In this issue:
Inclusive job fairs from Step2Skills (ages 16+)
You can now book tickets for the Step2Skills Inclusive Job Fairs!
The Inclusive Job Fairs, being held in Stevenage and Hemel Hempstead are aimed at adults and young people (aged 16+) with barriers or challenges to work, such as learning and physical disabilities, sensory needs, mental health conditions and neurodiversity.
- Find out about local job opportunities and the skills that employers are looking for
- Chat with the Step2Skills Employment Support team
- BSL (British Sign Language) Interpreter available all day
- 12 - 1pm Low sensory/ Quiet Hour
Stevenage: 24 October 2024 at Lounge 76, Stevenage Football Club, 10am to 3pm
Hemel Hempstead: 27 Nov 2024 at Everyone Active, Hemel Hempstead, 10am to 3pm
Learn more and book your place
Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day #DLDday- 18 October
Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day takes place on Friday 18 October and the theme this year is 'speak up for DLD'.
Developmental Language Disorder is a hidden but common disability that affects 1 in 14 people, and causes difficulties in understanding and using language. Having DLD can come with serious and long-term impacts, and children with DLD are often at greater risk of failing at school and struggling with mental health and future employment.
This year Siouxsie, a young adult from Hertfordshire, was commissioned to design this amazing poster to raise awareness of DLDday.
"I want this poster to stand out and speak out loud. Art gives me a voice. I hope people can relate to it and are interested to find out more. I want it to help to make a difference. DLD is not just about kids. It is for LIFE, and the older you get, the harder it gets".
Read about Siouxsie's experience of living with DLD and watch a YouTube video about how she created her poster
Learn more about DLD on the NHS website
HPCI annual survey - make sure you have your say
Herts Parent Carer Involvement (HPCI) exists to represent the views of the parents and carers of children and young people with SEND in Hertfordshire. They work alongside Hertfordshire health, education and social care services, to help focus the decision makers on improving services and outcomes for children.
HPCI are launching their third annual survey, to find out more about what families in Hertfordshire are experiencing.
Complete the HPCI survey and share your views and experiences It’s open until 3 November 2024.
Meet Katie, our Expert by Experience
Katie is another of our Experts by Experience, who has joined to help shape decision-making at the Council and make the voices of young people with SEND heard. Katie is 23 years old and was diagnosed with anxiety and depression when she was 13, and more recently with Autism.
Read more about Katie and why it's important to her to be representing young people with SEND.
Help us improve communications from the Statutory SEND Service - complete the survey
Our Statutory SEND services would like to hear about parents' and carers’ experience of interacting and communicating with us, as part our commitment to providing more accurate, compassionate and timely (ACT) communications with our families. If you receive an email from a member of our SEND team, look out for a link to the survey at the bottom of the email, and please take a few minutes to give feedback, to help us assess how we are doing.
Complete the survey now and share your views on communications with the SEND team
SEND Improvement - changing the way your child's EHCP is managed
If your child or young person attends a school or setting, you can talk to the SENCo about their EHC Needs Assessment or EHCP. SENCos have regular contact with EHC Co-ordinators at the Council and should be able to help you with any queries.
If you would like to speak directly to someone at the council about your child's EHCP, please feel free to contact us. We are improving our SEND support for families through specialist teams who are well placed to understand and meet your child's individual needs.
The Front Door and Assessment Team are responsible for overseeing the EHC needs assessment process.
If your child/young person already has an EHCP, they will be assigned an EHC Coordinator to handle EHCP Annual Reviews. The EHCCo will be from one of the following specialist teams:
Children aged 0-5 (Early Years)
School-aged children (and ages 16 - 18 at Sixth form)
Young people who are aged 16+ and attending College
Children in care
School Age children and young people who are not on roll at a school (including electively home educated, EOTAS, and interim provision)
Take a look at the Local Offer for more information on who to contact about your child/young person's EHCP.
Our letter to Hertfordshire MPs - asking them to support SEND reforms
Local leaders in Hertfordshire are urging Members of Parliament (MPs) to call for systemic reform and increased funding for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services. This call comes ahead of the Autumn Statement, highlighting the critical need for support to help children and young people with SEND reach their full potential.
The letter, signed by Richard Roberts (Leader of Hertfordshire County Council), Elliott Howard-Jones (Chief Executive of Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust) and Alan Gray (Chair of Schools Forum), asks for:
1. Increased funding across local government and the NHS for SEND
2. Revised SEND policy
3. Greater inclusion in mainstream schools
4. Strengthened recruitment and retention of key professionals.
View the full letter on our blog
Events (including Halloween and half term activities)
View all courses and activities
SIBS - Halloween online art sessions for siblings (ages 4-10, or ages 11+)
Saturday 26 October, 10am - 12pm (for ages 4-10) and 1pm - 3pm (ages 11+)
A free creative arts session for siblings which is delivered via Zoom and run in conjunction with Art pod.
Herts Inclusive Theatre - Inclusive half term workshop (ages 10 - 16)
Thursday 31 October, 3pm - 5pm, Bishop's Stortford
This fun and interactive workshop will include drama games, creative activities, and some script work.
SPACE - Halloween party 
Thursday 31 October, 3pm, Pinehurst Community Centre
Join the fun at the SPACE Halloween Party with lots of ghoulish biscuit decoration fun, eerie crafts, slime making and spooktacular surprises!
Families in Focus - A complete guide to parenting children with Autism and ADHD
Tuesday mornings 9.30am to 11.30am, or Tues evenings 6,30pm - 8.30pm, starting on January 7 2025
Meet other families and share experiences. Learn strategies to better manage behaviours.