Community Events & Family Resources

We receive several notices, advertisements and invitations to events run in the local community. These are not run by the school and we do not take any role in the administration of such events, but we release them to parents for you to peruse at your leisure. We cannot assume responsibility for the events, nor can we endorse the events or activities.

Please hover and click on any item with blue text for further information.

SCROLL DOWN TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT:

• Extended Childcare Options

• Holiday Activities

• Health Advice for Families and Young People

• Next Steps: Primary and Secondary School Information

• Local Events, Resources and Activities (Art & Music, Dance and Drama, Sporting Clubs and Events)

• Community Notices

• Courses and Information for Parents and Families

Extended Childcare

Breakfast Clubs run every day, from 7:30am for children in YN-Y6. Your child should arrive by 8:15 if they wish to have breakfast.

We provide after school childcare for children in YN-Y6 onsite at RASCals (Redwood After School Club)  from 3:15-6:00pm

Our clubs are run by our fully qualified staff. Please make bookings and payment via School Gateway. We also accept childcare vouchers.

 Holiday Activities 

Health Advice for families and young people

NHS Healthier Together

Visit the NHS Healthier Together website at www.hwehealthiertogether.nhs.uk for health resources and practical information to help support children and families

Chickenpox and Ibuprofen

Please do not give children Ibuprofen/Nurofen if they have chickenpox. 

This type of medication is an anti-inflammatory and it reacts with chickenpox making them go deeper into the skin tissue.

Nurofen is Ibuprofen based and the NHS website does state for children not to take Ibuprofen based products for chickenpox. It should also state this on all Nurofen bottles.

Scarlet Fever information from Public Health England

Click here for their fact sheet.

The symptoms of scarlet fever include a sore throat, headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. This is followed by a fine red rash which typically first appears on the chest and stomach, rapidly spreading to other parts of the body. On more darkly-pigmented skin, the scarlet rash may be harder to spot, but it should feel like 'sandpaper'. The face can be flushed red but pale around the mouth.

 You can find more information on chickenpox and scarlet fever on NHS choices: www.nhs.uk.

Next Steps -  Primary and Secondary School Information

MOVING ON to Secondary School, September 2025

ADMISSIONS: Secondary and Upper Transfer in September 2025 – OPEN EVENTS

CLICK HERE to view the Moving On: Open Events leaflet detailing the open event dates for secondary and upper schools in the autumn term.

Please view the leaflet and note any dates for deadlines and/or events which you may like to attend.

Visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/readyforschool for ideas that will help you and your child get ready for school

Local Events, Resources and Activities

ART AND MUSIC

Established in 2008, SAM Music School provides weekly live online music lessons for guitar, drum kit, piano and voice. They are Ofsted registered and deliver thousands of lessons every month and prices are on average around 25% cheaper compared with most LA music services, plus we accept Childcare Vouchers. For further details please click here

DANCE AND DRAMA

Strive Drama have classes running in St Albans and Harpenden. For more information click here or visit www.strivedrama.co.uk or contact Suzie Moffat, Principal of Strive Drama on 07841 018333.

SPORTING CLUBS AND EVENTS

ST ALBANS RANGERS (BRICKIES U11s) ARE RECRUITING NEW PLAYERS FOR 23/24 SEASON - UNDER 11 (Year 6) 

We are moving to 9 a-side from 7 a-side and in need of a few new players.

We play in the West Herts FA League on Sunday mornings at our ground on the outskirts of St Albans (Harperbury - between Arsenal and Watford training grounds).
We are looking for players to join an established friendly team.

We train on excellent 4G facilities at STAGS school Monday nights (5.30 - 7pm).
All Coaches FA accredited and CRC checked.

We are currently trialing new players between now and June 19th.  
For more information contact:
David on 07941 477680 or via the website https://stalbansrangersfc.co.uk/
In your message, please include the following information:
Previous teams: and any other experience
Preferred playing position (if any)

Are you looking for a fun way for girls at your school between the ages of 6 to 8 years old to get involved with football outside school?

 Then look no further! Watford FC CSE Trust are running a Weetabix Wildcats every Friday. The sessions will take place at Watford FC Training Ground, Bell Lane, Shenley from 4.45pm to 5.30pm.

 So, what is Weetabix Wildcats?

