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PODS Sensory Sessions & Lots More...

PODS Sensory Sessions

Monday 5th January 2026 - Monday 26th January 2026 from 4.30pm-5.30pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Telford, TF2 9TU

Join PODS for a session in our dedicated sensory room complete with lights, bubble tube and ball pit. Parents can chat to staff while the children play.

No ticket required for adults, please only book a ​ticket for each child.

Parents must remain on site throughout the session.  Tickets are non-refundable.

To book, please click here: PODS Sensory Sessions

Merry Christmas from All at PODS

May the magic of Christmas fill your lives with happiness.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

From All at PODS

PODS Christmas Opening Hours

During the festive period there will be restricted availability from PODS staff from 5pm Friday 19th December 2025 through until Monday 5th January 2026. As our Staff and Volunteers take a well-earned rest with their families and disabled children.

PODS Hub will be closed during this time too, with the exception of pre booked groups and activities.

We will re open on Monday 5th January 2026.

Reponses to emails and messages will be limited. We will have scheduled posts going out on social media, so please look out for them.

In an emergency, please use the numbers below. If you contact PODS, please be aware that it may not be picked up until the next working day.

Family Connect: (Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm excluding bank holidays) 01952 385385

Emergency Duty Team: For anyone who has immediate safeguarding concerns outside of office hours or on a bank holiday, including Christmas Day is 01952 676500.

Childline: 0800 1111 (for children) 0808 802 5544 (for parents)

National Domestic Abuse Helpline: (24/7) 0808 2000 247

Urgent NHS Mental Health Helpline: (24/7) 0808 196 4501

Samaritans: (24/7) 116 123

Mind: 0300 123 3393

Citizen’s Advice: 0800 144 8848

Corum: 020 7520 0300

A New Member of Staff Joins the PODS Team

At the beginning of December we had a new member of staff join the PODS team. Her name is Jane (yes another one 🤣) and she will be delivering the PA service and afterschool sessions amongst other things, please give her a warm welcome. Below is a little bit about her and what she will be doing.

"Hi, my name is Jane and I am going to be providing PA support as well as facilitating activities that are run at the hub and locations around Telford. I am excited to be working for PODS, and looking forward to meeting all of our families. My family has been a member of PODS for a few years now as my son has hearing loss and is regularly seen by audiology due to being a hearing aid user.

I have over 20 years’ SEND experience working with families that have children with additional needs. This includes working with children that have complex medical needs, as I worked in the NHS for over 15 years and I was based within special schools working for the Community Children’s Nurses in Walsall. I carried out any clinical duties that were required to ensure the children could remain at school for the day. I have also worked within local schools, both mainstream and specialist provision, providing 1:1 support, personal care and general school duties. Prior to that I worked, as part of management, for a local care provider to support families and to help them access the community. 

On Monday evenings I will be delivering all age sensory sessions, in the sensory room. Thursday evenings and Saturdays will be a mix of sessions, such as crafts, cooking, complex needs, Blists Hill visits etc.  I hope that these sessions will help our young people to build friendships, gain in confidence and feel happy and safe. I would also love to hear any suggestions about what you would like to be doing for these sessions if you have any ideas, please email me janeclaire@podstelford.org"

PODS January Activities

Join PODS this January 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:

Winter Warmer Craft

Complex Needs Session

Trains and Construction

Blists Hill

STEM Making Flying Helicopters

Games and Puzzles

Craft Session (Lava Lamp Making)

PODS New Year Fun Crafts & Crazy Golf Sessions

PODS New Year Fun Crafts

PODS is holding a Calendar Making Crafts session for the children and young people, there will be light refreshments and snacks available. Each child /young person attending must have a ticket. Parent carers must accompany their child/young person but do not require a ticket.
Please note tickets are non refundable. 

Please do not purchase tickets if you are already booked onto the HHAH Christmas Craft sessions or Putt Putt Noodle session to allow as many families as possible to enjoy the Christmas activities on offer.

To book, please click here: PODS New Year Fun Crafts

PODS Crazy Golf Sessions

PODS is holding an indoor crazy golf session for the children and young people. Parent carers will also need a ticket, please select from a participating ticket enabling you to play (maximum of 1 adult player per booking) or a spectating ticket for non players only. 
Each person attending must have a ticket. Parent carers must accompany their child/young person at all times.
Please note tickets are non refundable. 

