In this issue:
Improving Children and Young People's Integrated Therapy Service
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust have been speaking to parents, carers, teachers and therapists to find out how they can better support children. Their short and beautifully illustrated video explains what's new, and what they're doing to reduce waiting times, increase availability and make accessing the service as easy as possible.
Short Breaks Virtual Offer
In order to continue providing for families during the multiple lockdowns of the past year, SBLO providers have designed virtual offers - live activities or videos which you can follow along with. Usually, you need to be registered to receive Short Breaks and choose a provider, however some of our providers have made access to their virtual offer completely open. Take a look at the links below to see what you could access, whether you get Short Breaks or not.
Pre-recorded cook-a-long sessions from Phoenix Group for deaf children and young adults on their Facebook page
Online activities such as sports, craft and meeting animals on NHCVS Breakaway scheme's YouTube Channel
Story book read-a-longs on Hertfordshire Action for Children's Facebook page
Hertfordshire's Family Centres are still open
Did you know that family centres are still open and running bookable appointments in their centres? They are also running a range of recorded sessions for children and virtual information and guidance for parents via Zoom, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp and Microsoft Teams.
The Public Health Nursing Service will continue to run their appointment only clinics and health and development reviews during this period.
Keep an eye on their social media channels for what’s on in your local area.
Visit the Hertfordshire Family Centre's website
Children's mental health awareness week (1 - 7 February)
Supporting children’s mental health is high on everyone’s agenda at the moment. There are lots of ideas available on the Children's Mental Health Week website with free resources that can be adapted for use in school or at home.
This year’s theme is “Express Yourself” encouraging children and young people to spend time doing something they really enjoy.
Hertfordshire Libraries are offering their Ready Reads service and the BorrowBox app so children can still request books to help them escape to other worlds and read for pleasure. They can also request books to help with hobbies or develop new interests.
Sometimes children and young people need support to understand and talk through their feelings and worries. Hertfordshire Libraries stock a range of books in their Shelf Help collections to help young people explore their emotions and find guidance for managing their feelings. You can find a series of Mindfulness books for children on the BorrowBox app - free to borrow with Hertfordshire library membership.
Children | Reading Well booklists | Books | Reading Well (reading-well.org.uk)
Young people's mental health | Reading Well booklists | Books | Reading Well (reading-well.org.uk)
Spotlight on events
Our events tool is still very new and we're keeping it stocked with all of the courses, support groups and events we can. If you are an event provider for SEND families please do tell us about us your events, so we can help to share them with families across Hertfordshire.
View all events
A creative dance class for those with a disability or SEN from Imagination Arts. Age guidance is 8+ - these are not definite age restrictions but just a guideline for the classes.
Tuesdays, 6.30pm - 7.15pm, £4 per class.
Free Potential Kids yoga and relaxation class with Babacool for Potential Kids SEND Parents/Carers.
Friday 12 February, 10.30am - 11.30am
Often one of the most common behaviour triggers is screen-time related, and often happens when a child is told to stop using their screen. This is a popular session, with some parents sharing almost immediately about some improvements that have happened within a few hours or so.
Tuesday 16 February, 8pm - 10pm, from £2.50 (some free places available)