Telford and Wrekin SEND Local Offer
Parent Carer Zone updates.
The SEND Local Offer is currently being reviewed and developed in collaboration the SEND Team, our parent carer reps who attend the Working Together for Parent Participation group (WTPP) and other relevant professionals.
This work is focused on ensuring information provided is accurate, up to date and reflects the current needs of our local community. Based on recent feedback, the Parent Carer Zone has been refreshed, and this is our key focus in this edition of our newsletter.
The Parent Carer Zone offers an overview of support services available to families with children or young people who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Telford and Wrekin. You will find helpful guidance on local services, including who they are, what they offer, and how to access them. Visit the updated page to learn more about services and support groups available.
We value your feedback and would love to hear your thoughts, on the SEND Family Newsletter and Local Offer. Please feel free to get in touch with us via our feedback form.
Parent Carer
Support groups
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Dandelions drop in Southwater library.
Family Support/direction drop-in
We are a group of lived experienced parents that have been in need of services to help support us and our families. This drop-in has been set up to help families explore what services/ support there is around Telford and Wrekin.
Tracey will be at every drop-in along side a strengthening family practitioner and will give guidance on where to get support and is also happy to be a listening ear.
Southwater library.
Every Wednesday 9:30am till 12:30pm
We also have a Facebook page available.
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Singing Hands Are Coming To Shropshire!!!
The fabulous duo Singing Hands are coming to Shropshire for a fundraiser show in aid of Shropshire Down's Syndrome Support Group.
Don’t miss out on seeing them, get your tickets today!
Shropshire DS Support Group are proud to present the awesome duo of Suzanne & Tracy, AKA ‘Singing Hands’ are coming to perform a show as a fundraiser for us. This show is undoubtedly going to prove very popular, so get your tickets now to avoid disappointment.
Date: Wednesday 30.4.25 Time: 5pm – 6pm
Venue: Newport CE Junior School, Avenue Road, Newport, TF10 7EA
Cost: £15 per person attending Book your tickets via link below.
https://bookwhen.com/shropshiredssupportgroup#focus=ev-syey-20250430170000
Please park over the road on Specsavers car park (2hrs free parking).STRICTLY NO PARKING ON SITE.
Disabled toilet access on site. Entrance is wheelchair friendly.
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Family Hub Offer
As of the 1st April Strengthening Families and Family Hubs joined to provide a 0-19 (25 with SEND) offer for Telford Families.
From the 1st April 2025 the Family Hubs offer is expanding, and these are a few of the activities on offer:
Drop-ins - provide an opportunity to speak to a Family Hubs practitioner about help and support your family require.
Free family cooking with families for children aged 0-2
We offer fun, friendly free family cooking on a budget demonstration sessions @ Silver Threads Hall Donnington, from the 6th of June till 9th of July 2025 12.30-14.00.
- If you would like your groups or services promoted to families in Telford please contact telfordfamilyhubs@telford.gov.uk for inclusion on our website.
- In order to keep up to date with all new developments we have adapted the Family Hubs website to have a noticeboard where we will put all new activities and information on there – to find out more please follow this link Notice Board
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Challenging Perceptions
We are a Children's Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism support charity based in Woodside Telford.
Challenging Perceptions Children mental health, learning disability and autism support charity based in Woodside Telford. We run a number of local activities supporting children, young people (CYP), and families.
- Youth Drop In for 11-16 year olds every Monday
- Youth well-being & peer support group – for 6 – 10 year olds and meets every Tuesday evening.
- SEND parent and toddler group – a group to support under 5s all stages of diagnosis.
- Well-being drop-ins in school.
- Autism Cooking Group 6-16 year olds
- Advocacy
- Strategic Work with local authority & NHS –
- School pencil cases
- Winter warm packs –fleece blankets, hats, gloves, hot water bottles etc
- Sensory Room accessible at £3.00 per child for 30 minutes.
- Sensory toy shop
- we have an onsite sensory garden
- Well-being pack for Christmas and easter school holidays
PODS Charity
Find out more about the work of the Forum and how we use your voice to improve outcomes for your families.
PODS Parent Carer Forum is the formally recognised, independent peer-led organisation, founded in 2008, representing and involving families of Children and Young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), aged 0-25years.
About Our Parent Carer Forum – Together We Can Make a Difference
We know how much our families are committed and passionate about the SEND world and for those of us who wish to share their knowledge and help us in a more formal way we would like to invite you to be part of our team.
Please feel free to contact our team who are on hand and ready to help with any questions or enquires.
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Telford and Wrekin SENDIASS
We're here for you . . .
Who are we and what do we do?
