As a statutory child safeguarding partner, Shropshire Council is required to monitor settings safeguarding arrangements and compliance with Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework and Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024.
We also need to ensure that the DSL information that we hold on record about your setting is correct as it will be used to ensure that operation encompass notifications are sent to the correct person within your setting/ school.
A polite reminder if you haven't already done so - please complete this form Education settings information, it should take no longer than 4 minutes to complete.
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Moderation agreement for academies/independent schools
Academies, free schools and independent schools must have an agreement in place with a moderating authority. If you wish your school (academies, independent schools, free schools) to be registered with Shropshire Council for potential moderation visits (EY, phonics, KS2) including statutory pre and post assessment visits then please complete the attached form and return to Beth.Parry-Jones@shropshire.gov.uk by Thursday 4th December 2025.
Schools should also notify STA via the PAG if they choose to use a different moderating body.
The LA moderation agreement is also attached.
These forms have been shared and agreed by the Education Partnership Board school sub-group.
Maintained schools do not need to take any action.
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Maintained headteachers are asked to be alert to an email will be issued to schools in the coming days inviting maintained schools to share their views to inform Schools Forum with respect to the de-delegation and top-slice amounts for 2026/7.
The feedback of maintained headteachers is invited and strongly encouraged.
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Early Years SEND Support Officers are a new role within Shropshire Council which commenced on the 3rd November 2026.
Our new EY SEND Support Officers are available as outreach support for all group and school-based early years settings up to the end of pre-school/ nursery including childminders. Please use an EYIAF request for to request their support. These forms will be updated in due course to reflect this new offer.
They will also be involved in quality assuring use of EYIF awarded to settings and may ring to visit your setting and discuss how you have used your EYIF ahead of a review. This will support us in achieving our collective aims which are set out within the Early Years Inclusion Advice and Funding Panel Guidance.
These are:
- Staff in Early Years settings will be more able to meet the needs of children with SEND.
- Staff in Early Years setting will be able to effectively identify and deploy early intervention and support so that children, where able to, can close the gap between themselves and their peers.
- Early Years settings will be supported to increase their confidence so that children with SEND are included and can achieve to their highest potential.
- There will be increased participation and achievement for children with SEND.
- Early Years settings will build their own expertise through wider workforce development leading to better outcomes for all.
- There will be less escalation into more specialist pathways, resource and provision.
During a visit to setting ahead of your review request, the Early years SEND Support Officer will ask about the intervention and support you have used the funding to support. This will include the impact of this and the progress the child has made during the time the EYIF has been in place across the EY areas of development, particularly in respect to the prime areas of learning. Where progress has been less than anticipated or has not been made, a setting will be asked about what external agency referrals have been made in collaboration with the child’s parent carers. The EY SEND Support Officers will enquire about how a setting is promoting independence and school readiness. They may ask to see the child’s Pupil Centred Plan. As part of the visit the EY SEND officer can offer support too.
Our Early SEND Support Officers may offer support as part of an access to education request to support you in meeting the complex needs of children who wish to join your setting.
Best wishes
Heidi White, Education Quality Adviser (SEND and AP)
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In support of our multi-agency quality assurance framework, we will be implementing periodic multi-agency SEND case audits across the SEND partnership, with the aim of assessing the effectiveness of our collective work for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) as we continually seek improvements. This will also support us with our readiness for our SEND inspections now and in the future.
As part of this process, we are keen to build a chronology of the experiences of pupils, parent carers and professionals within the system through sampling a small number of cases and reflecting on their experiences over the past 2 years.
To support this, some schools may be contacted by Education Quality Advisors (EQAs), who will request relevant paperwork and invite the early years setting, schools or colleges to discuss the provision, challenges, and successes encountered in supporting pupils with SEND. Please be assured that this is a supportive exercise designed to strengthen our partnership approach and share good practice. The purpose of these audits is to provide assurance regarding the performance of the entire SEND system. The partnership is mindful of the demands on settings, schools and colleges in contributing to this process.
Should any of your pupils be selected as part of the audit sample, you will be notified during the week commencing 24th November, alongside further details on the next steps. Our aim is to complete a chronology of the child's experiences from across the partnership during December and January, culminating in a reflective case discussion on the 19th January, and if selected (where cases are relevant) you may be invited to contribute to this process at this time.
