Ofsted and CQC inspectors will be visiting Shropshire next week as part of a SEND Thematic Review on the local offer Thematic reviews of the SEND local offer - GOV.UK.

Where schools have been included as part of this exercise, they have been contacted.

The focus of the visit is to explore

• How well the Local Area Partnership understands the needs of children and young people with SEND in the local area
• The Local Area strategic oversight and delivery of services outlined in the local offer.
• How parents, carers, children and young people are involved in developing the local offer
• The experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND and their families when accessing services in their local area.

There is still time to participate to this exercise through the surveys for pupils (11+), parent carers and professionals.

If you or your colleagues haven't yet completed the survey, please could I ask for your participation? Many thanks

The surveys close at midday tomorrow (29th April)

The SEND & AP Change Programme funding ends on 31^st August - but Outshine will be able to continue as a fully funded service for schools at point of need for the 2026-27 academic year.

Laura Goodall will continue as the Lead and the following posts will also continue:

Advisor, Inclusion and Outreach Mentors, Engagement & Attendance Mentor.

I hope this will support with all the positive practice around inclusion that you are achieving - and extend this into next year as we move towards the SEND Reforms. Thank you all for the engagement and support you have given the Outshine team so far and as we go forwards we will be in touch with you to support review and impact of the service.

Jo Kelly, Head of Virtual School and Education Access Service

Thank you to those of you who attended the SEND White Paper Round Table event on Friday 17^th April. It was a productive and insightful afternoon and has provided us with some clear ideas on what you want to prioritise to develop SEND support and provision in Shropshire. You can find an overview of the key discussion points  HERE.

We want as many of you as possible to have your say and contribute to the development of our Local Area SEND Reform Plan so if you were unable to attend the round table, or if you came but have more to contribute, please complete this short MS Form before 11^th May: Shropshire Local Area SEND Reform Plan - School and Setting Consultation – Fill in form

Please be reminded that the monthly payroll deadline is 9^th of the month regardless of which day of the week this falls on.  All Schools are encouraged to prioritise payroll related tasks and submit in advance of the deadline where possible to ensure that any actions needed as a consequence are able to be done e.g. the issuing of the contract of employment in advance of a start date.

All relevant Schools based staff need to ensure that any actions linked to staffing changes are submitted and authorised in advance of the above deadline (if this is applicable) to ensure staff are paid correctly.  Schools based staff should check their ERP notifications to ensure that submissions have not been rejected due to errors – rejected forms will need to be resubmitted and authorised in line with the above deadlines.

Payroll are unable to accept any work or tasks authorised, requested or submitted after the monthly deadline date, nor will they be responsible for any issues arising due to the result of late work being received within the Payroll team.

Schools based staff should also ensure that any staff leaving employment with Shropshire Council are aware that payslips and P60’s should be accessed (and printed if needed) in advance of their confirmed leave date.

Late/Backdated Work

Payroll continue to receive a high volume of late or backdated notifications - this is not acceptable.

Over the last 3 months there have been 186 instances of late or backdated work being received for Schools. These have all meant that staff were underpaid or overpaid and required the team to re-work payroll records which in turn impact Pension records and contributions paid by both the employee and employer and also HMRC employee and employer tax records.

Payroll cannot just process a late request/raise an urgent payment - this can compromise the whole payroll putting payment to over 2,000 employees at risk.

Whilst it may seem to others outside of Payroll that there is time to "add someone to the payroll" or 'just make a change' after the deadline there are strict controlled processes that have to be undertaken, manual checks that take place and a number of calculations before a BACS file is sent (with contingency time in case it fails) to the bank.

Payroll deadlines need to be met - this is getting the basics right and there will be consequences for Schools not complying if late work is received.  Therefore effective from 1^st March, any payroll instruction that is sent in late or is backdated (related to a prior month) will incur a £300 charge, that will be applied to the School cost centre with no authorisation needed.

The Early years provider agreement is now live.

