SEND News
Parent Carer and Family News
Subscribe to the SEND Parent Carer and Family Newsletter
Would you like to sign up to receive the SEND Parent Carer and Family Newsletter direct to your Inbox? If so, please follow the link below and enter your email address.
Welcome to the SEND Parent Carer and Family Newsletter Summer 2023
Ofsted & CQC Area SEND Inspection
The next full area SEND inspection will be within 5 years.
Happy Healthy and Active Holidays: Summer 2023!
There are still spaces available to book for summer holiday club activities! Please visit the Happy Healthy Active Holidays page on the telford.gov.uk website to register for HHAH and browse the activities available. Eligibility Criteria:
• Children in reception – year 11 who receive benefit related Free School Meals.
• SEND Children.
• Referral in by schools/services for vulnerable/at risk students that may benefit from the scheme.
Kids for £1 activities available all summer
Telford & Wrekin Council have just launched their bumper School Holiday Activity programme ahead of children breaking up for their summer holidays later this month.
The latest edition includes all of the usual one-pound activities which will run 7 days a week between Monday 24 July and Sunday 3 September 2023. Sessions include archery taster sessions, fun and floats swimming, tobogganing, tots donuts, golf, tennis, badminton and soft play sessions.
As a part of the bumper holiday programme, there are also offers and discounts available at some of the main leisure attractions in and around Telford Town Park. The programme is available on the Kids for a quid website.
SEND Local Offer
On the Local Offer website you can find information and advice about services, support and activities for children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and disabilities all in one place.
Find clear and accessible advice, information and support on…
- Leisure, fun and short break activities
- Specialist services including education health and care plans
- Mental Health and Wellbeing
- How schools support special educational needs
- Local Offer for Young People
- FAQ's for Parents, carers and families
- Preparing for Adulthood
- Health services
- Care services
- and so much more...
Your views matter, please tell us about any improvements we can make to the SEND Local Offer website!
Email us at: localoffer@telford.gov.uk
What's New...
Sensory Inclusion Service
The Sensory Inclusion Service have refreshed their pages on the SEND Local Offer. Please take a look to meet the team and find out about the support they provide.
The Sensory Inclusion Service (SIS) is a joint service between Shropshire Council, Telford & Wrekin Council and Health. They support children and young people who have a hearing and/or visual impairment, or a multi-sensory impairment.
The pages on the local offer explain who the team support, who can access the service and what they do.
Hearing Impairment
• What is a hearing impairment?
• Different types of hearing loss
• Information on hearing aids
• Deaf awareness strategies
Visual Impairment
• Different visual conditions
• Useful video's
• What happens in the Eye Clinic?
• Visual Impairment resource library
Share Your Views!
Adult Social Care Charging Policies Review
We want to get your views on the impact proposed changes to adult social care charges may have on you and your family. We want to hear from as many people as possible, including residents who use social care services, their families and carers.
Share your views by 4 September 2023.
Visit www.telford.gov.uk/ASCcharging to find out about the proposed changes and to:
What is currently happening?
We provide adult social care services to approximately 4,100 people in Telford and Wrekin.
Our services benefit people who may be frail, have disabilities, neurodiverse conditions, have mental health issues or other medical conditions. We not only assist the people receiving care but also support their carers, helping them maintain independence, safety and well-being to lead fulfilling lives.
When people require adult social care services, we assess their specific care and support needs. We also look at their income, to determine their contribution towards the cost of care.
The amount people need to pay for their care varies. Some people are not required to pay anything, some people make a contribution while others are self-funders who cover the full cost of their care.
Currently approximately 1,900 people receive chargeable social care services.
We set out how much people need to contribute towards their social care in the Adult Social Care Charging Policies, based on national legislation, Care Act 2014.
Over the last nine years, since the introduction of the Care Act , we have not made any fundamental changes to these policies. Consequently, social care charges in Telford and Wrekin are currently significantly lower than the national charging guidelines and those of many other local authorities across the country.
Why is change necessary?
Watch our YouTube video on the Adult Social Care Charging Policies:
Over the past nine years, several things have changed that make it necessary for us to review the Adult Social Care Charging Policies:
• we receive significantly less government funding compared to nine years ago and are expected to fund services through our own resources, such as the Council Tax we collect. While we are investing an additional £7.26m in adult social care in 2023/24, it is still insufficient to maintain the same level of services and provide the best care and support our residents need
• we face an increasing demand for adult social care services including people having complex care and support needs. Additionally, there has been a 35.7% rise in the number of residents aged 65 and over in our borough from 2011 to 2021, the highest increase in the West Midlands
• we face growing pressures in the care market, including workforce challenges and rising costs for care packages. Consequently, we are proposing some changes to the Adult Social Care Charging Policies.
Find out more...
Take a look at the proposed changes, and how they will affect people who use adult social care services.
Take a look at the consultation pack, the equality impact analysis and complete the online questionnaire using the link below. Face to face and virtual consultation sessions are available, more information and booking information is available.
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Telford Mind Calm Café for 11-25 year olds
Telford Mind Calm Café sessions aim to provide a person centred and holistic approach to support young people through the challenges that they are facing. There will be activities to engage in, 1:1 support and the opportunity to meet peers facing similar experiences. Free light refreshments are also offered during the sessions.
