Home / HPCI Member update 15 December 2023
Welcome to the last HPCI update of 2023. Most importantly, we want to wish you a happy Christmas, however that looks for you and your family.
We also want to say a big thank you to everyone who has shared their views and experiences with us this year or added their voice by becoming a member. While we know there is so much to do, having lived experience at the discussion table is so valuable. We appreciate everyone who has been involved with HPCI this year: our members; our representatives; our partners in the sector. Thank you.
Topics covered in this update:
Political focus on SEND in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire SEND services and the improvements needed continue to be discussed at both the national and local level. Last week, St Albans MP Daisy Cooper raised the matter of the Ofsted/CQC Herts SEND report in the House of Commons. You can read her statement, follow up questions and answers from David Johnson, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, on the “They work for you” website. Or if you would prefer to watch the video of the debate it is available here (the relevant section starts at 16:00).
More locally, SEND issues have been discussed at the most recent full council meeting (watch from 26:45), as well as there being a special meeting of the Education, Libraries and Lifelong Learning panel which focussed specifically on SEND. We are really pleased that this issue is being given the attention it needs – but we know that what really matters is seeing this turn into tangible improvement for our children and young people.
Talking to children and young people about Autism – new Herts leaflet for parent carers
The Herts Mental Health Support Teams work in schools with children and young people and their families. As part of the Autism in Schools project, they have recently launched a leaflet for parents and carers, which is available on the Local Offer website.
Survey: Herts Children & Young People’s Mental Health Services (closes 3 January)
Hertfordshire’s Children & Young People’s Mental Health Services have asked us to share two surveys with you – one is aimed at parent carers and the other is for children and young people (aged 5-25) themselves. They have said that “The purpose of this survey is to understand what services you think are available to you and if you know how to or want to access them. And if you don’t, then what we can do to improve things for you.”
The surveys are here for parents and here for children and close on 3 January (you can also enter a draw for a £25 Amazon voucher for completing the survey).
Mission EmployAble (training for young people aged 19-25 with a learning disability)
Mission EmployAble is a new charity based in Chorleywood which runs an 11-month supported internship programme for young people with an EHCP. Interns do most of their training in Mission EmployAble’s Café where they learn portable skills such as food and drink preparation, cleaning, using a till, teamwork and serving customers. On other days, they continue their training, with support, in other workplaces such as a community garden, a food delivery charity, care homes, shops and pubs. They train as a group, so make friends while they learn.
Places are available on their next supported internship programme which begins in September 2024, with initial interviews starting in February. Full details are available at: www.missionemployable.co.uk or by emailing training@missionemployable.co.uk
Department for Education: Elective Home Education consultation (closes 18 January)
Note: this consultation covers all children who are educated other than at school, not just EHE.
This consultation seeks views on revised versions of the elective home education (EHE) guidance for both local authorities and parents. Both sets of guidance are really important resources for parents and local authorities to help them understand their roles and legal responsibilities. The consultation documents and a response survey are available here.
Survey on hearing checks for children who attend residential special schools (closes 17 December)
A group of researchers from the University of Cambridge are preparing a case for commissioning hearing checks in residential schools. They want to understand the experiences of children, young people, and their families seeking ear or hearing care. The survey closes on 17 December and can be accessed here.
And that’s it for our 2023 updates! Thank you for reading and, as ever, if you have any feedback or something you want to share with us, please do let us know.