The Department for Education (DfE) have asked us to put a provider agreement in place; this is a statutory requirement for all local authorities and is essential that we have this in place between us the local authority and all childcare providers. The agreement itself encompasses the already published statutory guidance from the DfE, with some more further detail in relation to Shropshire.

The DfE have given us very clear instruction. Providers must sign and agree the terms and conditions set out within the document. Failure to do so will mean we cannot pass on funded entitlements to settings.

Please can you ensure you review and sign by Monday 8th June at 3pm.

If you have not received an email asking you to sign the document, please reach out to Dan.Steele@shropshire.gov.uk

Stronger Practice Hub - Thrive Together West Midlands are pleased to share details of the upcoming Reception Network, part of the Best Start in Life programme, hosted by Ryders Hayes Primary School.

The network has been designed to bring together Reception practitioners to:

• Share effective practice
• Explore key themes in Reception
• Strengthen outcomes for children
• Build meaningful connections across settings

Session details:

• Wednesday 20 May 2026 | 4:00–5:30pm – Introduction to the Reception Network
• Tuesday 16 June 2026 | 4:00–5:30pm – (Further details to follow)
• Delivered online via Zoom

This is a valuable opportunity for both new and experienced Reception practitioners to collaborate, reflect and develop their practice alongside peers.

Booking link: https://forms.gle/wBGjjVr1B9vnxStZ8

If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to ask.

Laurie Johnson

Education Quality Improvement and Learning Co-ordinator (Early Years)

Laurie.johnson@shropshire.gov.uk

To further strengthen the quality of Reception provision, the Department for Education has released a comprehensive package of Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) assessment support for school leaders and practitioners. This national offer is designed to improve the reliability of assessment, build teacher confidence and address common misconceptions.

As part of this programme, the DfE is funding local authorities to deliver EYFSP assessment support sessions for schools and pre‑reception settings. These sessions will run once each term, beginning this summer.

We are pleased to offer the following summer term EYFSP Assessment Support sessions:

📍 North – Oswestry Marches Training Centre

Wednesday 7th May, 9:00am–12:00pm  

Capacity: 40 places

📍 Shrewsbury – The Guildhall

Thursday 8th May, 9:00am–12:00pm  

Capacity: 56 places

📍 South – Ludlow Mascall Centre

Tuesday 20th May, 9:00am–12:00pm  

Capacity: 30 places

This is a valuable opportunity for Reception teachers, leaders and practitioners to deepen their understanding of EYFSP expectations and strengthen consistency across settings. 

Booking information will follow but please save the date

Free Level One Attachment Training Offer

On behalf of Shropshire Virtual School, the Shropshire Educational Psychology Service will provide delegates with an understanding of the theory and neuroscience behind early child development and the importance of nurture on the developing brain.

It focuses on how to support teachers and key adults to interpret and understand the children and young people’s behaviours through an early developmental lens and explore strategies to support the pupils they work with.

The aim of the session will be to empower school staff to feel able to support these pupils through the power of relationships and providing a safe and secure place for these children and young people to be educated.

Date: Monday 18th May 2026, 9:30-12:30,
at The Lantern Centre, Meadow Farm Drive,
Shrewsbury SY1 4NG
(free parking and on site café)

Please see the attached flyer for more details

Use the booking form to secure a place.

Leading Learning Outdoors is a practical, reflective
CPD day built around a supported canoe journey on the
River Severn, from Montford Bridge to Shrewsbury.

Join us on a river journey which acts as a living case study for how learning, leadership and pupil development can be intentionally designed through outdoor experiences.

Across the day, participants explore:
• Leadership, supervision and presence in dynamic environments
• Designing challenge without increasing risk
• Inclusion and adaptation with mixed confidence groups
• Short, purposeful reflection that links experience back to school practice

Friday 22 May | 9:30–3:30 | Free to attend
We’d love to welcome you, please see the attached flyer for more details and how to book a place.