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Welcome to the eighth edition of the 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 is 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 web version has been uploaded to the Shropshire Learning Gateway.
All CPD and booking links are listed on the Shropshire Learning Gateway.
Upcoming highlights next term:
AET Good Autism Practice (GAP) - on demand
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) training - on demand
AET Neuroinclusive Leadership Training - 14th January 2026
Shropshire Annual Review Training (free) - 16th January 2026
Shropshire SENCo Induction Training - 19th January 2026 (part 2 is in April)
Alternative Provision Quality Assurance Framework Training for Schools (pre-funded by the SEND and AP Change Programme) - 26th January 2026
Complex Needs Training (pre-funded by the SEND and AP Change Programme) - 5th February 2026
Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (£40 - subsidised by SEND and AP Change Programme, click here for flyer) - 10th and 17th March 2026
Kids have been commissioned to deliver the Universal Autism Support Service across Shropshire.
Kids Shropshire offer a range of services and support for both children and young people and parent carers.
Please see the flyer and the Kids website for more details.
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Autism Central is a peer support programme co-produced with parents, carers, and autistic people of all ages.
From 1 October, Anna Freud is proud to lead the delivery of Autism Central, commissioned by NHS England. Anna Freud is a world-leading mental health charity for children and families that has developed and delivered pioneering mental health care for over 70 years.
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Autism Central offers families education, coaching, and connection. Through resources, one-to-one peer support, and community events, we help families:
- build knowledge and confidence
- understand autistic experiences of joy, distress, and wellbeing across the lifespan
- advocate effectively for their loved ones
- support wellbeing and reduce the risk of hospitalisation.
Follow this link to Autism Central.
Our Neurodiversity Practioners (NDPs) have continued working to support Shropshire's neurodivergent children. Click here for their Autumn newsletter detailing their offer and the training that is currently available.
To clarify, children who have EHCPs or who are in the ECHNA process can still be considered for a placement at TMBSS if the SEN processes have been followed. This could be either a meeting with the SEN Case Officer (EHCP team) or an emergency interim annual review so that the SEN team are in agreement with the referral to the Inclusion Pathway.
Click here for the Shropshire Inclusion Pathway.
The Outshine workstream has been introduced, implemented and embedded into Shropshire schools to support the AP 3 Tier model shared by the SEND and AP Improvement Plan. Outshine represents Outreach in Shropshire for Intervention and engagement and was initially introduced in the Summer term of 2025 as a soft launch to schools who attended Headteacher’s briefings across the county aimed at supporting children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. A short presentation was delivered and schools were welcomed to contact the Inclusion & AP Task Force Lead Officer to discuss bespoke packages that could be offered for various students.
Tier 1 focused around targeted support through Pupil Support Meetings, Occupational Therapist assessments, Outreach Support Officers and Advisors. These were available for schools to utilise following a personalised triage conducted with the school, followed by bespoke early intervention and outreach packages offered, dependent on the needs of the child.
This collection of staff can offer support around emotional regulation, sensory and neurodiverse guidance and support, mentoring and coaching for students and staff alike.
This component of the model has developed to referral and consent forms submitted and triaged on a weekly basis to ensure demand and capacity can be supported.
Tier 2 of the AP 3 tier model comes to the workstream through two different formats: Pupil Support Meetings or direct query requests from schools. Time limited placements across unregistered alternative provision have led to the creation of an AP Directory. This is information providing document available to schools, and wider stakeholders, listing the quality assured provision. It states name and offer of provision, location within the county, Key Stage availability and cost.
It is made clear that the Shropshire AP Directory is not intended to endorse or market unregistered providers but to provide a list of quality assured APs that they are welcome to commission for their students, on a short-term basis, following appropriate risk assessments.
The transitional placements phase of the AP 3 tier model has been running successfully well since September 2025 with the introduction of Inclusion Mentors in post to support re-integration and engagement within a mainstream setting. These children may be returning from AP settings, or in line with national trends, returning from Elective Home Education. The focus of this strand of the model is to provide a nurturing environment, with consistent staff, that will work with the family, child and school to ensure the individual needs of the student are met on their return to education.
The number of children across Shropshire receiving bespoke support for their SEMH needs is increasing weekly and we believe the continued use of the AP 3 tier model will support this.