Your cooperation and openness are greatly appreciated as we work together to ensure the best outcomes for our children and young people with SEND. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or concerns regarding the audit process.
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As a reminder to the message issued earlier this term, please see the attached letter from David Shaw, Director of Children's Services, regarding the checks that are completed on Children's Services staff working as contractors in Shropshire Schools.
This provides the assurance in line with paragraphs 294-299 of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 of the DBS checks that have been completed on staff.
Staff working in Shropshire School are not expected or required to carry or present their DBS certificates to schools/settings. This is because Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025 Part 2 does not require sight of the DBS certificate if the professional visitor/contractor’s employer has confirmed that they have had the appropriate checks. This is understood by Ofsted. We provided the attached letter to all schools at the beginning of the academic year, which provides formal assurance that such checks have been carried out. We advise schools to keep a copy of the letter of assurance on file as well as ensuring that visitors engaged on council business carry their Shropshire Council
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The Bullying and Harassment Policy has been reviewed and updated. The policy is accessible on this MS Teams channel and on the SLG under Schools HR Policies. The main changes to the policy reflect recent changes to Sexual Harassment and the duty on the employer in taking all reasonable steps in its prevention. The changes include the following
- A sexual harassment training PowerPoint with notes, it is advised that all members of staff carry out this training annually and a record of the training be taken (Appendix J).
- Schools must carry out a sexual harassment risk assessment (Appendix H) each academic year (or where updates are required) example hazards are included but this not an exhaustive list.
- Additional guidance has been added in relation to unacceptable behaviour, expected standards of behaviour and responsibilities as well as external support services.
- Additional guidance has been added for managing third party complaints.
- A reminder that where an incident of Sexual Related Harassment, Racism Harassment and Homophobia Harassment has occurred an incident form must be completed via ERP
It’s important that all staff have clear and easy access to up-to-date policies. We would ask Headteachers to ensure this policy and all current policies are added to their school’s stored policy section (whether these are held in hard copy or electronically) and that staff are informed of the update. We also encourage schools to remind staff where policies are stored/available and to review any changes as part of routine practice.
A briefing session for schools will take place with a date to follow.
Should there be any questions to the Bullying and Harassment Policy please do not hesitate to contact your Schools HR Advisor.
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Please could those schools who haven't already completed this short exercise do so using the link below.
The link is to a Microsoft Form to help us understand the geographical location of children in our Extended Duties cohorts; Previously Looked After, Kinship care and Children with a Social Worker. The information will help us to target our support and resources.
We sent out the form in September and received 28 responses, those who replied aren't asked to complete the form again.
Extended Duties Cohorts Survey Shropshire Virtual School Connect – Fill in form
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The DfE have updated their guidance on developing school uniform policy. The document highlights the importance of Governing Bodies in considering the guidance “to help ensure that they comply with their obligations under the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010” and has significant implications for supporting children and young people with SEND.
It is also worth noting that this is underpinned by elements within the new Ofsted inspection toolkit (State-funded school inspection toolkit version 1.1) emphasising the important of making reasonable adjustments:
Page 12:
- leaders make sure pupils receive effective support, consult with external specialists and implement their advice as necessary, and ensure that appropriate reasonable adjustments are made in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and the SEND Code of Practice
- leaders work closely with parents, taking their views into account and making best use of their knowledge of their children
Page 39:
- staff make reasonable adjustments and adaptations when considering pupils’ needs, challenges and barriers, while maintaining high expectations for what all pupils can achieve
Parent Carer Council Shropshire (PACC) have welcomed the updated guidance, with its stronger messages about making reasonable adjustments for SEND pupils. Their information regarding the new guidance can be found on their website: Guidance on developing School Uniform policies - updated on 7th November 2025 - PACC Shropshire
The full guidance can be read here: Developing school uniform policy - GOV.UK
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Neurodiversity Practitioners and the Neuroinclusive Training Offer:
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Supporting the Enhancement of Neuroinclusion+ in Secondary Schools (SENSES) Project: We are really pleased to share that 13/20 of our Secondary Schools in Shropshire have now joined the Project. This Project offers half-termly coaching and CPD sessions to further enhance Neuroinclusive practice based on the individual schools’ aspirations and priorities. It is a fully funded support offer thanks to the Change and AP Programme. If the remaining secondary schools would like to be involved, please contact your assigned Neurodiversity Practitioner or eps-admin@shropshire.gov.uk
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Neuroinclusive Practice Network Meeting: Autumn Term 2025 Friday 5th December 2025 @ The Guildhall, Shrewsbury (1pm – 3pm)
This free session is open to schools that have received the AET GAP training since May 2025 and will provide:
- An opportunity to revisit the AET Framework document shared during the GAP training and during the free follow up action planning sessions offered following the final training session.
