SEND and inclusion newsletter for practitioners and professionals - Issue 5, May 2025

Welcome to the fifth edition of the new Shropshire SEND and Inclusion Newsletter. This newsletter is aimed at practitioners and professionals who work with children and young people with SEND in Shropshire. Through this newsletter we hope to keep you informed about developments and opportunities in SEND, act as a point of reference for key information, share best practice and develop supportive professional networks.

This newsletter will now be sent directly to the inbox of anyone who has subscribed, at the end of each half term. To ensure you don't miss out, please subscribe by clicking on the 'Sign up to this newsletter' link at the end of this page and update your preferences in the Schools section to include the SEND and Inclusion Newsletter. In addition, a PDF version will be uploaded to the Shropshire Learning Gateway. 

In this issue

• CPD Opportunities
• GSP Applications
• Update from the ND Workstream
• PACC's Healthy Lives Programme
• Updates from Health

CPD Opportunities

All CPD and booking links are now listed on the Shropshire Learning Gateway, please click HERE.

Upcoming highlights this term:

5th June: Early Years SEND Solution Circle

12th June: AET Transitions in School - see the flyer HERE

1st July: Early Years SEND Solution Circle

11th July: Shropshire Inclusive Practice Conference - tickets are selling fast - please ensure you book by the closing date of Friday 13th June - for more details, click HERE. 

GSP Applications

The in-person GSP Panels are now up and running and we are seeing an increase in applications. Please remember the following key points when making a GSP application:

• GSP funding is now granted for 12 months as standard
• GSP and EHCNA applications should not be submitted at the same time - if an EHCNA request is in process, the GSP request will be deferred until the EHCNA process has been completed. 
• Please use the new GSP paperwork which is available to download on the Local Offer. 
• Please ensure you have a 'wet' signature on the application form from parent carers. A typed/electronic signature will not be accepted and any applications without a valid signature will be deleted from the SEND Portal and not processed. 
• Requests for funding to cover the costs Alternative Provision will not automatically be granted. Secondary schools will be expected to evidence how they have first utilised their AP Development Fund; primary schools will need to evidence how other avenues of support have already been tried. In all cases, the use of unregistered AP is expected to be a short term measure.  
• A parent carer guide to GSP is being drafted and will be available on the Local Offer soon. 

Update from the ND Workstream

Please click HERE to view the latest update from the ND Workstream 

PACC's Healthy Lives Programme

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.

Registration is now open for Summer activities

Please click HERE to download the flyer and share with any families who may benefit from registering for the programme. 

Updates from Health

Resources to support children and families while they wait for a health appointment or assessment

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. Healthier Together

SEND Position Statements

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

1. 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.
2. 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

Dynamic Support Register and Key Worker Animated Videos

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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Contact info:

• Email: EQA@shropshire.gov.uk 
• Sign up to this newsletter