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The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is an independent charity working to break the link between family income educational attainment. Since its beginnings in 2011 it has worked to support schools with evidence based strategies grounded in reliable educational research. |
The EEF website contains a myriad of resources, research articles and projects that schools and settings and engage with. The EEF also publishes regular newsletters publicising latest findings and opportunities. Click here to sign up for the Education Endowment Foundation Newsletter.
November's newsletter contains fresh insights to support metacognition and self-regulated learning and draws on insights from 355 studies as well as a wealth of classroom experience. Explore the guidance here.
The Specialist Outreach Pilot has launched and support is now being delivered in schools. 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.
The ATLL launched at the beginning of December with a series of roadshows (held at our SEND and Inclusion Network meetings). We can now offer extended trials of Widget Online, Proloquo, Clicker, DocsPlus and Scanning Pens. We look forward to more devices and software being available for loan next term.
We are also working in partnership with Richard Smith from Amazing ICT who is helping to support schools in using assistive technology to support the inclusion of children with SEND.
For full details of the ATLL and to make a request, please see here.
The Local Inclusion Support Offer (LISO) is another strand of the SEND and AP Change Programme. The LISO will comprise all of the support, provided through Shropshire Council, that is available for schools to support inclusion of children with SEND.
The LISO will broadly provide support in the following three areas:
- Training
- Advice and guidance
- Direct delivery
A workshop was held on 28th November with Shropshire Council and the Shropshire Parent Carer Council (PACC) to identify strengths and areas for opportunity in the support that is currently on offer to schools.
We would also like to hear from schools and settings and would be grateful if you could complete the following MS Form so that we can identify areas to develop.
Local Inclusion Support Offer Scoping Survey
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What is BBC CBeebies Parenting?
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The BBC CBeebies Parenting website is a FREE resource to share with families you work with in early years. Full of fun activity ideas, fascinating facts and tips and advice to help families support their children’s development from pregnancy to 5 years old, with a particular focus on speech, language & communication skills in the home learning environment.
Created alongside the EYFS and with speech and language, early years and health experts, all content on the site is rooted in evidence.
BBC CBeebies Parenting is a service from BBC Children’s & Education, that provides evidence-based, fun activities, tips and advice and child development content to help and empower parents / carers to support their child’s development and speech, language and communication skills of their 0–4-year-olds in the home learning environment.
Rooted in academic research, BBC CBeebies Parenting has a positive, supportive speech and language message for families at its core; “talk to your little one from pregnancy – we’re here to show you how, and why it’s so important”.
BBC CBeebies Parenting has been developed in close collaboration with experts in the fields of
Speech & Language, Health Visiting, Midwifery and Early Years.
All content is quality assured by experts, who continue to work with the BBC CBeebies Parenting team to ensure that the content is correct and follows best practice.
We have strong working relationships with The Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists,
Institute of Health Visiting, Royal College of Midwives, UNICEF, DfE, early years organisations as well as local authorities and NHS trusts across the UK, and work closely with academics from University of Sheffield, University of Liverpool, Newcastle University and University of Manchester amongst others.
More information about how BBC CBeebies Parenting work with speech, language and communication experts can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/zdgn46f
More information about the behaviour change model can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/zmmtywx
BBC Tiny Happy People has a new home in ‘CBeebies Parenting’ which is a brand extension of BBC CBeebies, aimed at parents and caregivers of pre-school children.
FREE Resources for Early Years & Healthcare Practitioners:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/topics/c51762ze3y2t
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ELSEC Update
This term has been a really busy one for the ELSEC team, with 27 new schools and nurseries joining the project across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. In total, more than 2500 children in Year 1, Reception and the pre-school year have been screened using the Talk Boost screening tool.
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In Shropshire, 30% of children were identified as having age-appropriate language skills with 50% identified as having some language needs and around 20% as having significant language needs.
Staff from across the county have attended training sessions to be able to run Talk Boost and Concept Cat interventions and this means that around 20% of all children in the focus year groups are receiving targeted intervention. By the end of term almost every ELSEC setting in Shropshire will have also received whole school training around vocabulary, and most settings will have had communication friendly audits completed, offering more bespoke support and advice. This means that the universal offer for communication and language is available and accessible to all children in these settings.
For more information on the settings involved in the ELSEC project, please visit the Local Offer page Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) | Shropshire Council
Waiting Times for Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy
Waiting time calculators are on the children’s OT and SLT pages of Shropshire Community Health Trusts website.
