As previously promoted, we are holding a roundtable event for headteachers to take feedback on the experience of schools with respect to SEND and Inclusion in schools. This is scheduled for this Thursday at 2.30pm.
The event is designed to support the ongoing evaluation of services and to take feedback from headteachers.
If you wish to attend, please visit the link below.
SEND and Inclusion Roundtable Event for headteachers - 22/1/26 | Shropshire Learning Gateway
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Online Children's Portals are going live on Monday 9th February.
These Portals will help to streamline communication between families, professionals and Shropshire Council. The public-facing portals allow users to securely submit key forms, this includes Early Help referrals, requests for advice or Safeguarding concerns.
These Portals will enable people to contact Shropshire Council at their convenience, not when our opening hours allow and they will reduce the need for paper-based communication and documentation, which can be prone to errors, delays, and losses.
The Children’s Portals will support the Compass and EHAST colleagues to ensure the correct information is gathered as efficiently and effectively as possible, therefore ensuring the decision making based on this info, will lead to suitable, timely help and support for children and young people.
We will continue to keep schools updated in advance of the 9th February.
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We have become aware that Headteachers are not able to add and assign Team members to their Statutory Safeguarding Audits who are also team members assigned to the audits of other registered education providers (for example Trust/Group Strategic Leads; Governors/DSLs of Federated Schools). This is something that we will have to administer on your behalf if required and with your express agreement.
As the Head/Manager/Principal of your registered education provision; if you would like to assign a Trust/Group Strategic Lead, Governor or DSL that operates across 2 or more registered provisions; please email Safeguardingaudits@shropshire.gov.uk to provide permission for relevant individuals to be assigned to your audit(s), including the following information:
- Name, email address and role of person to be assigned.
- Which registered provision audit they are be assigned to.
Thank you for your support in this, please rest assured that we will be reviewing this part of the process as part of our commitment to improving procedures for Safeguarding Audits.
The Safeguarding Team
Safeguarding.audits@shropshire.gov.uk
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Access to Education is leading a co-production morning focusing on the use of "Reduced Timetables" with the aim of developing Shropshire policy and practice in line with guidance. We are seeking nominations from a cross section of primary, secondary and TMBSS settings (most appropriate staff member) to a 2-hour working together session to be held in person at The Guildhall on Tuesday 27 January from 9.30-11.30am.
We will be reviewing processes, reporting, monitoring and outcomes for our Shropshire pupils across RTTs/PLPs. FLPs – and other partners will also be invited - from across EHAST and Health for example.
Hopefully you will now have received into your mailbox a link to complete a 3-minute form to share your thoughts. If you would like to take part in the morning, by return please share the details of your nominated staff member and we will confirm allocated spaces (which are limited to room capacity) by this Wednesday at the latest.
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Information to share with headteacher following updates from the recent child exploitation panel meeting -
We have been made aware of a situation involving a potentially contaminated batch of cocaine currently in circulation in the Shrewsbury area, which is causing harm. Investigations are ongoing, but current information suggests ‘Pink cocaine’ is suspected (also known as ‘tusi’ or ‘tucci’) as the drug was pink, but ‘2CB’ was also mentioned.
- ‘Pink cocaine’ is not cocaine most of the time. ‘It’s usually a mix of different drugs, and what’s in it can change batch to batch, which makes it riskier than a single known substance. It has commonly been found to contain ketamine plus other stimulants/empathogens.’
- ‘2CB’ belongs to the "2C" family of phenethylamines and is known by street names such as ‘Nexus’, ‘Bromo’, ‘Toonies’, and ‘Venus’.
If you have any intelligence that could be linked to this incident, please share it with Shropshire’s DrugAlerts inbox at:
📧 drugalerts@shropshire.gov.uk
Harm Reduction Advice Cocaine.pdf
Best Wishes
Jo Smith, Lead of Education Access Service
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This year NAHT are hosting 6 regional events across the UK for school leaders and chairs of governors wondered if you would be able to share this exciting upcoming event with school leaders and chairs of governors across your local authority?
The closest event for West Midlands colleagues is being held in Birmingham on Tuesday 24th February and further information can be found https://www.naht.org.uk/Events-CPD/Conferences/NAHT-Regional-Roadshow-2026 however colleagues are welcome to attend any of the 6 events across the country.
This is a unique opportunity which comes at a critical time for the profession, as leaders continue to navigate sustained pressure from policy change, Ofsted reform, funding constraints and SEND challenges. The roadshows are designed to provide direct access to national voices, practical insight, and the opportunity to ask questions, learn and connect with peers.
Each event will feature a strong speaker line-up, including:
- NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman – The education landscape
- NAHT assistant general secretary James Bowen – Education reform/white paper
- NAHT SEND and Alternative Provision Sector Council chair Marijke Miles – SEND review
- Browne Jacobson partner Katie Michelon and colleagues from the law firm – Parental complaints
- NAHT head of policy (professional) Ian Hartwright – Ofsted update
- NAHT head of policy (practice and research) Sarah Hannafin – Curriculum review
- NAHT assistant general secretary Paula Porter – Employment Rights Act.
Events are open to members and non-members, with pricing deliberately set to reflect the challenging financial context that schools are operating in, while still offering high value for leaders and leadership teams.
The link to book can be found Regional Roadshow - Birmingham Registration, Tue 24 Feb 2026 at 09:30 | Eventbrite
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For full details of CPD provided by the Shropshire Council EQS team, visit the SLG
To support the completion of the statutory S11 safeguarding audit, safeguarding officers are running a series of Troubleshooting Drop-Ins.
For the full list of sessions visit this page. This page also includes the slideshow from the launch webinars.
The audit must be submitted by 27th March 2026
Education providers have the duration of the Spring Term to complete the audit.
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We’re reaching out as schools begin the new term to share a quick outline of what our athlete visit looks like from the first hello to the final cheer.
A Sports For Champions day include:
🏅 Whole-school Assembly
Your visiting athlete will share their journey, highlights, challenges, and how they stay motivated, all brought to life with medals and stories your pupils won’t forget.
💪 Sponsored Fitness Circuit
After the assembly, classes take part in a lively circuit led by the athlete. It’s designed by athletes themselves to build stamina, confidence and teamwork and every child joins in at a level that feels right for them. It’s fun, inclusive and creates a brilliant buzz across school.
🎯 Why schools love the format
✔ It ticks confidence, resilience and wellbeing boxes
✔ Simple to organise with support from our team
✔ A great way to motivate pupils after the break
If you'd like to check availability, use the button below and we’ll take it from there.
Book an Athlete Visit
Looking forward to working with you,
Sports for Champions UK CIC
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