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PODS Parent Carer Forum Annual Experience Survey & Lots More...

PODS Parent Carer Forum Annual Experience Survey - 2025/26

Please help PODS Parent Carer Forum to 'Make A Difference'

"Sharing experiences, driving change, building futures - empowering SEND families"

PODS Parent Carer Forum is the officially recognised parent carer forum for Telford & Wrekin.  To ensure your voices are represented, we receive a yearly grant from the Department for Education to enable Participation and Co-Production, including this survey.  We are collecting experiences of health, social care, education and community services from families with children and young people aged 0-25years via this survey, and a report is published in due course.

This survey will take approximately 6 minutes to complete.

As a thank you, if you wish to be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 shopping voucher, please complete your name/email/telephone details at the end of the form.

Thank you for completing, from the PODS Parent Carer Forum.

Link here: PODS PARENT CARER FORUM ANNUAL EXPERIENCE SURVEY - 2025/26 – Fill in form

ADHD/Autism Project - Closes 31 October 2025

We are still gathering feedback and experiences of the processes for ADHD and Autism diagnosis - wherever you are on the journey, from referral, assessment, diagnosis (or not) and what support looks like for you and your family.

Please share your thoughts here (responses feed directly back to NHS).

https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/E5RG2X/

Or scan the QR Code here:

🌸 New Monthly Drop-In at the Cherry Blossom Family Hub 🌸

We’re delighted to announce that from 24th November, families can access a brand-new monthly drop-in service at the Cherry Blossom Family Hub (PODS Hub), Central Park, Telford.

📍 Location: PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, TF2 9TU
🗓️ When: Last Monday of every month (term time only)
⏰ Time: 11:30am – 1:00pm

This relaxed, friendly session is open to all parents and carers, offering:

✅ Advice and signposting to local support
✅ Information on parenting and available courses
✅ Guidance on accessing community activities
✅ Family Hubs information and support

No need to book – just pop in for a chat, a warm welcome, and access to a range of support designed for families.

We look forward to seeing you there! 💜

Sensory Snips

Coming soon to the PODS Hub 'Sensory Snips' a hairdresser specialising in haircuts for children and adults with SEND.

Please contact Cody on 07735 073870 for more information, prices or to book. 

PODS Code Club

Monday 3rd November & Monday 24th November 2025 from 4.30pm-5.30pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

PODS Code Club is running sessions for children from 7-13 years old during Term Time. The children will be learning to code in SCRATCH. Along with learning how to code, the children will also be building upon their skills like problem solving, collaboration and communication. 

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 Code Club

PODS Minecraft Club

Held on Tuesday's, Term Time only, 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 November Activities

Join PODS this November for a variety of activity sessions! Parents and carers must attend and tickets are required for all children and young people.

The activities are open to children and young people, including siblings. 

To book, please click on the links below:

Bonfire Nights Crafts - SOLD OUT

Complex Needs Session

Cookie Decorating

Blist Hill

Stay & Play Session

Trains & Construction

Ice Skating

Enguinity Museum

Christmas Crafts Session

PODS Social Support Group at Blists Hill

Wednesday 19th November 2025 from 10am-12pm at Blists Hill Victorian Town, Telford, TF7 5UD

Come and join us at PODS Family Group in Blists Hill Victorian Town for a chat, relax  and meet with friendly faces. Ask us for some advice or just enjoy a walk around the village. Tickets are available at a subsidised cost of £3 per person. Tickets are non-refundable.

PODS will provide 1 tea/coffee/soft drink to each person booked, however you will have to purchase your own other refreshments if required.  

Places are limited and booking is essential, open to all PODS members living in Telford and Wrekin. Please note that the tickets are non-refundable. Children, of any age, are welcome however if they are under 2 years old, no ticket is required. We will be meeting at the entrance at 10am, please let us know if you will be late or can no longer make it so as the group can enter on time.

To book, please click here: PODS Social Support Group at Blists Hill

PODS Mental Health Drop In

Wednesday 26th November 2025 from 10am-11.30am at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

Come and join us for our Mental Health Drop In in a safe and non-judgemental environment. We will have tea, coffee, biscuits, cakes, a listening ear ready for you. 

Whether you would like to off load, have a warm cuppa, or just want someone to talk too. We are here for you.

To book, please click here: PODS Mental Health Drop In

PODS Christmas Fete

Saturday 29th November from 10am-12pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

Are you looking for a unique gift for someone special? Then pop along to PODS Christmas Fete. Entry is FREE, drinks and cake will be available to purchase.

PODS Sensory Sessions - Age 0-6 / 7-11 Years

Open to children aged 0-6 years and 7-11 years. Siblings are also welcome. Parent/carer supervision required at all times.

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.

For Safeguarding purposes parent/carer/ PA are only permitted to take photos of their own children. Please inform staff of any accessibility requirements prior to attending session.

To book, please click on the links below:

PODS Sensory Sessions Age 0-6

PODS Sensory Sessions Age 7-11

Little Buds

PODS are happy to announce we have created a specialist Stay & Play group for families within Telford who have had a premature baby or a stay on the Neonatal unit. Families are welcome within the group up until they start school. 

This group will run every Monday during Term-time 10am-11.30am at our PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU. 

We look forward to meeting our new families!

Blossom & Bloom Stay and Play Session

Blossom & Bloom is a stay and play session for infants and pre-schoolers aged 0-5. There will be fun activities every week, come for a coffee, meet other parents in our welcome and inclusive environment. 

