Welcome to the latest edition of Shropshire's SEND newsletter, co-produced by Shropshire Council's SEND Local Offer, Shropshire's Parent Carer Council (PACC) and NHS Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin. 

The newsletter aims to provide easy access to key information for SEND families.

Please do continue to provide feedback on this newsletter, we want this to work for you and we are keen to hear what you think of it, and what articles you'd like to see in future editions. You can email us your thoughts at Local.Offer@Shropshire.gov.uk

Our Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) Meet and Chat drop-ins are open to anyone in Shropshire supporting a child with SEND — whether you're a parent carer, family member, or professional.

Join us for an informal drop-in session where you can ask questions, get advice, and explore the support available to you 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, so come along, have a chat, and find the help you need!

Come along to ask questions, get practical advice, and connect with professionals who understand your journey. You do not need to have an official diagnosis to access these sessions

Information to help families in Shropshire - Shropshire Together Community Directory

Need help with SEND support or school meetings? Shropshire SENDIASS can help you understand options, prepare questions, and feel confident about next steps. They are impartial (they don’t take sides) but are there to support you.

Contact them:

Website https://www.shropshiresendiass.com/  

Email: iass@cabshrophshire.org.uk

Call: 01743 280019

We want every child in Shropshire with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to be healthy, happy and safe. They should have the same opportunities as other children.

We aim to provide good local support so that children can start their local primary school without needing an education, health and care plan (EHCP). The early years StepIntoSchool fund helps children with complex needs move from nurseries or childminders to primary school. It also helps children with complex needs who haven't been to nursery or a childminder when they begin primary school.

The StepIntoSchool Funding parent carer guide can be found on the SEND Local Offer -

Early years StepIntoSchool parent carer guide.

Did you know we have eight different sensory systems, 5 of them are more well known, and 3 of them you may not have heard of before.

We know that everybody experiences the world in different ways, sometimes the way our body processes sensory information can make it difficult to join in with daily life or experiences, which is true for many children and young people.

The Introducing Sensory Processing video is a great place to start to understand more about sensory processing and offers some hints and tips to help support a child who may find some tasks difficult to complete, may be overwhelmed in certain situations or who may be craving or seeking certain stimuli.

Take a look at the Shropshire Community Health’s Children's Sensory Information page.

It’s Epilepsy Awareness Week from 22 – 28 May and for anyone who wants to understand more about Epilepsy this video from Epilepsy Action is a great place to start What is epilepsy?

We also wanted to share information with you about the role of Paediatric Epilepsy Nurse Specialists.  Louise and Kirsty are Paediatric Epilepsy Nurse specialists covering Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Mid Wales. They are both experienced children's nurses with a variety of experience having worked together on the acute children's ward at Shrewsbury hospital for over 10 years. Louise then moved into her Epilepsy specialist nurse role 12 years ago. Kirsty started her Epilepsy specialist nurse role 7 years ago.

They are hospital based and have a caseload of approximately 700 children who have Epilepsy; many of whom also have other varying medical needs including Autism, ADHD and learning difficulties or learning disabilities. Louise and Kirsty not only support these children and their families in dealing with their Epilepsy diagnosis, but they also provide training for educational settings on Epilepsy management and Epilepsy awareness.

Louise and Kirsty work to support the identification and reduction of health inequalities in the care of children and young people living with epilepsy. They also contribute to the improvement of health information required for Education, Health and Care Plan’s, specifically for children and young people living with Epilepsy and SEND. Supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities is a large part of their role and something they are both keen to develop and improve over the coming months. 

Louise and Kirsty work in partnership with schools, children, young people and families to develop Individual Healthcare plans. The aim is to ensure that schools know how to support children and young people effectively and provide clarity about what needs to be done, when and by whom.

They also regularly meet with children and young people within the outpatient’s clinic setting, as well as acute setting, such as during admission to the children's ward at Princes Royal Hospital. They provide a telephonic help line for families to discuss any concerns related to epilepsy. This may also involve referral to other services to help support children form a holistic approach. 

Louise Edmunds 01952 565937

Kirsty Wagg 01952 282889

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.

