This week’s update covers:
📖 Read about: the HPCI Annual survey headlines
🖥️ Sign up: webinar on Ordinarily Available Provision in Hertfordshire (5 February)
📝 Take part: the Hertfordshire Health and Wellbeing Survey for young people with SEND
🎒Get help: “Rucksack” course for parent carers of autistic children aged 0-5
HPCI Annual survey headlines
Thank you!
A big thank you to everyone who shared their views with us. We had 852 responses, showing how much families care about improving SEND services in Hertfordshire. Your voices really matter and help us understand where improvements are most needed, so that we can work with the Council and wider partners on the things that matter most to you.
How satisfied are families?
Feedback was mixed. Some families were very happy (25 gave a 10/10 score), but overall satisfaction with HCC SEND services was 3.3 out of 10, similar to previous years. This reflects the challenges in the SEND system and the scale of work needed to make lasting improvements.
Top concerns:
Families told us the areas most in need of improvement:
Many also said it’s still hard to find information about support services.
What worked well?
The highest rated services were:
We’ll share positive examples with partners to encourage more good practice.
What’s next?
We’re continuing to review the data and will share findings with HCC and partners. Your feedback will help shape the SEND Strategy development and a more detailed report will be published in the new year.
Please keep sharing your thoughts—positive or concerns—via our feedback page.
Webinar on Ordinarily Available Provision in Hertfordshire (5 February, 12 – 1)
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.
In the first part of our webinar, you’ll hear more details from Hertfordshire County Council about this guidance.
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 rep 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.
Book your free place now by clicking this link.
The Hertfordshire Health and Wellbeing Survey for young people with SEND
Services for Young People (SfYP) and Public Health Hertfordshire are inviting young people aged 11–25 with SEND to take part in a county-wide health and wellbeing survey. This survey will help schools, commissioners, and service providers better understand and support the needs of young people with SEND.
Please do check to see if your young person has completed this at school or college, and if not, encourage them to complete the survey before 6 February 2026. The survey is open to those who are not attending school or college and those being educated outside of Hertfordshire, and it’s really important that those young people are also able to share their thoughts and experiences.
“Rucksack” course for parent carers of autistic children aged 0-5
This face-to-face course is designed specifically for parent carers of autistic children or children on the autism pathway (aged 0-5). It aims to provide essential knowledge, practical strategies and valuable resources to support both parent carer and child in navigating everyday life.
To register an interest in the Spring 2026 course (starting end of Jan 2026), click the link to fill in the registration form. The courses run in St Albans, Borehamwood, Hatfield and Stevenage.
🎄Season’s greetings!🎄
Finally, we want to say thank you for all your input and support this year. HPCI is here to be the Hertfordshire voice for SEND families and to bring about improvements to the services our children use. Every member and bit of feedback makes the voices of SEND families stronger – we really do appreciate it.