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If you're a parent carer of a child or young person with special educational needs or a disability, living in Telford and Wrekin.
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If you have an issue or concern in the areas of education, health or social care.
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If you think your child has or may have a special educational need.
We are an impartial service that provides information, advice & support to enable parents carers to make informed decisions regarding education.
Our role is to give information and advice to empower parent carers to resolve matters and take things forward themselves with the information they have been given.
One way we do this is by joining one of our SEN Bitesize Sessions, where you can learn about SEN Support, the Graduated Approach and the SEN Journey. We hold these at our office, on MS Teams and in schools.
Join us for one of our SEN Bitesize Sessions.
SEN Bitesize Information Sessions | SENDIASS Telford
Recent feedback from a parent carer: 'I found this a really helpful session, non judgemental, informative and supportive... it was positive and moving forwards I feel empowered to help my daughter...'
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Telford Children’s Autism Hub
Spotlight on Children's Autism Hub
Children and Young People Engagement
Our children and young people are at the heart of the hub and their voices are vital to the support we offer.
Their views count and the Elevate Youth Group is one way in which young people can participate in different ways. They have been involved in a number of awareness raising projects and we wanted to highlight the valuable contributions 2 of our volunteers have made within the community.
Celebrating Excellence: Young Volunteers Honoured with High Sheriff's Award
We are thrilled to share some exciting news with our community! Two of our remarkable young volunteers have been recognised for their exceptional contributions. Joe and Bray, both integral members of our Elevate Youth Group and dedicated volunteers within the Council for Voluntary Service (CVS), have been honoured with the prestigious High Sheriff's Award. 🎉
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A celebration of a successful transition, to reception class for a child with Autism.
A well-planned transition making use of the child’s interests, was just what was needed for a little boy starting on his school journey into reception class.
Theo began reception class in September 2024, and shortly after, in October, he was diagnosed with Autism.
To ensure a smooth transition into school, staff collaborated closely with Theo’s parents, gathering information around Theo’s strengths and interests, in order to create an inclusive environment tailored to his needs. Theo has a keen interest in logos, which both captivate and motivate him, supporting his engagement, learning and continued growth and development. Read the full story below.
In our previous SEND Family newsletter we had a spotlight on Neurodiversity. If you would like to read more on this you can find previous newsletters on the Local Offer news stand.
The Local offer also has more information on Neurodiversity.
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A message from the Sensory Inclusion Service about...
Deaf Awareness Week: 5th - 11th May 2025
Did you know that there are over 45,000 deaf children in the UK? Hearing loss can be in one or both ears and can range from mild to profound. There are lots of different types of hearing devices, from conventional hearing aids to cochlear implants/processors to support children with hearing loss.
Why not take this opportunity to explore the Sensory Inclusion Service’s Top Tips for Deaf Awareness Week:
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CHILDREN’S SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY
PRE-ASSESSMENT REFERRAL UPDATE
The Children’s Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Service are trialling a new initiative and we kindly ask for your support with this. The initiative is to help manage the significant number of referrals being received and the consequent long wait times for assessment. This will enable us to identify the children who most need our help and reduce the waiting times.
For children who have been referred to Children’s SLT and are currently on the waiting list for an initial assessment, prior to a child’s initial appointment a pre-assessment form will now be sent to the child’s education setting and parent carers to request an update. We are asking for your support to please complete the questions on the form, giving as much information as you can, and return it to shropcom.childtherapydocumentexchange@nhs.net prior to the child’s appointment date.
The form is brief and quick to complete. This will enable us to gain an update on the child’s progress both at school and at home, to find out whether there are still concerns and check that the appointment is needed, and to also make sure they are on the right pathway. If there are no further concerns, we will discharge the referral. If parent carer or setting still have concerns, we will retain the referral.
We also have a Children’s Speech and Language Therapy advice line, which is available to parents and carers of children currently on our caseloads, those referred and those not known to the service: 01743 450800 (option 4).
We hope that whilst waiting for an appointment, education settings and parent carers have been able to access our website for further information and support:
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Social Care Focus
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iCan2 Creative Arts Club for Children with Disabilities
4All Foundation are running THREE Creative Arts clubs per week for iCan2 members.
iCan2 members can now book a place on the Creative Arts Club!
These exciting activities are divided into dance, drama, and music workshops, featuring themed sessions such as The Lion King, African drumming, and street dance.
The sessions are held on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening, 4:30-6:30pm at Admaston House,
Wellington Rd, Admaston, Telford TF5 0BN
We have received positive feedback from parents who have already attended, and we are excited to hear how the sessions progress.
The sessions are only available to iCan2 members. You can become a member by downloading an application form here.
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