Kids Shropshire Universal Autism Support Service provides free, early intervention and person-centred support for families with autistic children and young people aged 0–19

No diagnosis is needed to access our services. We support families with neurodiverse children, including those with ADHD and PDA.

We hold regular training sessions, coffee mornings and family events.

We aim to:

• Improve understanding of autism
• Share practical support strategies
• Enhance emotional wellbeing and quality of life

To access the service complete a self-referral form which can be found on our web page, it is a quick and easy form:  Shropshire Universal Autism Support Service - Kids   you will also find information of our up and coming training and events.  Once you have completed a referral form you will be sent a link to book a telephone appointment.

The Parenting Help and Support Line are here for all parents, including those parent carers of children and young people with SEND, 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

The SEND Local Offer  is a single place for information, services, and resources families of children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

It's been designed with a family’s needs at the heart of the process. 

Having access to good quality information to help you understand the world of SEND is really important when making decisions about your child's life. This is where websites such as the SEND Local Offer can really help.

The local offer has two main sections. The first is the information section, where systems and processes are explained, such as how to get extra help at nursery or school, or who to speak to if you're worried about your child's progress. This section will introduce you to services that might help your family, and help you to understand what support is available from a range of services across education, health and social care.

The second section is the service directory. This is a comprehensive list of services, clubs, support groups and businesses that might be of use to your family. It provides a brief introduction to what's offered and contact details so that you can find out more. There's also a feedback button for you to provide information about your experience of using a service, and a listing of events and activities that families supporting a young person with SEND might find of interest.

This video explains more about the SEND Local Offer.

Difficulties in getting to sleep or staying asleep can be experienced by all children, but they are even more common in children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and can be longer lasting.

Research shows that over 80% of children with additional needs also have a sleep issue and 40-80% of autistic children and young adults are also affected.

Lack of sleep can have a huge impact on a person’s mood, behaviour, and their ability to learn. Having a child in the family who does not sleep well can affect everyone.

There is a new page on Healthier Together website which looks at the causes of sleep difficulties, what might help, and local and national support services

Please share this information with families who may benefit.

Sleep difficulties in children and young people with SEND

Sometimes families feel an EHCP is the only way to get help. An EHC needs assessment is one route, but not the only route.

Start here:

1. Email the SENCO and ask for a SEN Support meeting. Ask: What support is in place? How often? What are the goals? When will we review?  
2. Ask school to write it down clearly (or share the plan). This helps create a “golden thread”: needs → goals → support tried → review dates → what changed.  
3. If support isn’t working, ask: What will school try next, and by when will we review it?

If you’re unsure what to ask for, or you want help organising paperwork or thinking through options, contact Shropshire SENDIASS. They are impartial: they we won’t tell you what to do, but they can help you understand choices and next steps.

Contact them:

Website https://www.shropshiresendiass.com/  

Email iass@cabshrophshire.org.uk

Telephone - 01743 280019

If your child is finding school hard (worries, anxiety, overwhelm, unmet needs), act early. Small steps now can stop things getting worse.

1) Contact school EARLY (today if you can)

• Email/call and say: “My child is struggling to attend because of anxiety/unmet needs. Please arrange a meeting with the SENCO.”

2) Ask for a meeting with:

• SENCO  or Class teacher/tutor  or Pastoral/attendance lead

3) Ask for a Graduated Support Plan (GSP)

• “Please put a GSP in place and share it with me in writing.”
• “What support/adjustments will school put in place”
• “What are the goals for my child?”
• “What support will happen, how often, and who will do it?”
• “When will we review it?” (set a date)

4) Ask for reasonable adjustments (small changes that help)

• A trusted adult / named key person
• Safe space or calm start to the day
• Sensory adjustments (noise, crowds, break/lunch plans)
• Visual timetable / clear routines / warning before changes
• Reduced homework or chunked work (if needed)
• Plan for transitions (arriving, changing lessons, end of day)

5) Make an attendance plan together (step-by-step)

• “What is a small first step my child can manage?”
• “Can we try a phased return, with a clear review date?”

