand-drawn storyboard based on what inspires them - something unique to each young person.
The aim is simple: submit a storyboard for a short film (live action - no animations please - and with a max length of 2 minutes 30 seconds) and Into Film will support one winning entry to bring their inspirational storyboard to life as a completed film.
Entries can be created by groups of up to 6 people, or by individuals. (Note: individuals will need to recruit friends to assist with the filmmaking process should their entry be chosen as the winner).
Entrants have until Monday 28 July 2025 (for postal entries) or midday on Wednesday 30 July (for email entries) to submit their storyboards.
News & Views - Time to Inspire: Enter our Storyboard Competition - News - Into Film
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NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board (ICB) currently holds a contract with the Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) for the delivery of local Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), known as BeeU.
A comprehensive piece of work is underway to redesign and recommission a CAMHS service that will replace BeeU. The process will be conducted through a competitive procurement exercise in accordance with Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (PSR). The service launch, initially set for 1 October 2025, has been delayed due to the need for additional review, and due diligence.
The BeeU contract with MPFT will be extended until 31 March 2026 to ensure service continuity, with the newly commissioned CAMHS service commencing on 1 April 2026. In parallel, efforts continue to improve in-year service delivery, particularly around access and waiting times.
In light of this revision a revised timeline of next steps has been developed. Following the engagement period, which closed on 7 March, a comprehensive engagement report has been developed. The insight from the engagement will be considered and will help shape the final service specification. The full engagement report will be published on NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin’s website here.
Following the approval of the final service specification, the procurement process is expected to begin in late summer, with the contract expected to be awarded towards the end of 2025. The new CAMHS service is scheduled to go live 1 April 2026.
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin remains committed to delivering a high-quality, sustainable CAMHS service that meets the needs of children and young people. Stakeholders will be kept informed as we progress towards the new service implementation, ensuring a safe and effective transition for service users and providers alike.
If you have any questions or require further information, please contact stw.communications@nhs.net
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This resource is a Makaton signing video about water safety. Learning to stay safe around water is an important lesson for everyone, which is why this video has been made.
The video, and accompanying Makaton and Widget symbol resources, help children and young people to learn the water safety code. You can access the video here.
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It’s important that any Education, Health and Care plan has clear outcomes for a child or young person, with an ‘outcome’ being defined as ‘the benefit or difference made as a result of an intervention’.
Section E of an EHCP focuses on outcomes and are there to secure the best possible results for a child or young person. The outcomes section is heavily influenced by Section A (aspirations), Section B (individual needs) and Section F (provision). Tying all sections together, Section E offers a guide to see if the child has made the intended progress and met the outcomes planned.
Shropshire’s Parent Carer Council (PACC) have written a useful article on Understanding EHCP Outcomes
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A new page has recently been added to the Healthier Together website which provides signposting information for families whose children are waiting for a health assessment or appointment. The page provides information and links to support services relevant to children’s
- development or wellbeing
- communication
- physical and sensory needs
- emotional health and wellbeing
- neurodivergent needs
- behaviours of concern
- preparing for adulthood
- SEND support groups for parents and carers
Support available while waiting for your appointment
This new page joins other recent additions including:
The support offer for Speech Language and Communication Needs - Support for Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
The Neurodiversity pages which contain articles about common neurodivergent conditions and the neurodiversity support offer -.Support for neurodivergent children and their families
The Healthier Together website provides consistent, accurate and trustworthy healthcare advice for parents, carers, young people and professionals. All the information on the site is checked by clinicians, and local organisations and involves parent carers in its content development.
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The SEND team at the ICB are collecting and developing a series of position statements to help inform and clarify topics where queries frequently arise.
The first two position statements have been uploaded to the SEND page on the ICB website Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) - NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin
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The Learning Disability Assessment Pathway (0-18) position statement outlines the difference between a learning disability and learning difficulties and explains how children are identified as having a learning disability.
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The Position Statement on Sensory Processing Difficulties by the Children's Occupational Therapy Service outlines the team's position in relation to the use of the term Sensory Processing Difficulties and Sensory Integration Therapy and describes the services that are offered in Shropshire and Telford to support children and young people who are experiencing difficulties with managing sensory processing needs.
Please contact the ICB SEND team if there are other areas which you feel would benefit from the development of a position statement. stw.send@nhs.net
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A series of three animated videos have been produced about the Dynamic Support Register and Keyworker service.
The short, animated videos have been produced with input from children and young people who use the services to help explain what the services offer to children and young people who are diagnosed with a learning disability and or autism.
Dynamic Support Register:
The Dynamic Support Register (DSR) is an all-age intervention pathway for autistic people and those with learning disabilities.
The people on the DSR are at risk of going into specialist hospitals (children and adults) or 52-week residential placements (children) if they are unable to get the right care and treatment in the community.
Learn more about the DSR by watching this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbTdb8vUpLI
Key workers:
Key workers support autistic people and those with learning disabilities, especially when mental health challenges arise at home.
Key workers help bridge the gap between an individual’s needs and support, ensuring that every voice is heard.
Watch this video to learn how key workers can make a difference https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2woCfdQZVfQ
CETR:
Care, Education and Treatment Reviews (CETR) support autistic people and those with learning disabilities, ensuring their needs are met at home and school.
Watch this short video to learn more about CETR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfUqPTgYtYc
The videos can also be found alongside more information on the ICB website
The Dynamic Support Register (DSR) - NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin
Keyworker Service - NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin
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Shropshire’s Parent Carer Council (PACC) have produced a report on the topics and themes our Preparing for Adulthood (PAF) Navigator has identified in term 2 of year 3 of the project.
The topics that have been most frequently raised again related to EHCPs, communication, and social care. This term they saw an increase in discussions relating to Tribunals and Finances, as well as Supported Living and SEND Transport. Mental Health has continued to be a topic Parent Carers raise as a concern.
Please read the full report for more detail of their findings and reflections. PFA Navigator Report Year3 Term 2.
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