In this issue:
New specialist resource provision supports students with SEND
A new facility to support students with speech, language, communication needs and autism has been opened at Bushey Meads secondary school.
Bushey Meads School’s new Specialist Resource Provision (SRP), the Laurel, provides pupils support to access a mainstream school curriculum. The new £1.4 million facility is one of 7 new specialist resource provisions already open in Hertfordshire, creating more than 100 new places for pupils with special educational needs in the county’s schools.
New specialist resource provision supports students with SEND
A progress update on our investment into our EHCP duties
We are thrilled to share some updates on our new Children's Service programme 'Making SEND Everyone's Business'. The budget for 2024/25 was approved by cabinet this month and includes an extra £2million for this work.
Since our blog in November, we have appointed 95 new frontline staff to the Inclusion and Skills Directorate of Children's Services.
We also celebrated the launch of the SEND Academy in January, with 45 of the new recruits beginning the academy so far. These recruits have diverse backgrounds in education and social care, and some have personal experience with SEND. The SEND Academy programme offers them the opportunity to pursue the BTEC Level 3 and 4 in SEND Casework and Casework Management, accredited by NASEN. This is a unique and valuable professional development for our new and existing staff.
We are laying the groundwork for better outcomes for children and young people soon by increasing our workforce and strengthening their training over the coming months. We are confident that our new programme will make a positive difference for the children and young people with SEND in Hertfordshire, and we look forward to sharing more updates with you soon.
Learn more in our blog from November where we introduce this huge improvement project. Making SEND Everyone's Business - investing in our workforce.
The power of small changes - take part in the Just Talk challenge (all ages)
Children, young people and their families across Hertfordshire are invited to take part in a challenge to make easy everyday changes, such as taking a short walk or giving someone a compliment, to see how easy it can be to improve wellbeing.
Families, young people and primary schools can take part in the challenge, from 26 February 2024, with the chance to win a £50 Amazon voucher! It’s all part of Just Talk’s campaign ‘The Power of Small Changes’.
Hertfordshire’s Young People’s Health and Wellbeing Survey (YPHWS) 2022 revealed that 23.8% of young people in Hertfordshire 'do nothing' as one of their coping mechanisms when something worries them. Just Talk’s challenge encourages children and young people to try small things each day to improve their mood and discover healthy emotional outlets.
You can take part in ‘The Power of Small Changes’ challenge and join us on a journey to better emotional wellbeing.
Find out more and to get involved in the challenge
Scheme from Herts police to help people who might have communication difficulties
Hertfordshire police have introduced a new scheme to help people with communication difficulties via their Pegasus card scheme. You can register for free to share information about your communication needs or disability with the police. They will keep this on a database, and if you ever need to be in contact with them, they can find this information, so you don't have to repeat all your details.
Learn more about the Pegasus card scheme - for people with communication difficulties.
Services for Young People - Easter Holiday activity programme (ages 13 - 16)
Services for Young People is running an exciting programme of free holiday activities during the Easter 2024 school holidays. The activities are for young people aged 13-16, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals.
The activities focus on healthy lifestyles. Young people will have the opportunity to take part in fun physical activities such as sports, dance and team games, get creative with arts and crafts, meet and socialise with other young people and get free healthy food every day.
There will be informal healthy lifestyles workshops on healthy food choices and cooking, emotional wellbeing and resilience, healthy relationships and smoking, drug and alcohol awareness.
The activities will take place during the Easter holidays, from Tuesday 2 to Friday 5 April 2024, with each session lasting four hours a day. These activities will be held in all areas of Hertfordshire.
There are 20 spaces per district and the allocation of places is on a first come, first served basis. Booking opens on 5 March.
Find out more about the Services for Young People Easter Holiday activities
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 in early March. Thank you for your patience!
Carers in Herts - Parent Carer Information event
Monday 11 March 10am - 2.30pm, Roe Hill Hall, Hatfield
Come along and chat to a range of organisations who can offer support and advice to carers in Hertfordshire.
Watford Mencap Quiz Night (ages 18+)
Friday 15 March at Holywell Community Centre
£15 per person. Put your knowledge to the test and rally your team for an unforgettable evening of brain-teasing entertainment at the Watford Mencap quiz night. Includes a delicious deli plate with a selection of cheeses and rustic bread.
HPCI Autism in schools webinar (for people with children of school age)
Wednesday 13 March, 10am - 12.30pm, online
The Autism in Schools Project team is hosting an online webinar for parents and carers along with HPCI to tell you all about the Autism in Schools pilot project, which has been running in Hertfordshire for the last 3 years. It is also an opportunity to hear from a wide range of speakers and how their organisations work to support autistic children and young people and their families.