6) If school suggests a reduced/part-time timetable

• “Please put it in writing: why, how long, and the plan to build back up.”
• “When is the review meeting?” (keep it short and time-limited)

7) Ask about wellbeing support in school

• “Is our school part of an MHST (Mental Health Support Team)?”
• “Who is the Mental Health Lead and how do we access MHST help?”
• “Can school do a check-in or small group support?”
• “When does the School Nurse come into school?”

8) Get health support if anxiety is affecting daily life

• Book a GP appointment
• Contact the School Nursing Team phone: 0333 358 3654/ text: 07507 330346

9) Get impartial help

• Contact Shropshire SENDIASS for advice, meeting prep, understanding options and next steps

10) Keep a simple record

• Dates absent / difficult times of day
• What school tried and what changed
• What helps

If you feel your child is not safe, get urgent help (NHS 111 / 999 in an emergency).

Shropshire Parent Carer Council have produced a guide for Parent Carers and Family Carers to understand more about Mental Capacity, Power of Attorney, Deputyship and Best Interest Decisions. The guide includes information, legislation and where to go for more information. You can read more here.

We’ve put together a list of events and activities that could make a fantastic day out for your family.

Though not every event listed is SEND specific, activities like; quieter sessions and sensory-friendly trails to hands-on crafts and calm outdoor adventures, there’s something for every child to enjoy at their own pace.  View the list on the Family Information Service Directory.

If you are a member of All In Short Breaks you might want to book onto one of the activities running, you can view the information here All In Short Breaks - Shrewsbury Town Foundation

The Healthy Lives Holiday Programme offers a variety of activities to support physical and mental wellbeing, providing young people with SEND with opportunities to catch up with friends and be active. The programme also offers peer support for Parent Carers and Family Carers.

PACC are now planning their Summer Programme which includes activities for 8–14-year old's, activities for 14-25-year olds, all-age family activities (where siblings are able to attend).

This programme is not respite/ holiday club, and a Parent Carer or PA will need to attend activities. You can read more and register here.

This event is a fantastic opportunity to find out more about the DFN Project SEARCH Supported Internship Programme that Shrewsbury College runs in partnership with The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital and Project SEARCH.

This one-year programme is aimed at providing young people with EHCPs with real life work opportunities within a supported environment. It runs similar to a college year from September to July. It is a Monday to Friday programme between 9am to 4pm. 4 days of the week are based at Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital with the remaining 1 day at Shrewsbury College.

The information event takes place on Monday 8 June 2026 at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in the ARC Seminar Room. There are a variety of times available 11:00 to 12:00 - 13:00 to 14:00 - 15:00 to 16:00 - 17:00 to 18:00. To find out more and to book a place visit this page - DFN Project Search Information Event Shrewsbury College

Shropshire Council’s carers support team has organised a range of events and competitions to recognise and support unpaid and family carers in the community.

Shropshire Council is inviting carers to join in the celebrations of Carers Week 2026, an annual campaign to raise awareness of unpaid carers, and to help people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

The theme for this year’s carers week focuses on the power of Building Carer Friendly communities and the real, lasting difference they can make to the lives of unpaid carers.

Carers week is our opportunity to say thank you to all unpaid and family carers in Shropshire.  We do recognise and appreciate the valuable support carers give others

From Sunday 7^th June to Sunday 14^th June 2024 the council’s carers support team has organised a range of activities across Shropshire.

Details of activities and programme can be found What’s happening – latest news and events | Shropshire Council

To book a place on any of the activities on the programme, please email: shropshire.carers@shropshire.gov.uk or call 01743 341995

We would like to say a sincere thank you to everyone who took part in the recent SEND Thematic Review of the Local Offer, which took place earlier this month. Your time, openness and contributions through surveys, visits and focus groups were invaluable in helping inspectors understand the lived experiences of children and young people with SEND and their families. 

In the next few weeks, we will receive a letter from the inspectors outlining what works well in Shropshire and any areas of improvement. We’ll keep you up to date through this newsletter and our social media accounts.

Recovery Project Update

We know how important it is to keep you updated, so we wanted to share some good news about the EHCP Team. We’ve recently brought in several experienced EHCP Case Officers who are here to help us tackle the backlog of Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNAs) and Annual Reviews. The new team members have been with us for two weeks and are already making a positive difference.

