Want to know more about the SEND Local Offer website and how it can help you find support for your family? 
Sometimes, it's hard to know what support is out there, and where to begin. In this webinar, a friendly face from the SEND Local Offer team will give you a brief tour of the support and services outlined on the website, so you get an idea of what exists and how to access it.
Wednesday 21 January at 8pm - 8.45pm - online via Teams
Have your say in the new SEND Strategy - join an online consultation session (all ages)
The Hertfordshire SEND Local Area Partnership has developed a new SEND Strategy for 2026–2029, which sets out our shared ambitions to improve outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This strategy has been shaped by the voices of children, young people, families, and professionals across education, health, and social care.
Now, we want to hear from families again. Come along to one of our online sessions to give your views on the strategy and tell us if you agree with our priorities.
The session will take 90 minutes and includes a short presentation on the strategy, followed by focus group discussions. In order for us to facilitate conversations, we have limited spaces to 30.
You can register for one of these events using the links below:
You can also let us know what you think of the new strategy by filling in the consultation survey.
The Ordinarily Available Provision guidance and how it supports your child at school - webinar from HPCI (all ages)
Hertfordshire's Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP) document provides guidance to mainstream nurseries, schools and colleges about adaptations and reasonable adjustments that should be available to every child.
To give families more information about this guidance, and what it means for their children, Herts Parent Carer Involvement (HPCI) are hosting a webinar which will take place on Thursday 5 February from 12pm - 1pm. In the first part of this webinar, a colleague from Hertfordshire County Council will go through this guidance and give you more details about how children with SEND are supported in mainstream settings.
In the second part you will have a chance to ask a SENDIASS advisor questions. They will give advice on how families can use this guidance to engage with schools, to make sure that the right support is in place for your child. A representative from HPCI will also be on hand to share positive examples that they have seen in schools.
This free webinar is for all parent carers of children and young people with SEND in Hertfordshire who would like to understand what OAP is.
You can look at the guidance (pdf 846kb) ahead of the webinar
Register to join the webinar on Thursday 5 Feb at 12pm
Help us make the SEND Local Offer website easier to navigate
We are always trying to make our SEND Local Offer website easier to use, and to break down the complex world of SEND in a way that's easier to understand. We want to improve the structure of our website, and the best way to do that is to find out how you group information.
We have made a very short online activity that asks you to group different types of services and support for children and young people with SEND and their families. You do not need to have any knowledge of this subject to take part and there are no right or wrong answers - the task will just tell how most people think and navigate on the website.
It should take around 5-10 minutes to complete and works on all devices (but may be a bit easier on a device with a larger screen).
Supported Internship Project Officer wins national award
Carly Knowler in the Services for Young People SEND Team, recently won the British Association of Supported Employment (BASE) Learner of the Year Award. The awards highlight the best practice taking place across Great Britain to enrich the lives of disabled, neurodivergent and disadvantaged people through high quality employment.
Supported Internships are for young people aged 16-25 with additional needs who want to work but need support to do so. Hertfordshire County Council Services for Young People (SfYP) works in partnership with Hertfordshire's 4 further education colleges and employers throughout the county to provide Supported Internships which provide a bridge between education and employment. Interns see many benefits, including improvements in their confidence, motivation and communication skills, and there is the potential of a paid job for at the end of the programme of study.
Carly works with parents and young people, professionals who work with young people and employers by hosting Q&A sessions and the SEND Employment Forum, as well as offering one-to-one information, advice and support. We'd like to offer our huge congratulations to Carly and thank her for all the passion and hard work she brings to this role.
To find out more, visit the Supported Internships webpage or join us at one of our Supported Internships awareness events.
New HertsHub for improving children and young people's mental health (all ages)
The new Children and Young People's HertsHub is now LIVE!
With information and signposting to a wide range of free services, the site brings everything together in one place: self-help resources, early support options, and more specialist services and contacts for help in a crisis.
Co-produced with young people, parents, carers, and professionals, this new platform will make it quicker and easier to find the right support for children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing in Hertfordshire. From building healthy daily habits to getting help early, HertsHub aims to empower young people and families to take charge of their emotional wellbeing – because feeling good matters!
Whether you’re a young person, parent, carer, or professional, the CYPMHS HertsHub will help you find the right help at the right time.
Explore HertsHub now!
Upcoming Changes to Young Carer Support in Hertfordshire
At Hertfordshire County Council, we are committed to ensuring young carers receive the best possible support. Currently, the council commissions the local charity 'Carers in Hertfordshire to deliver key responsibilities, including identifying young carers, assessing their needs, and supporting their transition into adulthood. This contract comes to a natural end in March 2026.
Alongside these duties, Carers in Hertfordshire also runs activities funded by other grants. We will continue working with them and other partners so that young carers can enjoy opportunities for respite and connection.
From 1 April 2026, when the contract with Carers in Hertfordshire ends, this support will become part of the council’s core services. The council is doing this to make it easier to plan and shape services for young carers and their families. It also hopes to make it simpler for young carers to access support.
Both organisations are working closely to ensure a smooth transition, keeping young carers and their families at the heart of every decision. The council is currently co-designing future support with young carers, families, schools, health professionals, children’s services, and charities.
If you work with young carers, please take a look at this update on support for young carers.
Events
View all courses and activities
Meet the author: The Autistic Teen's School Survival Guide
Saturday 7 February, 1.30pm, Bishop's Stortford
We are delighted to welcome Gracie Barlow, author of ‘The Autistic Teen Girl’s School Survival Guide’ to Bishop Stortford Library for an exclusive talk and Q&A. A Library Centenary event.
ADD-vance: Understanding PDA (pathological demand avoidance) workshop
Friday 16 January, 10am, online
Sign up to understand more about the ‘PDA’ presentation of autism and explore helpful support strategies
Autism Hertfordshire: walking group (ages 18+)
Friday 23 January, 11am, St Albans
Come along and join us for some fresh air and chat. Email enquiries@autismherts.org for more information.
Family Lives: Co-parenting with care for families of children with SEN - 6 week course
Starts Wednesday 4 February, 9.30am - 11.30am, online
This course offers a structured approach to help you navigate your unique challenges, improve your relationship and create a more supportive environment for your SEND child/ren.