HPCI Member update 2 June 2026

Welcome to our latest update.  This week you can:

🚌 Find out about changes to home to school / college transport for 16-18 year olds.
📋 Have your say on Hertfordshire’s SEND Provision Plan 2026–29 before 15 June.
📍 Join the DSPL8 SEND Information Fayre in Hemel Hempstead tomorrow.
💻 Share your views on digital mental health support for children and young people in Hertfordshire.
🤝 Find out about an online event exploring how SEND reforms affect Black, Asian and minoritised disabled children and their families (3 June).
💙 Explore free Family Fund support for parent carers, including workshops, practical tools and possible grants.
🗣️ Encourage children and young people to take part in the Children’s Commissioner’s national survey, The Big Future.

🚌 Personal Travel Budgets
Last month, Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) agreed changes to its home-to-school and college transport policy for 16–18 year olds. This means that for most young people, Personal Travel Budgets (PTBs) will now be the main form of support offered. This decision was made even though, in the council’s consultation, only 27% of respondents said they would be happy to accept a PTB, while a further 19% were unsure.

HPCI has written to the Leader of the Council and the councillor responsible for SEND to share our concerns about this decision. We remain worried about safety, the extra pressure this could place on families, and the risk that the changes could have the greatest impact on the most vulnerable young people. We will continue to monitor how this is introduced, and would like to hear from you if your family is affected.

📋 Hertfordshire’s SEND Provision Plan 2026–29
The public consultation on the Hertfordshire SEND Provision Plan 2026–29 is open until 15 June. Parents, carers and young people are encouraged to share their views. You can find information about the different ways to take part on the Local Offer website: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/SENDProvisionPlan.

📍 DSPL8 Parent/Carer SEND Information Fayre – 3 June
Parents and carers are invited to the DSPL8 SEND Information Fayre tomorrow (3 June), from 9:30am to 12:30pm, at the South Hill Centre in Hemel Hempstead. You can confirm your attendance using the booking link below, or simply drop in on the day. HPCI will be there, so come and say hello!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/send-information-fayre-dacorum-tickets-1988825553769

💻 Hertfordshire’s Digital Mental Health Services
Children and young people registered with a Hertfordshire GP can access support for emotional wellbeing and mental health through a range of free digital services. These include WithYouth for 5–18 year olds, including the Lumi Nova game, and Sandbox for 10–25 year olds.

Hertfordshire County Council and the NHS are asking parents, carers, children and young people to complete a short survey so these services can better meet local needs.  You can complete the survey here.

🤝 SEND Reforms and Racial Equity: Online Parent Event – 3 June
Include Me TOO, Black SEN Mamas and South Asian SEN Mamas are hosting an online event for parents and carers from diverse communities to explore how SEND reforms affect Black, Asian and minoritised disabled children, young people and their families. The discussion will focus on barriers to support, exclusion and under-representation, and how these issues can be addressed through SEND reform.

The interactive Zoom event is open to SEND parents and carers, teachers, specialists and allies who want to be part of the conversation and help improve outcomes for children and young people. It will take place on Wednesday 3 June 2026, with sessions from 10:15am to 12:15pm and 7:00pm to 9:00pm and you can register here:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/d2TjBCvGRMabcjAW2AKx6g.

💙 Family Fund: support for Parents of Children with Additional Needs
Family Fund is offering a range of free support for parent carers, including:

• Online workshops to help with digital skills, managing finances, and reducing everyday family pressures
• Practical tools and guidance to support family finances and understand available help
• A “Discover More Support” tool to find charities and services tailored to your needs
• Access to grants for eligible families, based on financial need and the impact of disability

These resources and more can be found on their website.

🗣️Children’s Commissioner Survey
The Children’s Commissioner has launched The Big Future, a national survey designed to hear directly from children and young people across England. The survey closes on 23 October.

Thanks for reading and, as always, if you have any feedback on this update or Hertfordshire SEND services, you can email contact@hertsparentcarers.org.uk or fill out our short feedback form.

All best wishes

Kate Hudson
HPCI Operations Lead