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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.
All CPD and booking links are now listed on the Shropshire Learning Gateway.
Upcoming highlights this term:
AET Good Autism Practice (GAP) - on demand
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) training - on demand
Complex Needs Training - 6th November, 11th December, 5th February and 19th March
Alternative Provision Quality Assurance Framework Training for Schools - 17th November
Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - 19th and 26th November (two part training)
 In the academic year 2024 – 25, 8 schools and 6 Private, Voluntary or Independent (PVI) nursery settings began their ELSEC journey in Shropshire. This equated to 850 children, aged 3 – 6 years.
The ELSEC offer included:
- Dedicated staff to train and coach staff in settings
- A HLTA to visit 3 x a week
- Staff training to deliver key interventions – Talk Boost, BEST, Concept Cat and narrative
- Whole school training in ‘Vocabulary’ and ‘Questions in everyday interactions’
- Parent information sessions and workshops
- A communication friendly audit of the setting
- Direct contact with a speech therapist
Incredibly, this was all FREE to the schools and nurseries in the project.
The Talk Boost assessment tool was used at the start and end if the programme with amazing results:
 This academic year has got off to a flying start with ELSEC already launched to 14 new settings across Shropshire, involving more than 1000 children. The full list of settings involved are:
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Greenacres Primary School
Highley Primary School
Market Drayton Infant School
Meole Brace CE Primary School
Morda CE Primary School
Much Wenlock Primary School
St. Peter’s CE Primary School, Wem
Sundorne Infant School
The Grange Primary School
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Daisy Chain Nursery, Mytton Oak
Farm Friends Nursery
Kids Zone Nursery, Oswestry
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- The uptake on Autism Education Trust’s (AET) Good Autism Practice (GAP) training is increasing and all the training so far has been very positively received. The schools who have participated already are now being supported by the Neurodiversity Practitioners (NDPs) through the AET’s Competency and Standard Frameworks to implement and embed the knowledge from the training within their schools. A flyer and interest form can be found on Shropshire Learning Gateway.
- The AET GAP EY training will be delivered in different locations across Shropshire over this academic year. Thanks to funding we have received, this training will be free for our early years settings for this year. The training will be advertised and can be booked on the Shropshire Learning Gateway (Update: The first set of training has now started in Shrewsbury, attended by 37 trainees, and very positive feedback has been received already!)
- We are launching the ‘Supporting the Enhancement of Neuroinclusion in Secondary Schools (SENSES)’ to support our 20 secondary schools across Shropshire. Funding has been secured for the NDPs to deliver six staff coaching / continued professional development (CPD) sessions across this academic year. Please contact kathryn.morgan@shropshire.gov.uk for more information and to express interest.
- A pilot project is being launched to support the successful transitions of our neurodivergent learners moving on to post 16 educational settings. It is hoped that this support offer will then become available to all our secondary educational schools in the next academic year. Adding to this, please keep up to date with the CPD offer on Shropshire Learning Gateway for Transitions Training, that is aimed at supporting all our learners across the age range, which will be delivered by the NDPs in the Spring term.
- Shropshire-based neurodiversity advocate, Rob Griffiths, has launched some wonderful new support, and uses his experiences to inspire others and make positive change.
- Health’s Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision (OAIP) was completed over the summer and became live on the ICB website (Health services inclusive provision - NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin).
- The Pupil Voice project has been expanded with more schools now participating. The information shared within the groups is influencing the discussions and actions within the Neurodiversity Workstream. For example, their views around sensory preferences in the classroom will be shared in the next Workstream meeting.
- Colleagues across the regional ICBs have expressed excitement around the FASD work to develop resources currently taking place and have asked for updates to be shared in their next regional meeting. Please contact helen.vincent@shropshire.gov.uk for information on the training offers that are available to staff in Shropshire Schools.
The Specialist Outreach Pilot is now available to request. Funded through the SEND and AP Change Programme, outreach is free of charge for the duration of the pilot this academic year. The overall aim of the pilot is to build capacity of schools to meet the needs of children with complex SEND needs within their mainstream setting. For this pilot year, the Specialist Outreach offer is open to pupils from Reception to Y11.
