Telford & Wrekin gains national recognition for SEND
Telford & Wrekin Council along with partners NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Parents Opening Doors Forum (PODS) have gained well-deserved national recognition for its work within the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) arena at the first ever NHS England SEND Best Practice Conference held last month, on Tuesday 12 March.
The national conference brought SEND leaders, children and young people, and parent carers together to celebrate teamwork and partnership working in SEND. The day honoured individuals and systems who contribute to inclusive cultures and positive outcomes for people with SEND.
Two of the county’s SEND projects were shortlisted for the notable categories of ‘Co-Production for Parent Carers’ and ‘Health and Education Partnership’.
Parents Opening Doors (PODS), the parent carer organisation for Telford, and the Telford and Wrekin Educational Psychology Service, with support from NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, were honoured with first place in the parent carer co-production category for their ‘Challenges at Home’ project, which supports families on a group and individual basis while their children are waiting for an assessment for neurodiversity
Furthermore, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (STW) was highly acknowledged as the runner-up in the Partnership Award for the Health and Education category for work carried out through the STW Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) workstream, including the delivery of the Talk Boost intervention programme across Early Years, KS1 and KS2 and the promotion of SLCN as being everyone's business.
Councillor Shirley Reynolds (Lab) Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Young People said: “I am immensely proud that two local SEND projects have been acknowledged nationally. This recognition highlights our ongoing commitment to inclusivity and support to those with special educational needs and disabilities in our borough. The work we are doing is truly making a difference and it will always be our top priority to ensure that children and young people in our borough with SEND are visible, valued and included in the Telford and Wrekin community. Congratulations to all partners who have been involved.”
Pictured left to right: Sarah Court (Telford & Wrekin Council), Zara Bowden (PACC), Alison Parkinson (Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust), Jayne, Stevens (PODS), Jane Park (Telford & Wrekin Council), and Jennifer Griffin (NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin).
