Feedback received in 2025
April
From a parent of young person with SEND to the SfYP SEND Service Manager
"Thank you for your speedy response to my query and for the prompt resolution of this issue. I really do appreciate it and am happy with the outcome."
From a parent of young person with SEND, about an EHCP Coordinator in the SfYP Watford, Three Rivers and Hertsmere Team
"Could I also take this opportunity to extend nothing but praise to the [SfYP EHCP Coordinator] for her excellent communication and timeliness."
March
From the Head Teacher and the Work Experience & Careers Co-ordinator at Rivers Education Support Centre, Hoddesdon, to a CEIAG Adviser in the SfYP East Herts, Broxbourne and Welwyn Hatfield Team
"We are very satisfied with the IAG support you give our students. Your delivery is fantastic! You have a great working relationship with all the staff at the [Rivers Education Support] Centre. You engage and relate well with our students, and the support in place is effective, harmonious and has a positive impact on our students. We appreciate of the work you do."
From the Head Teacher and the Work Experience & Careers Co-ordinator at Rivers Education Support Centre, Hoddesdon, to an Employment and Skills Coordinator in the SfYP East Herts, Broxbourne and Welwyn Hatfield Team
"You are very adept at finding placements that are particularly suitable for our students. Your dedication played a big part in work experience being a positive and successful experience for our students. We would like to express our thanks and appreciation."
From a parent of young person with SEND to a Supported Employment Adviser in the SfYP SEND Team
"My son applied for the job himself and was absolutely adamant that he didn’t want any help with it. I am thrilled that he seems to be flying solo. I am certain that your help and care increased his confidence massively… it is in no small part due to you that he now has [a job]… Can I just say how very very grateful I am to you for all of your kindness and your help with my son.”
From a parent of a young person being supported by an Inclusion Worker in the SfYP St Albans and Dacorum Team
"I would just like to thank [the SfYP Inclusion Worker] for her amazing contributions to my son's health and wellbeing. Right from the first session, she has understood him and spoken to him in a way that makes him feel understood and acknowledged. She has managed to increase his sessions in school, something I thought was unachievable this year. She is a credit to SfYP and I speak highly of her to the agencies working with my son. Thank you."
From the parent of young person with SEND to a Supported Employment Adviser in the SfYP SEND Team
"I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to [the Adviser] for her exceptional efforts with our son… following his carpentry qualifications from college nearly three years ago, this is the first time we have seen real progress. [The Adviser] has been unwavering in her commitment from the beginning, ensuring she is not just another person who engages with him temporarily without delivering results… She has really taken the time to get to know my son and understand how he needs to be approached. Initially, he would only engage with her in the presence of myself or his dad, but now he feels comfortable speaking to her directly and I feel this is all to do with her recognising his strengths and weaknesses and leveraging them effectively. Additionally, she has taken the time to understand us as parents, which has given her a better understanding of my son's situation. Her patience and persistence in following up with her contacts repeatedly have been instrumental in making this progress possible."
From a young person at Loreto College, St Albans, to a Senior CEIAG Adviser in the SfYP St Albans and Dacorum Team
"Thank you so much for taking the time to help me improve my CV. I feel confident now to give it to future employers."
From a parent of a young person following a meeting with a CEIAG Adviser in the SfYP St Albans and Dacorum Team
"I wanted to thank you for today. You seem to have motivated my daughter and I really appreciate it. An outside source was what she needed. It was lovely that she remembered you from Roundwood [Park School, Harpenden] as well. She seems very keen to consider her GCSEs in college now rather than sitting them privately [the young person attended the West Herts College open day and applied to study there]… I think your meeting has done her the world of good if I’m honest. Thank you again."
Extract from an article in the Harpenden Forum magazine written by a young person who attends an SfYP LGBT+ youth work project in the St Albans area, about SfYP’s LGBT+ youth work projects
"Outside school… Hertfordshire County Council Services for Young People runs local support groups for LGBTQ+ [young people], with Youth Workers and safe locations that, for the 40-45 people I have seen come to the local group, has become a lifeline, a highlight and an opportunity: for new friends, new experiences, new learning and, most of all, for something to lean on. LGBTQ+ is one of the most vulnerable minorities in the UK, but with groups like this, whose details are shared with schools to encourage membership, teenagers are heard, seen and kept safe in the community."