Full details and the link to the request form are available on the Inclusive Practice section of the Shropshire Learning Gateway.
As outlined at last week’s Headteacher briefings, the Primary Inclusion Development Grant is now launching. Schools, trusts, federations and networks of Infant, Junior and Primary Schools are invited to submit proposals for funding. Funding will be provided from SEND and AP Change Programme and the High Needs Block and will be provided for two years. You must include a business case in your application to cover revenue costs. You may also request additional funding from the High Needs Capital Allocation to create inclusive spaces that support students with additional needs.
Full details and the request form are available on the Inclusive Practice section of the Shropshire Learning Gateway.
The Assistive Technology Lending Library (ATLL) pilot is close to being launched. Part of the SEND and AP Change Programme, the ATLL will offer schools a chance to trial assistive technology devices and software with individual children and evaluate the impact before deciding to buy. We are in the process of stocking the ATLL with exciting devices and resources but, in the meantime, we are working closely with other companies to bring technology direct to you.
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Shropshire Council are collaborating with Scanning Pens to arrange free trials of their devices as part of the ATLL.
For further information see the ATLL section on the Shropshire Learning Gateway.
If you would like to arrange a free trial with Scanning Pens, please complete the linked form here.
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Shropshire Council have also teamed up with Widget to give schools the opportunity to sign up for an extended free trial of the Widget software to create symbolised resources.
We are planning to hold a webinar later in November where Widget educational consultants will be on hand to demonstrate the software.
Widget are also about to launch a new product that supports communication during 1:1 work. Watch this space!
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We want to raise awareness of the Shropshire Neuroinclusive Training Offer, which comprises of a comprehensive range of training from multiple professionals and teams over this academic year. We have aimed to provide an offer that responds to the requests from schools as they further embrace and promote neuroinclusive practice as well as themes that we have noted ourselves through our involvement in schools and settings across the 0-25 age range.
There are exciting opportunities for growth and skill development wherever staff / schools may be in their understanding of neurodivergence and in enhancing neuroinclusive practice, from individual to systemic training, and training for early carers teachers to senior leadership within schools.
For this year, most of the training is highly subsidised, which we hope means that more will be able to attend.
An infographic of the Neuroinclusive Training Offer can be found below:
It has been fantastic that so many schools / settings have arranged Autism Education Trust (AET) Good Autism Practice (GAP) Training since May 2025, with 24 schools / settings already trained / being trained within the next few months. We have received really positive feedback from the training and hope that more will request this training to inspire neuroinclusive practice across their schools / settings soon. The Neuroinclusive Training opportunities that you can book onto now, including AET GAP training and Neuroinclusive Leadership Training, can be found on the Shropshire Learning Gateway. Keep an eye out for upcoming training too, with Neuroinclusive Practice for Early Carers Teachers, ADHD Awareness and Transition Training dates coming soon! If you have any questions, please contact Ellen Parsons, Assistant Educational Psychologist, who is coordinating requests for information and GAP training requests ellen.parsons@shropshire.gov.uk
The Early Years AET GAP training will be delivered in Twilight sessions across different locations in Shropshire over this academic year, starting centrally in Shrewsbury. It is hoped that moving the training around Shropshire will enable more staff to attend the training. There will also be a further CPD and implementation support session for those who have attended that Early Years AET GAP training in the Summer 2 term. Upcoming training opportunities will be updated on the Shropshire Learning Gateway CPD page.
September is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month, so the Neurodiversity Practitioners in our EPS and Assistant EPs in Telford and Wrekin EPS have developed FASD Awareness training which is now ready to be delivered in schools / settings. The range of CPD that can be accessed through the Neurodiversity Practitioners can be found in their brochure, though please note that the CPD offer is constantly growing and developing in response to requests and that bespoke training can be developed too: Neurodiversity Practitioners | Shropshire Learning Gateway
The Neurodiversity Practitioners have produced this flyer with details of this term's training, themes and tips. Click here to download a copy.
We are thrilled that so many staff in schools and settings have already reached out to access and have enthusiastically embraced learning and growth opportunities to enhance their neuroinclusive practice to support not only their neurodiverse learners but all learners whom they teach and support, and we look forwards to continuing this journey together.
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