You may notice that your case officer changes, but please don’t worry – this is simply so we can make sure overdue assessments and requests to update plans are sorted out as quickly as possible.

As part of this Recovery project, we would like to provide some reassurances to both parents and settings of any Year 6 pupils currently going through the EHCNA process who have not yet been allocated a secondary school placement from September 26.

The Recovery Team will initially be focussing on drafting and finalising any outstanding EHC plans a number of children and young people across a few key priority areas including those for Year 6 pupils. If you have not yet received a Final version of your child’s EHC plan which names a Secondary provision from September 26, please be assured this will be prioritised by a member of the Recovery Team so that we can name a secondary setting for your child before the end of the summer term, where process aligns with this aim.  A Recovery Case Officer will be allocated within the next two weeks, and they will contact you directly by the end of May half term to introduce themselves. This person will be dedicated to overseeing the drafting of your child’s EHC plan, sending out appropriate consultations all the way through to the Final being issued.

Once an appropriate secondary setting has been named, the SENCOs at your child’s current primary school and the new school, will work with you to plan a supportive transition (visits, handover of information, reasonable adjustments). 

We would like to thank you for your patience and understanding during this process so far.

Contact information:

• EHCP Team email address: EHCPTeam@shropshire.gov.uk
• EHCP Team phone number: 01743 254267 (Mon-Weds 8.45am-5pm, CLOSED THURSDAYS, Fri 8.45am-4pm)

Training

We’ve provided training on EHCNAs and Annual Reviews to schools and settings, and we’re excited to be co-producing training for parent carers as well. This new training will be available over the Summer and Autumn Terms 2026, and we’ll make sure it’s advertised widely so as many parent carers as possible can benefit.

New Look Paperwork

We’ve listened to your feedback about our EHCP templates and have worked together to create a new template that’s clearer and easier to understand for young people, parent carers and settings. This updated template will be launched in the new academic year 2026/2027, and we’ll also introduce Annual Review paperwork that matches the new design.

Spot Light on our Team

Let’s meet Abi Pemberton – EHCP Case Officer within the Key Stage 2 cohort.

I have been a dedicated member of the Shropshire Council team for 20 years, beginning my journey in Learning and Skills, where I spent 9 years developing a strong foundation in education services. Over 11 years ago, I moved into SEND, bringing with me a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of how systems and processes work behind the scenes.

Throughout my time in Shropshire, I have seen many changes across services and legislation. My extensive knowledge of SEND within the county, combined with my long-standing commitment, means I am able to offer valuable insight and continuity to families and colleagues alike — as I often say, I’m “part of the furniture” now!

Outside of work, I am a proud mum of two children, one of whom is neurodiverse, giving me not only professional expertise but personal understanding too. Family life has recently become even more lively with the arrival of a mischievous new puppy. When I’m not working, you’ll likely find me enjoying caravan holidays, spending time outdoors and making memories with my family.

In June, I will be taking on an incredible challenge — a skydive to raise money for the amazing work of the West Midlands Air Ambulance Charity. It’s a brave leap for a brilliant cause.

You may have seen news about a new SEND reform plan called “Every Child Achieving and Thriving.” This is the Government sharing ideas about how SEND support could work in the future.

The key message

Nothing changes overnight. For the next few years, the current SEND law and processes still apply. Your child should still get support through their school (SEND Support) and, where needed, through an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan).

What families can expect

• Most changes are ideas for the future
• The plan suggests that big system changes would not start until at least September 2029.
• If your child already has an EHCP, it should continue as it is.
• If your child is in Year 3 or above, it’s expected that their EHCP would stay with them through their school years, unless the local authority ends (ceases) it through the usual legal process.

If you need help now:

• Talk to your child’s class teacher and SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator). Ask what support is in place and what will happen next.
• If you feel stuck, contact Shropshire SENDIASS. They can help you understand your options, prepare for meetings, and plan next steps. Contact them:

Website https://www.shropshiresendiass.com/  

Email iass@cabshrophshire.org.uk

Telephone - 01743 280019