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PODS Happy Healthy & Active Holiday Scheme & Lots More...

PODS Happy Healthy & Active Holiday Scheme

PODS are delighted to be running another SEND holiday scheme over the Summer period. We are offering sessions of varying lengths and differing themes, so hopefully there is something for everyone. 

Please carefully read the details and costs for each session before making your selection as they differ for each one. 

As before all children/young people aged 0-25 with an additional need and/or a disability are welcome, including their siblings. All children/young adults will be provided with lunch and refreshments to either eat during the sessions or takeaway. There will be plenty of staff on hand to support and assist families, but please note parents/carers must remain onsite at all times. Each family will only initially be allocated one date, to allow as many families as possible to access the scheme.

Priority will be given to those who did not get their first choice for the Easter HHAH scheme.

We are trialling a new way of booking. Request form opens at 10am Saturday 8th June, please scan the QR code or click the link below to complete the booking request. The form closes 5pm Sunday 16th June 2024.  

For the booking form, please click here: PODS Happy Healthy & Active Holiday Scheme

We also have weekly summer HHAH Blists Hill sessions (includes child/young person's lunch). Please book here https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/Parents-Opening-Doors-PODS/e-kbvdqa

Calvert Lakes Information Evening

Wednesday 12th June from 6pm-7pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

Never heard of Calvert Lakes?

Would you like to find out more about the facilities and holidays they provide and how they can accommodate everyone regardless or ability? Then why not pop along to PODS information evening to find out more. There will be a short presentation about Calvert Lakes including photos and videos from a staff visit, followed by an explanation of the holiday on offer and payment plans, the session will conclude with open questions.

For more information please contact kerrie@podstelford.org

To book a place at the information evening, please click here: Calvert Lakes Information Evening

PODS Parents Carers Afternoon Tea

Monday 10th June 2024 from 12.30pm-2pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

PODS is celebrating the Parents Carers by hosting an Afternoon Tea.

The places are limited and need to be booked.

Please note that the tickets are non-refundable. 

To book, please click here: PODS Parents Carers Afternoon Tea

PODS Stop Motion Video Club

Monday 3rd June 2024 at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

PODS Stop Motion Video Club resumes from Jan 2024. The children/young people will be provided with Lego and Ipads to help make the stop motion videos. Cost is £3 per child/young person.

Please contact Uma at uma@podstelford.org for any details.

To book, please click here: PODS Stop Motion Video Club

PODS Minecraft Club

Tuesday 4th June 2024 from 4pm-5pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

A chance to come together and enjoy a session of Minecraft. Please note Minecraft will be accessed via PODS iPads which are linked to one another to allow multiplayer options. Children will not be able to access their own Minecraft accounts for safety reasons. 
Sessions open to children and young people of all ages who are members of PODS including their siblings.

Drinks and biscuits provided. Session costs are non-refundable, parent/carer/PA must remain on site for the duration of the session. Please ensure every Child/young person attending has a ticket, those attending without a ticket will be turned away. Adult tickets are NOT required.

To book, please click here: PODS Minecraft Club

PODS Counselling Service

We are thrilled to share some wonderful news with you all, we have launched our very own PODS Counselling Service.

To further enhance the holistic support we provide, we are introducing this valuable addition to our services, offering a dedicated space for emotional well-being.

Our Counselling Service aims to create a safe and nurturing environment for parents and caregivers, it will provide a safe space for you to express, explore, and heal, working towards achievable goals to get you on the right path to wellness.

For more information or to book an initial consultation please, contact kerrie@podstelford.org

Parent Summit

Thursday 27th June 2024 from 10am-1pm at Telford & Wrekin CVS, Suite 12 &15 Hazledine House

A little bit about the summit:

As a local system (Education, Health and Social Care) we want to collect the voice of our parents and carers in Telford & Wrekin that is purposeful and will impact service delivery.

This summit is an opportunity for you to understand the current SEND and AP Action plan and where the parent voice is and what parent representation sits on the different meetings and boards.

Proposed Outline of the Summit:

• Who is Who in the room
• Actions from the last Summit regarding communication
• Overview of the SEND and AP action Plan – who sits in what meetings and boards
• National update – SEND and AP Change Programme

Up to 5 spaces are available for each parent Group/forum.

To book a space please visit: https://forms.office.com/e/Cvztw9Fr7V or scan the QR code

Short Breaks Capital Grant Programme

Sharing from Telford & Wrekin Council...

"Telford & Wrekin Council are pleased to announce a small capital grant programme as part of its Short Breaks offer.

‘Short Breaks’ describes the Local Authority support and care service offer for children with disabilities. This can include a range of services include care and support services, daytime services, group activities and opportunities for leisure and fun. Short Breaks provide an opportunity for children and young people with disabilities to spend time away from their carers, try out new things, have fun and make new friends. Short Breaks can also provide families with a chance to do things together.

The grant programme aims to support local organisations to purchase small capital items that will benefit children and young people with disabilities in Telford and Wrekin – this may be a piece of equipment to support accessibility, games and toys, etc.

How to apply:

Please submit a completed application form to Samantha.Ives@telford.gov.uk by 30 June 2024. 

A decision will be provided no later than 31 July 2024.

Please note: the fund may be closed earlier if the grant is fully allocated.  The LA decision is final."

For further information on how to apply, please click here: Short Breaks Capital Grant Programme

Research Project

DISCLAIMER: We have been asked to share this research project and we are not affiliated or endorsing it in anyway.

"My name is Sarah Magill and I am a postgraduate student on the MEd Psychology of Education course at the University of Manchester. For my dissertation project, I am conducting research on why parents/carers choose special schools for their child’s secondary school education. I am writing to ask for your support in recruiting for this study. 

As part of this research, I am looking to interview 8-12 parents/carers who have a child in Year 7 or 8 at a state special school but went to a mainstream primary school. It is anticipated that interviews will last between 35-45 minutes. These interviews will take place over Zoom at a time that is convenient to the interviewee. I have attached the participant information sheet for your information.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could share the attached advertisement (PDF and JPEG versions provided) with parents through social media or through a newsletter. Please let me whether you are able to help with this. 

If you require any further information, or have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch. I can be contacted via email: sarah.magill@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk.

Action for Happiness Calendar - Joyful June 2024

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.