Services and Activities
On this page...
| Parenting Support | Holiday Activities | Family Learning | Adult Learning |
Parenting Support
One-to-One Support
- Letchworth Children’s Centres
- Parentlineplus, the national parenting charity: telephone helpline 0808 800 2222, Visit website
Courses and workshops
To be kept informed about the one-off workshops or longer courses available to parents in North Herts and Stevenage, contact Sylvia Daintrey, Letchworth Extended Schools Co-ordinator, telephone 01462 707210 or email esco.letchworth@hertsextendedschools.org.uk
Parent support at NetMums
Netmums is a unique local network for Mums (or Dads), offering a wealth of information on both a national and local level. Once you have registered for free on your local North Herts site, you can access details of all kinds of local resources, chat with local mums in the coffee house, and read other mums’ local recommendations. Trained Parent Supporters are available online.
More details on the website.
Parent support at Herts Direct
- Information about services for children, young people, their parents and carers
- Impartial information and guidance on special educational needs
- Advice and help with school admissions process
- Financial assistance for families on a low income
Advisory Centre for Education (ACE)
- A national charity that provides independent advice for parents and carers of children aged 5-16 in state-funded education.
- Free advice on many subjects like exclusion from school, bullying, special educational needs, disability and school admission appeals.
- Text the keyword ASKACE to 68808 and follow the instructions for free booklets, tips and advice tailored to your questions.
- General advice line (Mon-Fri 10am-5pm): 0808 800 5793
- Exclusion information line (24hr answer phone): 020 7704 9822
- Exclusion advice line (Mon-Fri 10am-5pm): 0808 800 0327
Some more helplines
Family Information Service
For information about childcare and children’s services
01438 737 502 8.30am-4.30pm
Monday-Friday
Hertfordshire Domestic Violence Helpline
Talk to us about what is happening, find out what help is available
08088 088 088 10am-8pm Monday-Friday
ADD-Vance
Supporting parents and carers of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autistic Spectrum Conditions
01727 833963 Monday - Friday message service – we aim to return all calls within 24 hours
Money advice websites
Dealing with money is one of the most difficult things we have to do in life. If we don't manage the money we have, we can find ourselves running into all sorts of problems.
The "Let's Talk about Money - Your Money Guide" has now been released as a very simply interactive web resource. The aim of this guide is to help you and your family get to grips with some of the basics of money and give you some guidance on how best to manage it so that you can make the most of what you have - View website.
Other useful websites are:
- Money matters to me
- Money saving expert
- Websites to help with the Credit Crunch: view Hertfordshire Libraries flyer here (pdf)
Holiday Activities
Out of school play and sport
North Herts District Council Children’s Services Team provide and support a range of out of school play and sports opportunities across the district during most school holidays. Details of the latest programmes.
Holiday football activities
At The Arena, North Hertfordshire’s state-of-the-art community football facility run by Hitchin Town Football Club and located on Norton Road on the edge of Baldock. Further details on the North Herts Arena website
Letchworth Arts centre
Details of holiday events and courses
Holiday playschemes and childcare
Contact Hertfordshire’s Family Information Service on 01438 737502 or visit the website.
Family Learning
Clay art family learning club – Autumn Term 2008
- A weekly practical and creative club for parents and children (age 4 upwards) to design and make clay products together, including introduction to glazing.
- Run by Vanessa L Cox Pendray, an experienced ceramics artist and tutor.
- Weekly sessions on Wednesdays 3.30-5.30pm at Wilbury Junior School, Bedford Road, Letchworth Garden City SG6 4DU, re-starting Wednesday 21st January 2009.
- Cost £4 per adult, £2 per child, payable at each session attended.
The number of places is limited so if you are interested in joining the club, please contact Jane Sweetman at Wilbury Junior School, 01462 620410, email: jane.sweetman@wilbury.herts.sch.uk
Adult learning
North Herts College Evening Courses at Letchworth Schools Spring 2009
Baking for Beginners
Monday 12th Jan 7-9pm
5 weeks for £40
Web Design Dreamweaver for Improvers
Monday 19th Jan 7-9pm
10 weeks for £75
Web Design Dreamweaver for All
Wednesday 21st Jan 7-9pm
10 weeks for £75
French for Beginners 1
Wednesday 21st Jan 7-9pm
10 weeks for £75
Jewellery Making *
Wednesday 21st Jan 6.30-8.30pm
10 weeks for £75
Excel for Beginners
Thursday 22nd Jan 7-9pm
10 weeks for £75
French for Absolute Beginners
Thursday 22nd Jan 7-9pm
10 weeks for £75
Next Steps with Computers
Monday 23rd Feb 7-9pm
6 weeks for £15
Simply Soups and Starters
Monday 2nd March 7-9pm
5 weeks for £40
* All courses at Fearnhill School except Jewellery Making at The Highfield School
** Reduced fees may be applicable: please ask for details.
To book your place, or for more information, call North Herts College on 01462 424242 and ask for Adult, Community and Learning Team - Email: community@nhc.ac.uk
Skills for work
Are you currently out of work and looking for employment? If so, why not join North Herts College’s Skills for Work programme.
You will have the chance to:
- write a CV
- undertake careers advice with our Guidance Officer
- complete job searches on the internet and apply for jobs online,
- attend workshops on topics such as Interview Skills and Self Employment
Joining the programme is completely FREE, so come along and see how we can help you.
- Venue: In Town Training, 28 The Forum, Stevenage, SG1 1EH
- Date: Every Thursday
- Time: 9.30am – 12.30pm
- Enquiries: Adult, Community and Learning Team as above
Will the services and activities be free?
Some will be free of charge but some will cost money. For example, specialist support services such as health advice will usually be free. But childcare and some activities offered after the school day will charge fees.
To help parents and carers pay for the costs of some childcare and out-of-school hours activities, those who are working 16 hours or more each week may be eligible for the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit. Further details from the Working Tax Credit/Child Tax Credit Helpline 0845 300 3900.
See also the ‘Paying Childcare Fees’ leaflet available on Hertfordshire County Council’s website.