In this issue:
Support on a page - service directories for different areas of need (all ages)
We have been working on resource documents to help professionals and parents navigate the services that are available to support a child or young person’s educational needs.
These resource documents are now available to download from the Local Offer. You'll find them all on the relevant pages in the Services for Children and Young People's area on the Local Offer website, or you can download them with the links provided below.
Support on a page: Speech, Language and Communication (pdf 166kb)
Support on a page: Neurodiversity (pdf 195kb)
Support on a page: Learning difficulties (pdf 143kb)
Support on a page: Deafness and sight loss (pdf 145kb)
Support on a page: Physical needs (pdf 144kb)
Support on a page: Behaviours that challenge (pdf 181kb)
Support on a page: Mental health (pdf 204kb)
(These documents are not fully accessible to screen readers. If you would like an accessible version, please email localoffer@hertfordshire.gov.uk)
Siouxsie shares her experience of living with Developmental Language Disorder (all ages)
Have you heard of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)? It's a hidden but common disability that causes difficulties with using and understanding language.
Earlier this year, Siouxsie, a talented young artist from Hertfordshire, and her Mum, were interviewed by the DLD Project and asked to discuss her experience of living with DLD.
In the podcast she explains how she uses her creativity and art to spread awareness about the condition and to communicate.
Could you be a foster carer for a young person with SEND?
Have you considered fostering? Your life skills and experience as a parent or carer of a child with special educational needs could make you a perfect foster carer.
There are approximately 1,000 children in care in Hertfordshire, many of whom are in need of a foster carer.
Please get in touch with us to find out more about fostering. You can ring 0800 917 0925, text FOSTERING to 62277, email fostering.recruitment@hertfordshire.gov.uk or
visit the fostering website.
Stevenage Herts Haven Café: now closed
We want to let you know that the Stevenage Herts Haven Café has now closed. However, cafes in Hemel Hempstead, Watford, and Ware remain open, with the Hemel Hempstead Café opening for an extra day each week on Wednesdays as well as Thursdays and Saturdays.
Need someone to talk to?
The other Herts Haven Cafés remain open to young people and provide a safe space where Hertfordshire young people (10-18) can get support and practical help from trained, empathetic professionals for their emotional wellbeing.
Find Herts Haven Cafe locations and opening hours
You can also contact our With Youth team via our instant messaging service:
- By message: Click the chat icon on our website when we’re open
- By phone: Call 0208 189 8400 (Option 2)
Help us find more inclusive activities in Hertfordshire (all ages)
One of the main things families tell us they want to know about is inclusive clubs and activities for their child in their area. We do our best to find out about as many as we can, but often there are lots of smaller groups around the county that we just don’t hear about. We'd like you to help us find out about inclusive activities for children and young people in Hertfordshire so that we can make sure more people know about them.
This short survey will ask you to tell us about any services, clubs, and activities that support children and young people with SEND. We will use this information to improve the information on the Local Offer and the SEND Community Directory.
It should take around 5-10 minutes to complete and works well on all devices.
Complete the survey (open until 30 April 2025)
Improvements to Hertfordshire's SEND data recognised by NHS England and DfE
As part of the ongoing monitoring of progress against our improvement plan (resulting from the Ofsted / CQC SEND inspection in 2023), the Department for Education and NHS England carried out an assessment visit earlier this year and undertook a ‘deep dive’ to find out what progress we are making in a specific area.
During their visit, representatives from the Department for Education and NHS England found that there has been significant progress into the development of our data dashboard which helps leaders to understand the needs and provision for children and young people with SEND. It includes metrics on things such as social care, health services, school attendance, and feedback from families and that is used across the partnership to improve services and experiences of children and young people with SEND. It has been proposed as a national exemplar by the Independent Chair of the SEND Improvement Board.
"The intelligence now available across the partnership can better support a range functions such as the analysis of needs, quality assurance, self-evaluation, planning and budgeting, in comparison to the time of inspection meaning that children and young people’s needs are often better understood facilitating targeted support."
- André Ellis, Head of East of England Vulnerable Children’s Unit, Department for Education
Read more about this visit and how improvements made to our data dashboard are having a positive impact on SEND services
Events
View all activities and courses
Looking for fun things to do in the holidays? View our Fifty Thrifty list of free and low-cost family activities in Hertfordshire
SPACE - Understanding Dyslexia Workshop, online
Wednesday 23 April, 10am
An engaging and informative online workshop which delves into the fascinating world of dyslexia. This workshop aims to provide a deeper understanding of dyslexia, its challenges, and how we can support individuals with dyslexia.
Inclusive United - Sport and Employability programme (ages 18-25)
Mondays, 11.30am - 2.30pm
Aimed at young adults aged 18+ with mild learning disabilities, Neurodiversity, SEN or additional needs, the programme will deliver inclusive sports sessions whilst helping participants to build their skills and confidence to help them with being able to access volunteering roles and work experience and employment opportunities in the sports industry in the future.
The Allergy Team - Understanding allergies
Wednesday 23 April, 8pm
The Allergy Team is hosting a Q&A webinar online which is free for school staff, childminders, parents, carers and anyone who would like to understand more about allergies.