The latest news
Working Together in Early Help : SEND Themed Events
Our Families First "Working Together in Early Help" events are a great opportunity to meet up and network with other local professionals and at the same time learn from new services across Hertfordshire. They are held twice yearly across the county and our summer events will be focused on SEND support.
More information will follow, but in the meantime, you can book your place here:- www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/earlyhelpevent
Reuse Shops Community Donations Scheme
Hertfordshire County Council Reuse Shops offer preloved furniture that has been dropped off at the Recycling Centres by members of the public. We offer some of these items, free of charge, to individuals in the greatest material need.
The criteria are:
- Those living in Hertfordshire.
- Individuals supported by HCC or district and borough services (such as Childrens’ Services). The request must come through the professional.
Items we offer:
The Reuse Shops receive a range of items that we offer for donation. Our stock varies as it depends on what we receive at our drop off.
Typical items are:
- Table and chairs
- Bedside tables
- Coffee tables
- Chests of drawers
- Wardrobes
- Small electricals
This list is not exhaustive, please contact us if you have other requirements and we will endeavour to source them. Please note that we cannot offer: white goods, mattresses, floor coverings or curtains.
How to request items
Please email hertfordshirereuseshops@hertfordshire.gov.uk with:
- The items you would like to request.
- Which shop you would like to collect from - Harpenden, Stevenage, Ware, Watford or Welwyn Garden City.
- Suggested dates that you could collect.
Please note that the Reuse Shops have limited storage space so we are unable to hold items for more than a few days.
In exceptional circumstances we can offer delivery of very large and heavy items.
We will check our stock and get back to you as quickly as possible, where possible with a photograph and measurements of items that we can offer.
If you have a public facing space, please download the poster to display
New Early Years Pathway to Support Parents
Over the last 8 months a multiagency group which included HCC (Hertfordshire County Council), HCPI (Hertfordshire Parent Carer Involvement), Family Support and PHN team (Public Health Nursing) has been working on the development of an EY Pathway to inform parents of the EY (Early Years) journey and how to access support from all of our services if they have concerns about their child’s development.
The EY pathway has now been printed which includes a link tree with links to all services which gives further information to parents in an easy and accessible format. The colourful and fun but informative EY pathway is given out to parents and is being placed in the personal child health record (PCHR, also known as red book) as part of the New Birth visit and to any parent that attends any appointment with the Health Visiting team.
Please see a copy of the pathway below and scan the QR code to see the links.
University of Hertfordshire Festival of Ideas
Save the Date!
Join us on 17 May 2024 as we host a Sport for Good workshop as part of the University of Hertfordshire’s brand new Festival of Ideas - an exciting showcase of innovation that’s sure to inspire you!
Sport for Good workshop
12:45pm to 3pm on Friday 17th May
Harnessing the power of sport to create a safer society.
We all know how beneficial sport can be for health and fitness, but that isn’t all. Our panel of experts believes that sport can reduce crime, improve lives and make society safer. Come and discover how.
In this lively discussion we will explore the power of sport from a new perspective. We’ll consider the transformative potential that participation in physical activity has for creating safer communities in Hertfordshire and beyond. And we’ll have a thought-provoking debate about the different ways sport can be a catalyst for positive change.
The panel will share evidence-based, professional strategies for utilising sport to tackle crime and violence, and stories of lived experiences in a session that will leave you with a deeper appreciation of the positive power of sport.
Book your free tickets here.
How to book your sessions:
- Click on the ‘Book your free tickets’ button above to browse the full line up of free sessions at the Festival of Ideas.
- Once you’ve chosen the sessions you would like to attend and completed your details, submit the form.
- Look out for your email confirmation and put the date in your diary!
We need your help: Fathers and Male Carers Survey
You have previously helped us to promote the Support for Dads webpage and we would now like to ask for help and support in promoting a survey which is being run by the Early Years Service in Children’s Services.
