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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Shropshire Down's Syndrome Support Group
We are a group of families who have a child, teenager or young adult with Down's Syndrome.
We offer regular free events and outings as a way of getting together and having fun, with a chance to catch up with friends, both old and new.
We hold meetings every 2 to 3 months and we welcome new ideas for get together etc. If you would like more information or would like to join our group please contact us via enquiries@sdssg.co.uk
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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
SENDIASS School Offer
We are further developing our offer and below are some of the ways we can support your school
- We can visit coffee mornings and run workshops jointly with you.
- Facilitate SEND Information Group Sessions for parents and carers
- Help facilitate targeted sessions on SEND topics including EHCPS, Reviews, Transition
- Facilitate young people group sessions with our dedicated worker
- Joint visit with other CVS projects including Children's Autism Hub, young carers.
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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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SENCo Space
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CPD
Upcoming Telford & Wrekin CPD courses which may be of interest to SENCo’s
The following courses may be of interest to SENCO’s
For further details click on the link and log into your Ollie account to view the course content and associated costs.
Details of all CPD courses contained within the Telford & Wrekin CPD Booklet for Schools can be found here
Early Years Inclusion Funding Updates
We would like to consult with you, as we review and reshape our EYIF model.
Please follow this link and tell us what you think by 28th May 2025:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LP7RPCM
If you have any further comments, please email eyif@telford.gov.uk
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ELSA – CPD from September 2025
Celebrating Excellence in Emotional Literacy Support
Updates from TAW EPS on the ELSA initiative, including the Quality Mark and new CPD opportunities from September 2025.
We are running an info-give coffee and cake event for SENCo's/ line managers at Telford Mercure (hybrid via Teams/in person) on...
Tues 20th May from 4pm-4.45-5pm
...to share our plans for ELSA, what the commitment is, costs etc so that schools can make a fully informed decision before committing to ELSA.
Reserve your place via ELSA@telford.gov.uk
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Fair Share Funding
Reminder – Deadline for applying for Fair Share is 30th June.
The SEND Fairer Share Fund for Mainstream Schools 25/26 has an allocated budget of £275K. This has increased in recent years and represents the ambition that mainstream schools are enabled and have the resilience to support increasing complexity of children’s needs.
The fund is split into two parts; Part A is determined through a formula and Part B is through a request process. To qualify for Part B you must have received funding from Part A, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
Applications for PART B funding should be made as soon as possible and preferably before 30th June.
Please refer to SEND Fair Share Fund for Mainstream Schools on the SEND - Local offer, for further information.
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Partnership in Neurodiversity in Schools 2024-2025(PINS)
Year 2 of PINS will run from 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026.
20 Telford schools joined the DfE funded PINS project in April 2024, a one year project to develop the provision for neurodivergent pupils in our primary schools.
See below the difference it has made to our schools.
If you would like to find out more about the PINS project contact Sian.deane1@taw.org.uk.
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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