I am Natasha Moody, I work for Shropshire Council but have been appointed into a role which works across the partnership to help us integrate the way we work as a multi-agency to improve the lives of children who need our help and support.  The role I have is to lead on key reforms such as Families First Partnership but what I think is exciting about this role is the way in which we get to think creatively about this alongside other reforms such as Best Start, Family Hubs, Local Youth Transformation and others to consider how families experience this as a seamless system of support and how we can work together to support all the ambitions we have for children. 

Having previously worked as an Assistant Director in another Local Authority and having been a child who needed effective help at times I have seen both the personal and professional benefits of working in this integrated way and am looking forward to learning more about Shropshire, the roles you all have and how we can co-create this together. 

Let's talk for a moment about Families First Partnership - this is a transformation seeking to bring about a single integrated approach to meeting the needs of children and their families across targeted Family Help through to child protection. These reforms are focused on rebalancing the system and meeting the needs of children and families in an earlier way across  the multi-agency partnership.

These reforms represent a change in the way we work as a multi-agency partnership with children and families being placed at the heart, meaning that their needs ought to shape the way we reform our services and support. The reforms have 4 key areas that are integral to achieve these reforms, delivering effective Family Help, Multi-Disciplinary Teams, Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams and Engaging Families meaningfully including via Family Group Decision Making.

Full guidance can be found here The Families First Partnership (FFP) Programme Guide

I have heard from lots of people that you have accomplished a lot in Shropshire but that we still have more we could do to ensure that these reforms are co-produced together and delivering earlier help and support for our children and their families, you play a critical role in these reforms, so we look forward to working with you to develop our local approach together. We will continue to provide more detail on the aspects of the programme, the expectations Department for Education (DfE) and how you can help us shape this programme moving forwards in the meantime any thoughts and reflections welcome and any opportunities to get out and see some of the fabulous work you are all doing would be welcomed.

The remaining autumn dates for the Early Help Network meetings are:-

North locality areas (Local Area Development Leads: Amanda Langston and Dee Beckett)

NW: Marches School: Tuesday 4^th November 3.30 - 5.00PM

NE: Grove School: Wednesday 5^th November 3.30 - 5.00PM

South locality areas (Local Area Development Leads: Charlotte Evans and Donna Thomas)

SE: Idsall School: Wednesday 12th November 3.30 - 5.00PM  

These are a great opportunity to network with a range of partners and to keep up to date with early help news in your area. All partners are welcome to attend. To find out more please email supportingfamiliesteam@shropshire.gov.uk

The Autum Meet and Chat SEND sessions start this month for parent carers of a child with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)?

Parent Carers can join us 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, but parent carers are encouraged to come along, have a chat, and find the help they need!

Visit the Family Information Service (FIS) directory for information on dates and venues.

The Parenting Help and Support Line are here for all 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 or Friday, 9.30am - 3.30pm or email: parenting.team@shropshire.gov.uk

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

Information on the open access clinics run throughout Shropshire by Health Visitors has been updated. You can find out where they are and when they run by clicking on the Shropshire Family Information Service Directory

They offer parents 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

Please promote these great clinics to parents who may benefit from attending. Parents who would like support but are unable to get to a session, can also get help by calling 0333 358 3654 or texting the team on 07520 635212.

Worried about your relationship or feel you’re arguing too much? Not all arguing between parents is harmful but when it’s intense or happens a lot of the time, there can be a negative impact on the children.

If your relationship is going through a difficult phase, you can find ways to argue ‘better’, resolve disputes and reduce conflict at home with our range of free courses, resources and apps. Have a look at the Getting on better pages of the Early Help website.

Ash Molloy, Family Relationships Coordinator has set up regular lunchtime drop-in sessions, delivered via Teams, which are available to anyone that works with conflicted relationships between parents.

You can drop into any session to discuss a family you’re concerned about or just come along to listen and learn.

If you’re confused whether you’re dealing with Parental Conflict or Domestic Abuse, we can unpick that, or if you’re just stuck and unsure how to move forward, support is available.