Survey link: https://surveys.hertfordshire.gov.uk/s/GA68GM/.
The survey is aimed at dads and male carers to gather feedback to help make service improvements. We have added the survey link to the webpage and we also have some text and a direct link (below) along with an image which can be used for social media posts and a poster that can be displayed in public spaces.
Along with your continued support in promoting the webpage, could we please ask for your help in promoting this survey (where possible) directly to dads and male carers.
Are you a dad, or dad to be? Do you want to help improve parenting support services for future dads in Hertfordshire?
By sharing your feedback, it will help services consider how they can make improvements based on your personal experience of the parenting journey. The questionnaire will take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.
Does your service work with dads and dads to be? Can you help us reach as many dads as possible through a brief questionnaire they can complete by scanning the QR code below or clicking the website link provided. By doing this we can better understand the dads experience of the parenting journey and share this feedback with services who play a key role in providing parenting support in Hertfordshire to help us to grow and improve together, based on the essential voice of the dad.
Introducing the FOLLOW campaign
The Early Years Service and partners have been working on a speech, language and communication campaign
FOLLOW is a very simple and easy to use set of strategies that parents and carers can use with their little ones to help develop speech, language and communication skills at home. The FOLLOW campaign will give you fun ideas and top tips on using the key strategies through everyday activities such as going for a walk, getting ready to go out and feeding the ducks!
Parents and carers play such an important role in supporting children’s language skills and the campaign aims to give you the tools you need to get started! The FOLLOW campaign includes a linktree so parents and carers can access information on speech and language development and further activities to support speech, language and communication development all in one place.
For more information, please visit this link:- https://linktr.ee/EYFOLLOW
Targeted Parenting Courses & Workshops - Summer Term 2024
Early Help Commissioning are pleased to share the Summer 2024 newsletter of the Targeted Parenting Framework, which offers targeted parenting courses, workshops and webinars that are commissioned through a wide range of providers.
Families who are residents of Hertfordshire can access this free of charge.
Further information and booking instructions can be found in the newsletter by the relevant provider.
If you require further information or support, please do contact us via email ehcommissioning@hertfordshire.gov.uk and we will be happy to help.
Download the Summer Term programme here
Relationship Support for Parents of Children with SEND
The Early Help Commissioning Team piloted 2 SEN focused relationship support courses: Parenting SEN Children Through Separation and Within My Reach between January and March 2024.
We received 59 referrals in to the programme, with 30 parents completed to date.
We have further funding and will continue to deliver these courses over the next year.
Please find attached course dates for Parenting SEN Children Through Separation that will be delivered over the summer term.
Who is the course aimed at?
- Separated parents raising children with SEND
- Parents seeking guidance, support, and strategies for co-parenting SEN children more consistently.
- Parents wanting to create a positive and supportive environment for their child’s development.
The course is free for Hertfordshire residents to attend and you can refer by contacting Family Lives or completing the referral form
For more information on relationship support available to parents and carers visit Relationship support for parents | Hertfordshire County Council
Download the leaflet here
News from Services for Young People, April 2024
Young person with SEND builds confidence and skills through a supportive work experience placement
Services for Young People (SfYP) supported Shane from Stevenage to complete a 70-hour work experience placement with KS Models, a local model making shop. Shane has autism and since the pandemic had lost the confidence to go out on his own. The experience has made a huge difference to his life, building his confidence, self-esteem and skills for the future.
16,300 Hertfordshire secondary school students complete Young People’s Health & Wellbeing Survey
The results of the 2023 Hertfordshire Young People’s Health & Wellbeing Survey, run by SfYP in partnership with Public Health Hertfordshire, are now available. The survey findings will be used to adapt local action plans, enabling different organisations to work together to better support young people in all areas of the county.
Violent crime awareness events help keep young people safe
SfYP took part in three violent crime awareness events across Hertsmere, Three Rivers and Watford over the last three months to help highlight the devastating consequences of knife crime and increase awareness of how SfYP helps young people to stay safe. By engaging with SfYP, young people are supported to make positive life choices and contribute to creating safer communities for everyone.