From the Assistant Head Teacher at Townsend C of E School, St Albans, about an Employment and Training Adviser and a CEIAG Adviser, in the SfYP St Albans and Dacorum Team, about their delivery of traded careers education information, advice and guidance services
"I just wanted to let you know what a brilliant job [the SfYP Advisers] did today with Years 12 and 8. They are both so enthusiastic and delivered two really engaging sessions. The fact that they held the attention of 140 Year 8 students during Friday lesson 5 is fantastic! All of the students learnt a lot from the sessions and seemed to really enjoy them. Thank you so much for the high-quality support which Services for Young People continues to give the students at our school. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.”
From a parent of young person with SEND, about a CEIAG Adviser in the SfYP SEND Team
"My son really has come a very long way from the days when he was 'written off' by many and this shows his resilience and determination, and I just wanted you to be aware of his success and next steps as you have been a great support to both [him] and myself over the past three or four years and we really do appreciate it. Thank you once again for all your support.”
From Assistant Headteacher at Ashlyns School, Berkhamsted, about a Senior CEIAG Adviser in the SfYP St Albans and Dacorum Team, about continuing her delivery of traded careers education information, advice and guidance services
“We would definitely like to have the same [number of days] for our pupil premium students for 2025-26, ideally with [the same Adviser] please because she is amazing!”
From the Executive Headteacher of Links Multi Academy Trust, St Albans and Hatfield, to the Area Service Manager of the SfYP St Albans and Dacorum Team, about the team’s delivery of traded careers education information, advice and guidance services
“As discussed, we would like to renew both our contracts for St Albans and Hatfield [schools] for next year. After your phone call I spoke to [Head of School, St Albans] and she agreed that we need to renew the contract because the opportunities that the students get from the joint working between our organisations improve their life chances greatly. She went as far as to say that it was a 'no brainer' and your team were worth their weight in gold.”
From the Assistant Head at Dacorum Education Support Centre, Hemel Hempstead, to the CEIAG Practice Manager in the SfYP St Albans and Dacorum Team, about the team’s delivery of traded careers education information, advice and guidance services
"I just wanted to take a moment to express our appreciation again for the excellent delivery and communication from you guys [SfYP CEIAG Advisers] this year. We have been delighted with the service and will be looking to purchase a similar number of days for next academic year.”
From a student at Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School, St Albans, to a CEIAG Adviser in the SfYP St Albans and Dacorum Team following a personal careers guidance interview
"Thank you so much. I appreciate your help. Our meeting was really informative and helpful."
From the Relationship Manager at HCC Step2Skills to a Community Development Practitioner in the SfYP SEND Team
Thank you for all your contributions to [the Step2Skills] Multiply [project]. There has been nothing but positivity from SfYP throughout the project and you have embraced the peripatetic nature of your role and the challenges this has brought. It is very much appreciated and noted how well you have worked within the partnership, helping to recruit learners for the Step2Skills in-house team. You have exceeded your target which is fantastic, and you have been able to both engage and move learners on to substantive courses which was the aim of the project. Great job, well done!
February
From the Pastoral and Personal Development Lead at Marlborough Science Academy, St Albans, to the Senior Youth Worker in the SfYP St Albans and Dacorum Team, following their team's delivery of a session on sexual health at the school
"The students were buzzing! They learned so much. Please pass on my gratitude to your team."
From a parent of young person with SEND, to a Senior EHCP Co-ordinator in the SfYP St Albans and Dacorum EHCP Review Team
"Thank you so much for all your hard work and help... We are feeling more positive and hopeful for our son's future. You have been an incredible support.”