2025 drop-in sessions as follows:

• Wednesday 29th October – 12.30 to 1.30pm – click here to join the session​
• Wednesday 26th November – 12.30 to 1.30pm – click here to join the session​
• Wednesday 17th December – 12.30 to 1.30pm – click here to join the session​

If you would prefer a 1-1 with Ash to discuss a particular family, please email ash.molloy@shropshire.gov.uk  

This 8-week course will help you understand how domestic violence impacts on you as a parent and how it affects your children.

The course objectives are to empower, support and develop further understanding of your role as a mother in addressing the needs of your  children and young people

To book and secure your place on this course please call 01743 250400  Every Wednesday from Wednesday 14^th January 2026 – Wednesday 11^th March 2026 09:30-11:30am

Venue: Shrewsbury SY1

Facilitated by Early Help and Support Team with Shropshire Domestic Abuse Service

Shropshire Council has been awarded more than £620,000 to help transform how to support and work alongside young people.

In August [2025] the council was selected as a pilot Pathfinder area for the Government’s Local Youth Transformation Fund (LYTF). Just 12 councils have been selected to take part in the pilot, meaning Shropshire is one of a small number of councils nationally leading the way in rebuilding more inclusive, youth-led service provision.

Through the pilot the government is investing £8 million to help ensure a local youth offer which addresses the needs of young people and supports government priorities – and it has now been announced that Shropshire Council will receive £621,131.

The pilot will be delivered in the coming months with all activity ending by 31 August 2026, and more details will be shared in future editions of this newsletter.

Are you passionate about empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential? Shropshire Council’s Youth Support Team is seeking enthusiastic and dedicated Youth Workers to help shape and deliver transformative youth services across the county.

As a Youth Worker, you will play a vital role in supporting young people, working alongside local organisations and partners to create a more inclusive, youth-led service provision.

If you are ready to make a positive impact and be part of a team recognised for excellence in youth work, we would love to hear from you.

For further information please click on the links below

Senior Locality Youth Worker – Shropshire Council

Locality Youth Worker – Shropshire Council

Our Family Information Service (FIS) has been busy gathering information on things to do and places to go this half term.

Find out what’s on through our online directory.

There’s also information on holiday clubs and other registered childcare

We’ve issued a couple of our newsletters recently, including

Our SEND newsletter is aimed at parent carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities but is also useful for those who work with the SEND families. These newsletters can be found on the SEND Local Offer.

Our Family Information Service newsletter is aimed at all parents and contains lots of useful information – this edition had lots of events and activities for the school holidays. These newsletters can be found on the Early Help website.

If you, or anyone you work with, would like to be added to the distribution list for either of the newsletters then please email Kate.Bentham@shropshire.gov.uk

SYA have launched two new groups – one for home educated young people called Youth Connect and one for parent carers of children and young people with SEND called Tea and Time.

A reminder that they also have a group for young parents called Tuesday Time Out.

We are delighted to share with you the launch of the new Best Start in Life campaign. It is part of the government’s Plan for Change promise to break the link between a child's background and their future success, with the aim to ensure 75% of children are ready to learn when they start school by 2028.  

From pregnancy to childcare and beyond, every milestone in the early years of a child’s life helps shape their development. The Best Start in Life campaign aims to increase awareness of the role of the early years in a child’s development, increase parental understanding of things they can do in their child’s early years and how early education supports child development.   

Being a parent is full of joyful firsts but can also feel daunting, with questions both big and small, which is why our Best Start in Life website brings together trusted advice, support and guidance for parents to turn to. Whether they are wondering when the right time is to wean their baby, looking into childcare support options, or thinking about activities to get their child ready for school, the Best Start in Life website offers a broad range of information for families, including eligibility for childcare offers, help to find free breakfast clubs and Best Start Family Hubs in their area, and support on pregnancy through to starting school and beyond.     