This will be open to all children prior and post diagnosis, this group every Tuesday term-time only it will run 10am-11.30am at PODS Hub.

Nurture & Grow

Care in the Community by the Community

Nurture and Grow provides specialist PA support for children and young people aged 0-25 with disabilities and additional needs.

We are now accepting applications for support from individuals who are self funding or using direct payments.

Please follow the QR code in the poster or click below to apply:

Nurture & Grow Personal Support Application

Fully trained support workers providing 1:1 and 2:1 care.

Short Breaks Newsletter - October 2025

Extract...

"Have Your Say on ADHD & Autism Services ‘People across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin are being invited to share their views about ADHD and autism services to help shape improvements for children, young people, adults, and families. You may have received a diagnosis, be waiting for an assessment or self-identify as being autistic, having ADHD or AuDHD. We know that services are sometimes not as joined up as they could be and demand is increasing. Many people face long waits for assessments, experience inconsistent access to services, and are at increased risk of poor outcomes due to delays, especially during critical transition points in life."

To download and read the Newsletter in full, please click here: Short Breaks Newsletter - October 2025

Outreach Mentors Job Advert - Kickstart Academy

Kickstart Academy have 2 vacancies for Outreach Mentors.

Sharing from Kickstart Academy...

"1 x 31.5 hour post and 1 x 24 hour post

Are you ready to make a real difference in the lives of young people who need it most?

Are you ready for the next challenge? We are seeking an exceptional, compassionate, and resilient Outreach Mentor to join our dedicated team at Kickstart Academy, a dynamic and nurturing Pupil Referral Unit supporting students who have experienced barriers to learning in mainstream education.

Why Join Us?

• Impact lives daily: we help students re-engage with learning, rebuild confidence, and develop essential life skills.
• Be part of a passionate team: work alongside skilled professionals committed to restorative approaches, trauma-informed practice, and inclusive education.
• Every day is different: support students with complex needs in a setting that values creativity, flexibility, and humour."

To find out more and apply, please click here: Outreach Mentors Job Advert - Kickstart Academy

Press Release: New CAMHS Service Model Awarded to MPFT 

Extract...

"NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin is pleased to announce that Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) has been awarded the contract to deliver a new model of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) across the county, following the conclusion of the formal procurement process.

This follows a rigorous, transparent and legally compliant commissioning process under the national Provider Selection Regime (PSR). The process was designed to secure a service that better meets the needs of children, young people and families with a redesigned specification, shaped by extensive public engagement, and a renewed focus on early help, accessibility and joined-up care.

While MPFT is the current provider of CAMHS locally, this contract award represents a fundamentally new service model, developed in response to what children, young people, families and professionals told us they need. The service will be delivered using existing funding, but with a redesigned approach to ensure the best possible outcomes and value for money."

Note from Jayne Stevens, Strategic Lead (Parent Carer Forum): We are working closely with CAMHS and their ND Team commissioners and service leads to continually provide feedback.  You will know that your experiences on the Autism and ADHD pathways that has been gathered over this past month will help to Make A Difference, as part of the overall service delivery and support to families.   

To read the press release in full, please click here: Press Release: New CAMHS Service Model Awarded to MPFT 

SEND reform: Education Secretary writes to the Education Select Committee

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson writes to the Education Select Committee following their report on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system.

Extract here: 

Our SEND reforms will be underpinned by the five principles below. 

I hope that by sharing these now I can provide some clarity on the direction of our approach, and generate debate about how we can meet the objective that your report outlines and that I share: “a reform programme which will put children and young people with SEND back at the centre of our education system, and in doing so, deliver benefits for the system as a whole”. Principles for SEND reform.

1. Early. Children should receive the support they need as soon as possible. This will start to break the cycle of needs going unmet and getting worse, instead intervening upstream, earlier in children’s lives when this can have most impact. 

2. Local. Children and young people with SEND should be able to learn at a school close to their home, alongside their peers, rather than travelling long distances from their family and community. Special schools should continue to play a vital role supporting those with the most complex needs.  

3. Fair. Every school should be resourced and able to meet common and predictable needs, including as they change over time, without parents having to fight to get support for their children. Where specialist provision is needed for children in mainstream, special or Alternative Provision, we will ensure it is there, with clear legal requirements and safeguards for children and parents.  

4. Effective. Reforms should be grounded in evidence, ensuring all education settings know where to go to find effective practice that has excellent long term outcomes for children. 

5. Shared. Education, health and care services should work in partnership with one another, local government, families, teachers, experts and representative bodies to deliver better experiences and outcomes for all our children.

Full letter here: SEND reform: Education Secretary writes to the Education Select Committee - GOV.UK

Parent Carer Forum Update from Jayne Stevens

Morning all... just a quick update today as I'm off to the pumpkin patch today with some of our families and then a couple days off at end of week.

This last week saw continuation of the Autism/ADHD project (survey still live till 31st!). I also attended the Headteacher Conference. The last couple days of last week saw a mad flurry of news about the anticipated SEND White Paper, and the CAMHS commissioning - need to spend some time working through what this all means locally of course so keep an eye out for updates. I've finalised the Parent Carer Forum Annual Survey and thats out now - really important to gather this feedback and just one of the ways we do - oh and a chance to enter prize draw for £50 shopping voucher!

Have a good half term week all, see you soon!!

Action for Happiness Calendar - Optimistic October 2025

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.