- An opportunity to reflect upon learning gained from the GAP training through networking and sharing good practice.
- A 45 minute CPD session focusing on the Sensory Learning Environment.
If you have not yet taken advantage of your free follow-up session, please contact one of our Neurodiversity Practitioners (Helen, Hollie or Rachel) to arrange this. Helen.Vincent@shropshire.gov.uk Hollie.Jones@shropshire.gov.uk Rachel.Tomkinson@shropshire.gov.uk.
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SENCOs - Please join us to understand the support that your primary feeder schools have had to upskill their staff on meeting the needs of pupils
I hope the term has started well for you and your Year 7 students are settled into their new routines.
Partnerships for Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) is a project funded by the DfE and NHSE for primary aged pupils across all Integrated Care Boards in England. There are 70 schools involved across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin. These are your feeder primary schools.
We know how important it is for you to be involved in the programme as the role of leaders in adapting the curriculum, physical environment and sensory environment, to ensure a , will need to be shared with you, to ensure a smooth transition.
The support provided to your feeder primary schools has involved a range of bespoke support for schools in Year 1, workshops in Year 2 and a suite of CPD, available to the leadership team and the wider staff. We would like to invite you to:
- A whole day of neurodiversity training with the EP Service. We would like to invite one member of the Senior Leadership Team to this event. This should be someone who has the capacity to disseminate and cascade all the learning to the rest of your school team – 12th December 2025.
- A half-day workshop with your Parent Carer Forum (PACC or PODS) – we would like to invite the Headteacher (or another senior leader) and SENCO to attend this session.
In addition, we will be in touch with the suite of additional CPD for the spring term, where you will be able to attend with as many staff members as you choose, as this is via TEAMS. Please keep some staff meeting time for the spring term to direct staff.
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Specialist Lead
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Title
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Dr Jane Park
Telford EP Service
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Supporting children with neurodiversity in schools
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Gurmat Singh
BeeU
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Supporting the Wellbeing of Neurodiverse Children
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Darren Lennon
BSAT
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Writing an Inclusive Behaviour Policy
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Nikki McGarvey
The Marches – MATi
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Compassionate Support: Practical Strategies for Creating an Inclusive
Environment for Neurodiverse and ALL Pupils
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Sarah Thomas
Simone Goward
PACC
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Behaviour as Communication - Making the Relationship Work
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Jayne Stevens
Uma Bhatia
PODS
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Behaviour as Communication - Making the Relationship Work
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Sandra Williamson
Telford School Nursing
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Neurodivergence & ARFID:Care to Eat
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Gillian Hacket
SALT
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DLD:Assessment & Diagnosis
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Rhiannon Skillton
Charley Reagan
Telford EP Service
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Exploring Barriers to Education through a Neuroaffirming Lens
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Kelly Gregg
Shropshire School Nursing
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Education Around Sensory With Foods and PICA
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Katrina Drummond
Children’s Occupational Therapy
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Sensory Processing In the Education Environment
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For further information and to book your place please contact
sian.deane1@taw.org.uk
Sophia.Ahmad1@taw.org.uk
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Inspired Mindset are a local leadership and coaching development training and qualification specialist, approved to offer fully funded vocational certificates and qualifications for Shropshire council residents through the UKSPF Shropshire Skills Hub and the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce. These short, high-impact courses provide practical, career-focused skills to support progression or help individuals move into new professions. Current opportunities include NQual-endorsed certificates in Digital Marketing (24–25 Nov 2025) and Leadership Excellence (8 & 12 Dec 2025), delivered in Shrewsbury.