Children's Occupational Therapy
Speech and Language Therapy
If you have referred a child just put in the date you sent that referral to us, if you are thinking about referring just add the current date and press the green button to check current waiting times.
The calculator will give you the best estimate of when the child’s family, will be offered an appointment. Waiting times for specialist services in children’s SLT such as eating drinking and swallowing, Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC), special schools, voice, speech sounds, and stammering will typically be shorter than the calculator shows as these are the agreed priority pathways for the service.
We are planning to develop and publish a similar calculator for the 0-5 ASD assessment waiting times at the Child Development Centres in the new year. We will share the link to this in the January newsletter.
The What Works in SEND research team are conducting a survey as part of their research into the SEND workforce in mainstream schools.
By completing the survey, you will help us to get a clearer picture of how mainstream state schools are organising their workforce to support pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
The findings from this research will be used to inform schools and DfE to help improve support for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
The survey should be completed by a SENCO or senior leader. Only ONE survey response is required per school.
Please follow the link below to complete.
https://wbs.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8wU8rT55ILkNrwi
The webinar will be led by Anne Hayward and focus on Gateshead’s development of vocational pathways in KS4 (13-16 learners) who have additional needs and/or who are disengaged with education and who are in/or should access mainstream education.
access mainstream education. This has involved:
- Improved Careers Advice throughout the secondary years
- A focus on the Preparation for Adulthood (PfA) in personal development and intervention programmes
- A strategy to develop partnerships between special settings and mainstream in creating innovative social enterprises
- Developing a vocational accreditation hub for the area linking specialist settings and mainstream
- Improved links with employers and real-life work experiences.
- Creation of vocational resource kits that can be used across the area to improve vocational experiences in schools
This innovative approach has provided:
- Relevant and bespoke pathways that effectively engage learners, improve attendance and reach those that do not engage with learning.
- A workforce reform programme to upskill mainstream secondary settings supported by specialist staff in vocational pathways, vocational profiling and careers education.
Middlesbrough LA also joined the programme, which has attracted interest from schools and settings keen to develop a more appropriate Key Stage 4 offer leading onto a more meaningful transition with Post 16 and skills for life.
The Webinar be led by Anne Hayward, and include an outline of the various projects, provide information on measuring outcomes, views of the various settings, and the research data underlying the project. The webinar will share ideas that you may wish to think about for your own areas and also share resources as they develop.
There will be a further webinar in the Summer Term 2026 to look at impact of the project and lessons learnt that can be taken forward nationally.
Dial in details for the webinar are as follows:
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 326 119 670 058 61
Passcode: LS2FV9ND
Zak, a Year 8 student with Ocular Albinism and Nystagmus, is thriving in school thanks to specialist support and his own resilience. From overcoming fears about secondary school to mastering touch typing and starring in plays, Zak’s journey shows how the right support can unlock incredible potential.
Shining Through: Zak’s Journey with Ocular Albinism
Zak is a remarkable young man whose story is one of resilience, growth, and success. Due to his visual impairment, Zak is unable to access the curriculum in the same way as his peers. He cannot see the board, and all of his reading materials need to be enlarged to Point 36 for him to be able to read them. These challenges stem from his diagnosis of Ocular Albinism, a condition that affects the pigmentation in the eyes, causing light to scatter and blur vision. Zak also experiences photophobia, meaning bright environments are uncomfortable and overwhelming. In addition, Zak has Nystagmus, an involuntary movement of the eyes that makes it difficult to fix, follow, and focus—especially when tired or stressed. Despite these barriers, Zak has never let his visual impairment define him.
A Nervous Start, A Strong Foundation
Zak was understandably nervous about starting secondary school. He worried that teachers might not understand his needs or how best to support him. But thanks to the Sensory Inclusion Service (SIS) and a proactive school team, Zak settled in well and is now thriving in Year 8.
SIS played a vital role in ensuring Zak’s smooth transition. His Qualified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (QTVI) met with the school’s SENCO before Zak started, and his needs were discussed in detail during his annual review. The QTVI also provided training for teachers, helping them understand how to support Zak effectively in the classroom.