The sessions are held as follows:
Monday - Brookside Community Centre 4-6pm (13-16yr olds)
Tuesday - Donnington Community Hub 4-6pm (13-16yr olds) Thursday - Wellington Boardroom Cafe 4-6pm (16-25yr olds)
BEAM
Beam is an emotional well-being service for children and young people under 25 years old who are registered with a GP in Shropshire or Telford & Wrekin.
Come along to our drop-in session and be seen by an Emotional Health & Wellbeing Practitioner on the days below, no appointment needed.
• Monday ‘Drop Ins’ – 12pm - 4pm (last session 3.15pm) at The Lantern, Meadow Farm Drive, Shrewsbury, SY1 4NG
• Tuesday ‘Drop Ins’ – 10am - 6pm (last session 5.15pm) at Beam, 9 Market Square, Wellington, TF1 1BP
• Thursday ‘Drop Ins’ – 10am - 6pm (last session 5.15pm) at Beam, 9 Market Square, Wellington, TF1 1BP
You can also register via our website: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk//beamshropshire Young people aged 14 years+ can register themselves.
Young people aged 13 and under will need a parent/carer to register on their behalf. If you have any questions about the Beam service, please contact us by email: shropshirebeam@childrenssociety.org.uk
Shropshire BEAM summer workshops 2023
Shropshire BEAM are holding a range of workshops over the school summer holidays. There are different workshops suitable for all ages – download the flyer for a complete list.
All workshops are run on a drop-in basis and are held at the Wellington BEAM base: 9 Market Square, Wellington, TF1 1BP
They are first come first served, so please arrive promptly is you wish to join a session as there is always limited space available.
Please note that to use any of the BEAM services you must be registered with them. You can register online beforehand at or on arrival
Download: BEAM summer workshops 2023 flyer
Kooth
Kooth provides an anonymous 24-hour online service offering peer support, self-help and have trained counsellors to talk to. Anyone aged 11-25, living in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, can register to access this service and you don’t need to be referred or have an appointment Whilst the website is available 24 hours, there will be someone to talk to online at the following times:
• 12:00 to 22:00 (Monday to Friday)
• 18:00 to 22:00 (Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays)
For more information visit Kooth: http://www.kooth.com
Health
Annual Health Checks
Annual health checks are for adults and young people aged 14 or over with a learning disability.
An annual health check gives people time to talk about anything that is worrying them and means they can get used to going to visit the doctor.
To help explain what is involved in an annual health check, a group of inspiring young people from Derwen College have created a video to raise awareness of the importance of annual health checks.
The video is aimed to help young people with learning disabilities to understand the process of an annual health check in a simple, easy to understand format.
For more information and to watch the video please use the link below.
SEND Local Offer - Annual Health Checks
PODS
Parents Opening Doors Parent Carer Forum
Involving & supporting families who have a child or young person with a disability or additional need (aged 0-25).
PODS work across the whole range of services including health, education, social care, and alongside our voluntary sector partners – at a local, regional and national level. We are also members of the National Network of Parent Carer Forum.
Free challenges at home sessions
Support sessions (for child/young person with Autism with/without diagnosis).
Open to 0-18 years from mainstream and special schools. For families to discuss home/life concerns and seek information and advice from Educational Psychologist team around emotional, behaviour, social, anxieties, routines, etc.
We use these sessions to support families to find solutions together and share experiences and offer mutual support in a safe and supportive place.
Challenges at home - In person sessions
Challenges at home - Online evening sessions
Autism Hub
Children's Autism Hub
The Children's Autism Hub Spring Newsletter is available to download.
The Children's Autism Hub is open to all children and young people aged 0-18, and their families, who have a diagnosis of Autism.
Events and Activities
The Hub provides lots of activities and events for families including;
- Coffee & Chat Sessions
- Primary Fun Sessions
- Family Session - Dugout 11-18
- SEND Support and Play for Early Years Families
- Cafe Uno - Games & Puzzles
- Workshop - Understanding My Autistic Child
For more information on how to book, please take a look at the 'What's On' page on the website.
SEND IASS
Telford & Wrekin SEND IASS (Information and Advice and Support Service) have a full programme of workshops and drop in sessions available for families to access.
Talking SEND Sessions
Join our 'Talking SEND' sessions and speak to a fully trained SENDIASS advisor, to book a place please use the link below.
SEN Support Information Session
Increase your confidence to be able to participate more fully in your child's education
Education Health and Care plan Drop In
Increase your knowledge and gain confidence to express your views in relation to the EHCP processes
Book a Place - Talking SEND Sessions
Short Breaks Forum
The forum is an opportunity for parents, children and young people that use Short Breaks services, working together with Local Authority colleagues to talk about what is working well, what isn’t and how we can make improvements to the Short Breaks offer. It is a place where we can share knowledge for the benefit of all, including inviting guest speakers on particular issues or services.
Short Breaks Forum Newsletter
The Short Breaks Forum Newsletter - June 2023 is now available to download, please share with your parents, carers and families.
SEND Local Offer: Activities & Events
Learn Telford
Learn Telford is part of Telford & Wrekin Council and exists to provide high quality learning opportunities to the people living in the borough.
They aim to widen participation so that as many sections of the community as possible can experience the joy of learning and take advantage of the wider benefits that participation in learning brings, such as improved confidence, reduced social isolation, improved wellbeing, improved social cohesion and increased civic participation.