To mark the campaign launch, a powerful new film titled ‘The Story of You’  celebrating the journey of early childhood, highlighting to parents the vital role they play in their child’s lives and the support available. The film is scripted by children’s author Camilla Reid (author of the Pip and Posy books), illustrated by Rob Biddulph (illustrator of Blown Away and Odd Dog Out) and narrated by famous parents; dancer and author Oti Mabuse, TV personality Billie Shepherd, online creators Ms Apple and Tay Kabs, as well as much-loved character, Mummy Pig from the Peppa Pig series alongside ‘Secret Life of 4 Year Olds’ childhood expert Professor Sam Wass.  

We hope you can help us reach parents and carers of young children with key messages to support them on their journey.   

Here are some ways you can support:  

Promote the Best Start in Life website: Use your channels to encourage parents to explore Best Start in Life  to find trusted resources and information as well as local support.  

Encourage newsletter sign-up: Invite parents to subscribe to our newsletter or personalised weekly emails for tailored updates, tips, and guidance throughout their journey as a parent.  

For Baby’s Sake has published new research on the mental health of parents in the UK during the first 1001 days of parenthood - from pregnancy to a child's second birthday. A YouGov poll surveyed over 700 parents of children aged 10 and under.

Findings show: 50% of participants experienced a rise in mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety and depression during the first 1001 days of their child’s life; nearly 1 in 10 dads said they turned to alcohol or substances more; and 34% of parents overall reported more conflict in their relationship during the first 1001 days.

Read the news story: New research suggests that parents’ mental health is in crisis during the first 1001 days of parenthood  

See also on NSPCC Learning  Parental mental health problems

You may have heard of the SEND Local Offer,  which is a single place for information, services, and resources for parent carers of children and young people with SEND.

The SEND Local Offer has two sections, ones if an information section talking about process and support across, health, education and social care. It also looks at early years, preparing for adulthood, travel and transport, emotional health and wellbeing, finance, things to do and support for parent carers,

The other section is a directory element listing services and organisations of support, locally, regionally and nationally. The directory element was recently redesigned, but the SEND Local Offer remained as a key top level category, which you can access here. You can then filter by sub category, or location to find the information you need.

In the free text search box you can also try typing some of these keywords.

#ChildrensMentalHealth

#UnderstandingYourChild

#SENDChat

#SENDThingsToDo

#SENDParentCarerSupport

If you have any feedback about the Local Offer please email us at local.offer@shropshire.gov.uk or complete our online survey - Shropshire SEND Local Offer  Feedback Survey

Internet Matters has published a new report examining the impact of online news on children and young people’s wellbeing. The research included a survey of 1,000 children across the UK aged 11-17 and focus groups with children aged 13-17.

Key findings show: children and young people regularly consume news on social media from a range of sources; distressing news stories, mis- and disinformation and AI-generated content impact young people’s wellbeing; and young people have developed their own support strategies when navigating this news environment.

The report provides recommendations for social media companies, news outlets and the government, including the need for robust age assurance on all online platforms to ensure children are receiving an age-appropriate experience and support for schools to deliver media literacy education to every child at all key stages.

Read the report: Understanding the impact of news on children’s wellbeing  

See also on NSPCC Learning  > Preventing online harm and abuse

Across the NHS, the picture is clear: demand for mental health services continues to outstrip capacity. In primary care, this means:

• Rising numbers of young patients presenting with stress, anxiety, and low mood
• Increased repeat appointments for issues that could be better managed with timely psychological support
• Families frustrated by long CAMHS waiting lists, often turning to their GP as the first point of call
• Growing pressure on practice teams to provide safeguarding and signposting support

Health systems today are forced to prioritise those with the highest level of need, leaving many young people waiting for specialist care. But this isn’t inevitable. Prevention is the best route forward. Early, accessible support helps young people before difficulties escalate, reducing demand for GP appointments and avoiding A&E visits from those with nowhere else to turn. That’s where Kooth makes a difference.