From a parent of young person with SEND, to a Senior EHCP Co-ordinator in the SfYP SEND Team
"Thank you for the vastly improved level of engagement, understanding, constructive suggestion and delivery that we have experienced since you became involved in my son's EHCP."
From a parent of young person with SEND, to an EHCP Co-ordinator in the SfYP East Herts, Broxbourne and Welwyn Hatfield EHCP Review Team
"Now that my daughter is at the end of her EHCP journey, I would like to thank everyone that has been part of this process and the support the EHCP process has given her throughout her school life. She has decided to continue her education by taking an HND course at HRC in September. We NEVER thought she would get this far, let alone carry on further. Please pass on our gratitude to whoever is appropriate."
From a parent of young person with SEND, about a Supported Employment Adviser in the SfYP SEND Team
"I just wanted to say how grateful we are for your help and guidance. This time for my son is tricky as he has no structure to his week and as much as we try it’s hard to maintain his focus. We really appreciate what a kind, supportive and caring person you are and, as we always say about people like you, you are angels in disguise, guiding my son through his life. Without people like you, his and our life would be so much tougher, so thank you so much."
From a parent of young person with SEND, to a CEIAG Adviser in the SfYP Stevenage and North Herts Team
"Thank you for making time to meet with us this morning and for helping my daughter see what is possible outside of the usual educational routes. This is honestly the first time in years she has spoken directly to a professional who is unfamiliar to her, and it was lovely to hear her talking about where she sees herself in the future. She told her dad and sister all about it when they got in and was very excited to know that there is potential to be earning money whilst completing a course!"
January
From the Assistant Head Teacher at Townsend C of E School, St Albans, to two CEIAG Advisers in the SfYP St Albans and Dacorum Team, following personal careers guidance interviews with students at the school
"I really appreciate your continued support for the school. The [SfYP CEIAG] Advisers are doing an amazing job with the one-to-one interviews and our students speak very highly of them."
From a parent of young person being supported by an Inclusion Worker and Youth Workers in the SfYP St Albans and Dacorum Team
"Very good news, my son now goes to school 9am till 1.20pm (yippee). He goes to Adeyfield still, but a smaller separate part... so he's able to catch up on missed school work and be in a quieter space. He seems a lot happier. He will be coming tonight to group [SfYP youth work project] also and he says he likes it there. I'm really grateful for all you guys have been doing for him.”
From a parent of young person with SEND to an EHCP Co-ordinator in the SfYP St Albans and Dacorum EHCP Review Team
"I just wanted to leave feedback about our case worker [EHCP Co-ordinator]. We can’t speak highly enough about how professional, efficient and altogether amazing she has been for us as a family. From the moment she took over my daughter’s case, she has changed everything for the positive. She always called when she said she would and sent regular updates so we are not left in the dark... I have never had to chase her up and her compassion and drive for getting things completed has been invaluable to us. She really has changed our daughter’s future, successfully securing her into a specialist autistic provision that we could have only dreamed of her being able to attend after mainstream, and other SEN placements, have all failed due them not being able to meet her needs. We will never be able to thank her enough for all she has done for us.
From a parent of young person with SEND to a CEIAG Adviser in the SfYP SEND Team
"It was agreed at my son’s annual review that a referral to SfYP would be made so that he can explore alternatives to mainstream education... the [SEND Team] CEIAG Adviser, contacted me very quickly and we had a very helpful telephone conversation. She is meeting with my son next week. All in all, we're very happy with the support from SfYP."
From a parent of young person with SEND, to an EHCP Co-ordinator in the SfYP Stevenage and North Herts EHCP Review Team
"My son had his EHCP Annual Review on 11 November 2024 and we received the 'Decision to Amend' letter and the proposed amended plan in just over two weeks. There were a handful of minor amendments to be made to this, which I sent back, and the final plan landed in my inbox at the beginning of this week [30 December 2024]. We haven't had an amended plan turned around this quickly (and within statutory deadlines) for many years… so definitely something to acknowledge! I felt it important to feed this back as I know that a lot has been invested in moving post-16 plans to SfYP."
