In this issue:
Improving the quality of EHCPs through audits
The Hertfordshire SEND partnership are committed to improving the quality of EHCP’s for children and young people in Hertfordshire; ensuring plans are of high quality and meaningfully capture children and young people’s: views, experiences, needs and outcomes, and specify provision.
To support with achieving this aim, there will be regular multi-agency audits of EHCP’s. These multi-agency audits involve professionals from education (school representatives, specialist advisory teachers, educational psychologists and members of the statutory SEND service), health, social care, SENDIASS and the Herts Parent Carer Involvement coming together to audit the quality of a random selection of EHCP’s. Professionals then work together to identify areas of good practice and areas where learning is required.
These events are crucial for supporting improvements in practice across the system. If your child has an EHCP, this may mean that your child’s plan could be selected for audit and shared with the above professionals for auditing purposes. All professionals involved in multi-agency audits of EHCPs are required to comply with Data Protection legislation and confidentiality duties, which restrict the sharing of information pertaining to your child's EHCP outside of the auditing activity.
If you wish to opt out and do not wish for your child's ECHP to be included in our quality assurance audits, please email the Quality Assurance Service at policyandpractice@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
We will be sharing more information about this piece of work in the next few weeks.
Help the Public Health Nurses to help you - fill in our survey (ages 0-6)
The Public Health Nurse service (0-5 years) in Hertfordshire is reviewing when and how they have contact with families with children who have an additional or emerging need.
If you have a child under 6 with an additional need, please complete this short survey of 8 questions (complete a separate survey for each child under the age of 6 years with an additional or emerging need).
Oasis centre for young adults with learning difficulties (ages 16+)
Oasis is a safe and caring centre offering an individual approach for young adults who have learning difficulties. We work in small groups (max 8 people) and provide opportunities for our students to learn, improve their communication and social skills and achieve their personal goals.
A typical day might include:
- social and communication skills
- independence and personal skills
- practical skills - eg. budgeting, planning, shopping, preparing meals, timing, independent travel
- local community activitites
- art and craft work
- computer studies
- environmental awareness through growing our own vegetables
- swimming in our own (heated pool)
We're based at 'Fairoak' just outside of Hertford in a beautiful rural location. Open Mon - Fri (10am - 3pm), 50 weeks of the year. Call Ailsa anytime to arrange a visit.
Tel: 07902 243352
Or visit the Oasis website
Have your say in tackling climate change in Hertfordshire (all ages)
We want to understand your priorities around sustainability and efforts to tackle climate change in Hertfordshire. To help make us a more sustainable county and organisation, we want to know your thoughts about climate change, its impacts on Hertfordshire and our efforts to tackle it.
We have prepared a short survey which will help us better understand your priorities around climate change, including how we can better communicate and engage with you on this important issue.
Please encourage your young people to take part - there's an easy-read version of the survey too.
Complete the survey before 17 March
Complete the survey before 17 March (easy-read version)
Fun and free activities in Hertfordshire to keep the kids entertained this half term (all ages)
Fifty Thrifty Adventures for Half term
Looking for a low cost activity to keep the family engaged at half term? There are hours of fun and discovery to be found in our Fifty Thrifty Adventures! These can be easily tracked down on foot or by cycling or scooting – and there’s always the bus with discounted £2 bus fares to help get you going places, with discounts available for the not-so-little trips.
Whether you’re in the north, east, south, or west of the county, the February half term is a fantastic opportunity to explore all that’s on offer right across the 600-plus square miles of Hertfordshire.
Check out our Fifty Thrifty Adventures for half term activities
Park play
Modern life can be a serious business and, whether you’re eight or eighty, everyone needs some space and time to feel carefree. That’s why over 10,000 people across the country are now taking part in ParkPlay events. The great news for Hertfordshire residents is that this month sees the launch of, not one, but two new regular ParkPlay events here in our county. They’re designed to offer people of all ages and abilities two hours of free, informal and inclusive games and activities every Saturday morning in local parks and green spaces.
The new events will launch at Jackmans Creamery, Letchworth on 17 February and Aycliffe Park, Borehamwood on 2 March. They follow the successful launch of Hertfordshire’s first-ever ParkPlay location at Cedars Park, Waltham Cross in 2023 and will pave the way for further locations that are expected to be announced in the county later in the year.
The events are FREE to attend and run from 10:00 to 12:00 every Saturday.
Participants simply need to register themselves in advance at the relevant web page below, then head along to the park on the day and look for the ParkPlay flag.
Register for ParkPlay at Jackmans Creamery
Register for ParkPlay Aycliffe
Events
Please bear with us while we update our events pages on the Local Offer. We are working on a new events tool which will hopefully be later this month. Thank you for your patience!
DS-Achieve - Young achievers social skills group (ages 6-11)
Saturday 24 February 2.30 - 3.3opm
Our weekly young achievers programme aims to provide children and young people who have down syndrome with friendship, fun and positivity. For further info contact info@dsadhieve.org
Potential Kids - Half term arts craft and design (ages 13+)
Monday 19 February 12.30 - 2pm
Half Term Arts, Crafts & Design for neurodivergent young people - includes making models or Jewellery using polymer clay
Supporting Links - Tech Use for children with ASD and ADHD (ages 2 - 19)
Wednesday 28 February 7.30pm, online
Online workshop to help parents and carers to understand the challenges for young people with ASD and ADHD when it comes to tech use, and how to manage these.