SfYP Easter school holiday programme supports young people to be happier and healthier
During the Easter 2024 school holidays, SfYP ran an exciting programme of free holiday activities, providing engaging sessions for young people to take part in physical activity, make friends, and learn skills to encourage happier and healthier lifestyles. Feedback from young people highlights the positive impact of the programme on their health, confidence, and independence.
Hertfordshire's Neurodiversity Support Hub
Following a pilot phase, Hertfordshire's Neurodiversity Support Hub is being rolled out across Hertfordshire thanks to funding from both Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) and the NHS. The Hub has initially been funded until the end of March 2025 and ADD-Vance have been commissioned to run the Hub, which is open Monday - Friday 9am-1pm.
The Hub is staffed by experts by experience, they can answer any questions to do with Neurodiversity, however big or small, or just be a listening ear. Please note, no diagnosis is required to access the support and the helpline is open to parents, carers and professionals.
The Hub can be contacted by phone on 01727 833963, with an answerphone facility for out of hours or by email at supporthub@add-vance.org
Please also watch and share with your patients this short digital animation: Your guide to ADHD and Autism support in Hertfordshire - YouTube
The feedback received so far about the new hub has been fantastic:
"I was stuck in a moment where I didn’t know which way to turn. Your helpline saved me today and put me in the right direction, made me feel less alone and has given me hope. thank you, I feel stronger just by knowing what to do next."
"I was feeling especially low and unsupported as a neurodivergent parent with neurodivergent kids. The call was such a life-line and the practical resources emailed to me afterwards are very useful. All in all, your service has kept me going during a particularly difficult time. Thank you."
"Amazing support. I was lost without L’s help, experience, advice, and support. I felt overwhelmed and now feel very supported and have direction. I felt I was heard and had the time and space I needed and could speak without being judged and ask anything. This service is incredible!"
There are also some new digital webinars which parent, carers and professionals can access on demand:
- Understanding Autism
- Understanding ADHD
- Navigating the SEND world
- Navigating the SEND world post 16.
Over the coming months the hub team will be expanding this offer to include several other topics. View the webinars here: SEND documents and resources (hertfordshire.gov.uk)
Tell your friends and family about the Healthier Together website
Knowing where to get the right advice, when we need it, all in one place can make a huge difference when our families are poorly.
Clinical leaders of local health and care services have created a website you can go directly to which offers useful information and trusted advice on a range of common childhood illnesses all in one place.
This Spring, we want to continue to spread the word about the Hertfordshire and west Essex Healthier Together website which has up to date information and advice on a number of topics including:
- Managing asthma
- Mental health and wellbeing support
- Sickness bugs and when to keep your child at home
- Vaccinations including measles
The site advises on the common symptoms of a number of conditions, what steps you should take to treat them at home and when to think about seeking further help.
Please help us by sharing this website with your friends and family this Spring.
Free drop-in events for Families
Hertfordshire Libraries are currently hosting and artist in residence at Hertfordshire Archives and Hertford Library. The artist, Laura, is hosting lots of event for families themed around creativity and wellbeing. The events will all use local archive materials and explore local characters to create something new. Please promote these events to the families you support.
The events that are family focused are listed below and the full schedule is here - Artist in Residence: Hertfordshire Archive and Local Studies with Hertford Library
- Wednesday 29 May, 10am-12.30pm, HALS
- Free family drop in to create art inspired by local historical characters
- Friday 31 May, 2-4pm, Hertford Castle Gardens
- Free family drop in of collage and design hosted by Hertford Library
- Saturday 1 June, 10-11.30am, HALS
- Families and children with SEN are invited to a closed session in the archives to explore old photos, local stories and express themselves through art
- Saturday 15 June, 10am-12pm, HALS
- Free drop in event exploring techniques taught during the residency