Eligible applicants must be 16+, living in the Shropshire Council area, and economically active. Funding covers the full course cost and certificate by the awarding body. The application process is straightforward with a submission of a short form plus proof of ID and recent payslip (to prove that the application is 'economically active') directly to the Chamber of commerce. We are seeking individuals in Education trusts who may wish to take advantage of these fully funded places whilst limited funds last, or to promote these opportunities to individuals who would benefit from upskilling or retraining.
The funding has already been really successfully utilised by several education trusts in Shropshire over the last couple of years, and because this support is allocated based on place of residence rather than place of work, it represents a rare and valuable opportunity for the public sector. The Leadership Excellence course, in particular, has already had a notable impact across local education settings, supporting the development of executive leaders, headteachers, assistant heads, heads of year, subject leaders and aspiring leaders.
2025 Leadership Excellence - NQual Endorsed Course.pdf
2025 NQual Endorsed Digital Marketing.pdf
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Please find attached SUDI/C toolkit for use within the education setting in the event of the death of a child.
SUDCUK-A4-SCHOOL-TOOLKIT-2024_FINAL_DIGI.pdf
Maddy Kempsell-Smith, Specialist Nurse for Child Death, Shropshire Telford and Wrekin ICB
Shropshire Council's Educational Psychology Service is available for immediate support and advice following a sudden death. They can also suggest the best service to support the family.
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We’re thrilled to invite you to our upcoming KoothTalks mental health training webinars for professionals and families..
For professionals we are offering How to support young people to manage anxiety with self careWhat’s it about?
As a professional, how can you support the rising number of young people in your care who are likely to experience anxiety?
Join Kooth for a free 45 minute webinar and you will hear from one of our community engagement team, alongside a clinician from Kooth, who will share expert tips on how to spot the signs of anxiety, how to offer support to young people who are struggling and how Kooth can help.
Find out more and sign up here.
Please share the upcoming webinar details to parents carers and families:
Smartphone safety & cyberbullying: How to support your child webinar from Kooth;
The November Kooth Bytes newsletter can be accessed here.
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Kids Shropshire Autism support service.
Who is the service for?
Parent carers and families of children and young people under the age of 19 years with autism/ADHD, at any stage of diagnosis
KIDS Shropshire.pdf
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Whether you’re looking for something for Road Safety Week or thinking ahead to the new Spring term, we’ve got a ready-made road safety education programme for primary schools. Child Accident Prevention Trust is partnering with AXA UK to promote safer driving habits through schools. Backseat Boss Backseat Boss: A safer driving initiative to improve road safety , is designed to equip primary school children with the knowledge and confidence to talk about safer driving behaviours.
AXA has created fun sessions for KS1, KS2 and SEN pupils that include lesson plans, materials, and activity kits. The free classroom resources:
- Support PSHE curriculums on health & wellbeing, citizenship and road safety
- Break down safe driving into simple, memorable rules
- Reinforce learning through interactive games and group activities
- Empower children to become a ‘Backseat BOSS!’ – confidently sharing their knowledge at home
Can be adapted for a whole school assembly
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Richard Smith from Amazing ICT has created a poster based on KCSIE and using up to date technology.
Please see the attached poster here.
Richard is producing some A3 copies if school would like a hard copy for display. (details on the poster)
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Dear Partners and Colleagues,
Shropshire Council is inviting professionals like you to help inform the future of local drug and alcohol services by completing a short survey. Your insights are vital.
Shropshire Council’s Public Health team commission these services, funded by Public Health England and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. The current service, Shropshire Recovery Partnership, is delivered by WithYou – you can learn more about their work here: Drug and Alcohol Support in Shropshire | WithYou
As part of our Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), we are gathering feedback from professionals who engage with these services in any capacity. Your experience and perspective will feed into the JSNA and help inform how we plan services going forward.
Please take 10 minutes to complete the survey and ensure your voice is heard.
👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DrugAlcoholStakeholders
Your input will help us better understand how services are accessed and experienced and ultimately, improve outcomes for those affected by drug and alcohol use in Shropshire.
Thank you in advance for your time and support.
Andy Wheeler
Public Health Development Officer, Drug & Alcohol, Health, Wellbeing and Prevention
andy.wheeler@shropshire.gov.uk
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