• Free, safe, anonymous mental health support available to ages 10+ in the UK
• No referral or waiting list -young people can access support immediately
• 24/7 therapeutic content, self-help tools, and moderated peer support
• Professional counselling sessions available, helping young people manage their wellbeing before reaching crisis point
• Population-wide, preventative model proven to ease pressure on primary and acute care services

Kooth is at the forefront of shifting health systems towards prevention. By ensuring every patient has access to early support, we can reduce the strain on GPs and practice teams, while improving health outcomes for young people and their families. Encourage young people and families in your community to use Kooth – and help protect capacity in primary care.

Supporting mental health amid growing pressures — your October KoothBytes

NSPCC Learning has published a new report on how communities can work together to support families and help prevent child abuse and neglect.

A survey was carried out with over 6,500 adults across the UK to understand public attitudes towards ‘supportive actions’, simple acts that can help families and children cope with difficult times in life.

Findings show: most participants were open to offering and receiving supportive actions; participants were more likely to offer and accept supportive actions to or from people they know well; and care and sensitivity is required when offering supportive actions to avoid causing upset or offence.

Read the report: Small acts, big impact: how communities can support families through everyday challenges

Please see the attached flyer for free training from the Children's Society.

Tuesday 18 November- 10:00 - 12:00 -Safeguarding transgender young people from exploitation

Thursday 11 December 13:00 - 15:00 - Anti-racist practice to tackle child exploitation

For Philippa – Family Support Worker

Mum: Thank you for everything. Thank you for kick starting things. You've been really pro active in helping us. We really appreciate everything you've done and the help for the girls.

Dad: My counselling sessions have been a revelation- don't know why I didn't do it sooner

Young adults

H "You're chill. You've been helpful, it definitely been good to talk and it's helped show me options for college and training. I feel better: the ups are better. Arguments are nowhere near as long at home and are more debating- rarely shouting."

L "I'm really glad I decided to do the counselling. It's going to really help. It's been brilliant to be able to talk and open up with you and without being horrible I hadn't thought it would be any good as so many people have tried to help but this time it really has helped. Thank you".

Emma - Family Support Worker

PARENT : Made me feel less alone, and like I had people around me who understood what I was going through. Lots of different things were put it in place to support me and xxxxx. I had been struggling on my own for so long, so to finally have someone step in and help practically and emotionally was a lifeline.

Child 1: Good. Most of it has been helpful. Child 2: Good. I liked chatting to you. Child 3: I liked seeing you. I liked doing the Lego, that was fun. Child 4: I liked seeing you. I liked singing and dancing to you last week.

Wendie - Family Support Worker

Good morning, Wendie. I just wanted to message you and thank you from the bottom of my heart. The amount of empathy and sincerity and confidence in me and these kids have touched me deeply.

You have single handedly been the best professional input I've ever had. No judgement is not making me feel like I am just a nutcase like so many have in the past. You are wonderful. All of your families who have you in their lives for however long are so lucky they really are. Xx

Here is some fantastic feedback for the 0-5 team

Fiona - the early help process has been useful and a help to me and my family. I would not be where I am now if it was not for the support and the course. I felt listened to and heard and found the 1:1 sessions really useful. Since early help has been involved, communication between me and my ex-partner has improved with the focus being much more on my son and his needs. 

Kerrie - I feel we are better at communicating with each other, I feel that I understand my child better and I'm more confident. I feel like we addressed everything.

Jo - The early help intervention has immensely helped my family and I. We were slightly nervous and anxious about what it meant being referred for early help, but it has been a positive and helpful experience. Jo was lovely and continued to reassure us that she's there to support us all round which was a relief. She helped signpost us to really great antenatal classes especially ones in which I was stressed about most I.e. breastfeeding/bonding. It's relieved a lot of pressure that I was feeling around having a newborn in the house as a first time mum. We felt very much supported and taken care of by Jo without any judgement. One improvement I would say is having an early intervention team in Bridgnorth, with classes/courses within Bridgnorth. In most cases, they were in Shrewsbury/Telford which aren't always convenient. In regards to Jo she's absolutely fantastic. 

Jennifer -  has been a massive help - financial help and helping me get out.  Jennifer made me feel very much as ease as I was quite anxious before her first visit because I thought I was doing something wrong. but Jennifer was lovely.