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Save the Date for PODS King's Coronation Afternoon Tea & Lots More...

Save the Date for PODS King's Coronation Afternoon Tea

Booking not open yet. Ticket sales open 8pm Wednesday 4th April 2023, through the following link: PODS King's Coronation Afternoon Tea

Come and join us in celebrating the King Charles III Coronation with a traditional afternoon tea and appropriate light entertainment. PODS would like to welcome you all, regardless of whether you are a member or not, to celebrate the King's Coronation with us. On Monday 8th of May, we are hosting a fun-filled afternoon tea party, with a variety of entertainment including live music, magician, crafts and free access to Enginuity. To add to the fun and theme of the day, children and adults are welcome to dress as a King, Queen, Prince, Princess or Knight although not obligatory.

Booking essential. All dietary requirements can be catered for by prior arrangement only, please complete the appropriate questions when purchasing your tickets.

Please email events@podstelford.org for queries.

Free Makaton Session at Tuesday's Warm Hub

This Tuesday's Warm Hub includes a free Makaton session 10am-12pm, delivered by the wonderful Debbie who is a Makaton user herself. There is no need for any prior knowledge as the workshop is aimed at beginners or those wanting a refresher. Debbie will start by explaining Makaton and how it can help people with additional needs. She will then go through a workbook and some signs, at the end of the workshop you will receive a little certificate.

No booking is required, please just turn up, spaces are free and only open to PODS members living in Telford and Wrekin. Light refreshments will be provided.

Save the Date for PODS Picnic in the Park at a New Venue!!

Monday 7th August 2023 from 10am-4pm at Charlton School, Apley, Avenue, Wellington, Telford, TF1 3FA

Please see the poster below for PODS Picnic in the Park at a new venue, further details will follow soon.

PODS Charity @ Southall School

“Callout for SEND Parents”

Join us to find out more about some of our key work areas, discuss needs of your child, and find out how your voices can be heard when working with local services.

PODS April Activity Sessions

Come and join PODS for a variety of activity sessions during April! Tickets available via Ticketsource. Booking is essential and parent/carer attendance is required. To book, please click on the links below:

Wolf Yoga 

Games 

Inflata Nation 

Active Session 

PODS Sensory Room

Join our sensory sessions this April! We have a variety of sessions and private bookings available for all ages. Please visit Ticketsource for more information and bookings: PODS Sensory Room

For questions, please email jeannie@podstelford.org.

PODS Social Group (for 18-25 year olds)

Friday 31st March 2023 from 6pm-7.30pm at PODS Hub, Telford, TF2 9TU

PODS is hosting a Board Games evening for young people aged 18 years to 25 years 

The young people are free to “Bring their Own Board games” to play too. Parents/carers to stay on the site during the session.

To book, please click here: PODS Social Group (for 18-25 year olds)

PODS After School Clubs

Please see the poster below for details of PODS After School Clubs held at PODS Hub during Term Time. Cost is £3 per child.

To book your place, please click on the links below:

PODS Code Club

PODS Minecraft Club

PODS Lego Club - SOLD OUT

Information from Telford & Wrekin Community Champions

1st April 2023- International Walk to Work Day 

1st April marks International Walk to Work Day. Taking simple steps to improve your health, such as leaving the car at home and walking to work instead, could really help to increase our health and wellbeing as well as saving us money on fuel. There’s bound to be a walking route near you to help you put your best foot forward.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust

Shropshire Wildlife Trust has launched their biggest ever public survey about wildlife found across the British Isles. The charity wants to learn more about what people think about our nature and how we, as a society, should protect it.

Ambitions also include finding out what people already do to help where they live and learning about how connected people feel with the natural world. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and is open to everyone with all viewpoints equally welcome, valued and respected.

The Great British Nature Survey is out now, visit their website here: The Great British Nature Survey

Update from Jayne, Strategic Co-ordinator

Hello and Good Morning

This last three weeks has been taken up by all things 'SEND Inspection' and I'd like to thank all our families who have completed the survey to provide their feedback, and all the families who attended established parent carer groups in the community.  It's been a very interesting time, as the new framework has only been used for a small amount of local authority areas - we were the eighth!  The formal report will take quite a few weeks to come out, and we will get these shared with you straight away.

Regardless of the inspection, normal service continues with action plans from strategic (and operational groups) all still remain active and we've met with these groups and boards etc over the last few weeks.  We've now got a regular 6weekly meeting in place with BeeU team, we're looking at communication (letters etc) that go out to families, based on feedback that they were confusing and needing better signposting to relevant services, especially when families are 'waiting'.  We'll also be able to share the information about our Challenges at Home sessions that are going to continue to run - and we're just hoping for funding to be agreed so we can start the one to one sessions up again.

You may have seen the Short Breaks Statement has now been released and we'd ask if you can take a look at this, and let us have any questions - we can take these to the SB's meetings and of course, you are more than welcome to attend the Short Breaks Forum that is led by council (we host at PODS Hub).  

We held a really successful social stories workshop a couple of weeks ago - and as proof that you're never too late to learn something new - our son is 22! and I did a social story for him - and it worked! Whoop...  So popular we're going to do a follow-up workshop in a few months and invite everyone back, and probably a few newbies - because we love the whole sharing and learning together.

On the subject of learning together we are going to be running an EHCP workshop for families - it's going to be in the Easter holidays - 11th April 1.30-3.30pm.   It will be an informal session (so bring your children!) based on our own experiences, and with a question & answer session from one of our trained Parent Reps.  Watch out for a flyer.

We were able to attend the Autism in Schools regional (North Mids) conference this last week, and it was great to hear some great practice from other schools, and to hear experience of a young person and his mum - very powerful indeed.  We also met with Charlton families as part of our local work we are doing, and we are looking forward to closer working with Wombridge, so watch out for that date!  

... and I can't leave my update without a mention of #worldautismacceptanceweek2023 - and the importance of that word 'acceptance'.  For our family, acceptance is very powerful. Acceptance of who we are, and how we live, how we love, how we learn, what is important to us, and why...The challenges it brings, accepting these and finding new ways of working together - and a million and other things, that become our 'normal'.

Thank you for reading, and as always - I can be reached...

Best Regards

jayne@podstelford.org / 0777 534 2092

Action for Happiness Calendar -  Mindfulness March 2023

Please note the above material is subject to copyright, please contact PODS before sharing any of the information in this PODS Ebulletin.

Thank you for reading our latest Ebulletin, please stay safe & well. 

Kerrie Seagrave, Member Support Co-ordinator

on behalf of PODS Parent Carer Forum.

We hope you enjoyed reading our latest e-bulletin - we hope you continue to find it useful. If you have any suggestions to make it better feel free to let me know.