Practical Support That Makes a Difference Zak’s success is also thanks to the SIS Access Support Assistants (ASAs), who trained teaching assistants to modify his work into Point 36 print, ensuring he can fully participate in lessons. Zak is especially grateful to those assistants who adapt his work at short notice, enabling him to keep up with his peers. While the goal is to equip schools to independently support students with visual impairments, the ASAs continue to assist with modifying key materials, such as assessments, to ensure Zak has full access to the curriculum.
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The SIS IT Officer recommended appropriate technology for Zak, enabling him to use touch typing and access lesson materials digitally. All PowerPoint presentations are emailed directly to his laptop, allowing him to follow along with ease. Zak began touch typing lessons with an ASA in Year 3/4, and his dedication paid off—he recently passed an accredited King’s Trust EDcc course in touch typing. |
Empowered and Included
Zak also wears tinted glasses, which help reduce glare. His QTVI even attended a hospital clinic with Zak and his mum to ensure the tint was properly assessed and suited to his needs. In class, teachers and assistants follow SIS recommendations, such as reading aloud board work or providing Zak with his own copy. These small but vital adjustments make a big difference. Zak has said that without the support from SIS and school staff, he wouldn’t be able to achieve what he has in school. He feels happy and included.
Beyond the Classroom
Zak is not only thriving in school —he’s also a vibrant and outgoing young man. In his spare time, he enjoys showing classic cars with his dad and has a passion for drama, having appeared in many plays and musicals. Zak’s journey is a testament to what can be achieved when the right support is in place. His story highlights the importance of inclusion, understanding, and teamwork in helping young people with visual impairments reach their full potential.
Zak isn’t just overcoming challenges—he’s shining through them.
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Anna Freud are a pioneering mental health charity transforming care for children and young people through science, collaboration and clinical innovation. |
They focus on discovery, delivering compassionate support and sharing our knowledge widely. Their new ‘Let’s Talk’ webinar series is designed to help schools and colleges build connection, inclusion and belonging.
To access the webinars on offer from Anna Freud follow this link.
To access the training follow this link.
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From 1 December, a new, free 24/7 mental health text support service is available for people of all ages living in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (STW). This briefing provides key information to support partners in sharing consistent and accurate messages across their networks.
What is launching?
A free, confidential 24/7 mental health text support service for all ages in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, delivered by qualified mental health professionals.
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The service is delivered by SHOUT on behalf of Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) who are commissioned by NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.
Why is it important?
The service expands access to immediate mental health support, complementing existing services such as NHS 111 option 2, and supports the national transformation of NHS mental health care by improving responsiveness, inclusivity and accessibility.
How to access?
Text ‘STW’ to 85258, free of charge and at any time, to start a conversation with a trained mental health professional.
Who can access the service?
Shout is a free, confidential text messaging support service for anyone of any age who is struggling with how they feel, experiencing distress, or needing mental health support.
Benefits to Patients
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Easy access. No need to speak on the phone or wait for an appointment. Text at any time from anywhere.
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24/7 support. Available day and night, including weekends and holidays.
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Mental health-focused. Tailored to people experiencing mental health difficulties, delivered with compassion and understanding.
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Discreet and private. Ideal for those who prefer not to talk on the phone or need support in a public place.
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Inclusive and equitable. Helps reduce inequalities by offering support to anyone across STW.
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Integrated with local services. If needed, text responders can help you signpost to local services like NHS 111, crisis teams, or other community-based mental health support.
If someone feels unsafe or at immediate risk, they should call 999, as the text service is not intended for urgent emergencies. Individuals already receiving mental health support should contact their named worker first, in accordance with their care plan.
Communications Toolkit
Access the full communications toolkit here (and attached): Mental Health Text Service Toolkit - NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin
The toolkit contains a range of resources:
The Ask
To help maximise awareness and uptake of the new 24/7 mental health text support service, we are asking all partners and stakeholders to actively promote the service across your networks. You can support this by:
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Promoting the text service (‘STW’ to 85258) through all patient-facing channels, including:
- Include the text service in your answer machine messages (where appropriate)
- Waiting rooms and reception areas
- Websites
- Newsletters
- Social media channels
- Digital screens and public information points
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Using and sharing the communications toolkit with colleagues, partner organisations and wider networks to help reach people who may need support.
Your support will play a vital role in ensuring people across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin know how to access free, immediate mental health support whenever they need it.
Thank you for your support.
Contact Information
For further information or support with communications, please contact: stw.communications@nhs.net
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