Please do not purchase tickets if you are already booked onto the PODS Christmas HHAH Crafts Session or New Year Crafts.

To book, please click here: PODS Crazy Golf Sessions

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!

PLEASE NOTE: Little Buds will be back on Monday 5th January 2026

Blossom & Bloom Stay and Play Session 

PODS Stay & Play Session for children aged 0–5 years with SEND. This will be open to all children prior and post diagnosis.

The sessions are every Tuesday term time only from 10am-11.30am at PODS Hub.

Come along and enjoy a warm, welcoming space for you and your little ones.

🌸We can’t wait to see you there!🌸

Please Note: Blossom & Bloom will be back on Tuesday 6th January 2026

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 Lego Club

PODS Lego Club runs every Wednesday during Term-Time from 4.30pm-5.30pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

PODS Lego Club is running sessions for children from 5-14 years old during Term Time. The children will be building as well as be able to improve their  to social and communication skills. 

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.

To book, please click here: PODS Lego Club

PODS Social - Youth Club (for 11 to 25)

Thursday 15th January 2026 from 6pm-8pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

PODS Youth Club for young people aged 11 years to 25 years: A vibrant Hub for SEN teens and young adults, offering a space for fun, friendship, and skill development through diverse activities and a supportive environment.

There will be a range of activities available, plus seasonal activities as the year progresses. You can bring your own games/activities if you wish.

Come along and try something new, make some friends, or just have a break from the World! Wifi available.

Snacks and drinks available on site - please be aware there will also be a small tuck shop so please bring money to make the most of it (nothing's over £1!). Support can be provided at an additional cost if required (please let us know).

Please contact matt@podstelford.org with any questions.

To book, please click here: PODS Social - Youth Club (for 11 to 25)

PODS Social Support Group at Blists Hill

Friday 30th January 2026 from 12pm-2pm 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

Special Approach to Making It REAL

Thursday 5th February 2026 and Tuesday 24th February 2026 from 12.30pm-2.30pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

PODS and Family Hubs are offering a Special Approach to ‘Making it REAL’ workshop for families with children aged 0-5 years with Special Educational Needs.
 
This engaging workshop supports parents to build their knowledge and confidence in helping your children develop early reading and writing skills, while creating a positive and supportive home-learning environment.
 
You only need to book one session. If you would need a creche place to enable you to attend please let us know.

To book, please click here: Special Approach to Making It REAL

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

🌸 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! 💜

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.

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. 

Telford & Wrekin Digital Drop In Sessions

Please see the posters below for details on Telford & Wrekin Digital Drop In Sessions:

Sessions held at Wellington Community Library

Sessions held in South East Telford

Sessions held in Wellington and Donnington

Opportunity for Families with Autistic Children Aged 2 Years 6 Months to 4 Years 9 Months

Sharing from a Team of Academics from the Autism Centre for Education and Research (ACER) at the University of Birmingham (UoB)...

"Thank you for your interest in our research and QTrobot. QTrobot is unique, not only because it is a robot, but because it can be used at home, giving parents’ control and insights into their child’s support needs and development. QTrobot has a set of learning activities based on early childhood development and research about the areas of development that autistic children can find challenging. The aim of this research is to explore what impact this unique approach has on both the autistic child and parents’ efficacy (which means our belief as parents that we have the knowledge and skills to support our autistic children the way they need). As part of this study, families will be given their own QTrobot and 2 tablets, to use at home with their child.

We recognise that deciding to commit to any project is a big decision. To help we have outlined the important information you may need within this booklet. We have tried to be as succinct as possible, while also giving as much information as you need to make an informed decision. We do have a number of extra booklets that include additional detail we could not fit in here, they are: 1. What is QTrobot 2. What Support will I get 3. My Data, My Rights 4. My Child’s Assessment 5. Parent Data Collection methods 6. Using QTrobot within a family.

If you decide you wish to participate in the study, we will share these with you as we go through the setting up process. However, if you would like a copy of them all now, please just email us and we will happily send them through to you. Once you have had a read through this information, please feel free to come back to us with any further questions or to request an opportunity to talk anything through."

To read the Parent Information Booklet, please click here: Initial Parent Information Booklet

Action for Happiness Calendar - December Kindness 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.