Weetabix Wildcats is the place to be, everyone is super awesome; from the friends you’ll meet to The FA qualified coaches who deliver the sessions. It’s non-competitive football for girls who want to give it a go for the very first time or want to play with other girls their own age. The sessions will help:

• Boast Confidence
• Meet New Friends
• Get Girls Active
• Introduction into Football
• Having Fun

 To book onto the session, please book via: www.bookings.watfordfccsetrust.com

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact Lou Barry on Lou.Barry@watfordfc.com

OA's Girls rugby is growing from strength to strength, we currently have run 4 age groups; U11's (year 5 & 6), U13's (year 7 & 8), U15's (year 9 & 10) and U18's (year 11, 12 & 13), and are regarded as the no 1 girls rugby club in Hertfordshire with 9 girls representing Herts County U15’s, 2 in the Middlesex County U15’s and 16 in the Herts county u18 squad, we also have 5 girls who are in the Saracens U18 Centre of Excellence (Academy) and 2 of our girls are in the England U18 squad as well as 3 ex OA’s girls have progressed into the England U20 set up.

As players move up to new age groups, they leave holes to fill so we are always recruiting for new players who would like to try rugby, especially amongst the 5-13 year groups (U11-U18).

For more information click here

Girls Junior Cricket at OAs

Following a successful first full season of girls junior cricket at OAs which included the club’s first ever girls matches, having worked with Hertfordshire cricket to host a home U11s tournament at OAs and recently having 3 of our girls being selected for Hertfordshire County squads at U11 and U13 levels,  we are looking to further develop and expand the girls section at the club.

We will split the girls section into the following groups for the next season:

1. U13+ section, playing in the Hertfordshire league with Old Albanians membership (hardball)
2. U11 section, playing in the Hertfordshire league with Old Albanians membership (incrediball)
3. U9 section will continue under the Dynamos initiative (softball) 

Winter nets will be arranged for the U13+ and U11 sections from January

We are seeking assistance of current members of Old Albanians to help “spread the word” about girls cricket at the club. Please could we ask you to share details with any friends and family with daughters as well as any social media/whatsapp groups (such as other sports club/school groups) who may be interested in joining any of the above age groups for the next season. They can get in touch with us on the below details for further information.

Tom Preest - tompreest@icloud.com

Alpesh Naik – alpeshnaik77@gmail.com

Mighty Netball provides fun, dynamic, non-competitive weekend activities for school children aged 5-11. Mighty Netball provides a fun sporting experience within a supportive environment for all children, regardless of their background, gender, sporting ability or personality type. We provice an opportunity to meet new friends, learn netball skills and experience all the benefits team sports brings. 

Our invitation is for all pupils, from year 1 to year 6 to join one of our sessions for FREE.  They can come along, get active, meet our exceptional coaches and find out what we are all about.  Sessions are 45 minutes long and team a different topic from Netball each week.  No prior experience is necessary, our coaches are so welcoming and will take care of the children.

Greenwood Park Tennis Club. Check their website for more tennis info!

https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/GreenwoodParkLTC/Coaching

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Free School Meals

JANET'S THEATRE TRIPS:

Theatre trips to London! Return coaches from Westminster Lodge. For further information email jactheatretrips@gmail.com or search Facebook: Janet's Theatre Trips

Tales of the Road -The Highway Code for Young Road Users Tales of the Road (think.gov.uk)

How to check your child's helmet, bike, scooter, please see the following video from the Bikeability team.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEzY1qFWXz8

Hertfordshire libraries are offering a new way to borrow books, Ready Reads.

Families can order books for their children and themselves using the online form and then collect from a selected library.

If you are unable to access online services, please contact them on 0300 123 4049. Some families have not felt able to visit the library for a while, this is an easy way to borrow. Also, the requests service is fully operational so for specific books these can be ordered through the catalogue and picked up in the same way.

You can find the latest information about Hertfordshire libraries re-opening plans and online services via their website here.

Age UK are looking for helpers to offer support with cleaning and shopping; suitable hours for a parent of school-age children.

Salaried teacher training opportunities with Alban Federation School Direct is an initial teacher training programme based in schools as opposed to university. Although trainees are released one day a week most of the training is in school. The idea of School Direct is to give trainee teachers a more ‘hands-on’ teaching experience than traditional university based routes into teaching. There are two School Direct programmes offered; these are fee paying and salaried. Both routes award QTS at the end of the programme. Please click here for full details of the scheme, and visit www.albanfederation.com 

'No Idling Zones'; please do not leave your car engine running (idling) when dropping off /collecting children from school. Please be considerate to our children & adults  and SWITCH OFF your car engines.  

PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON THE YELLOW ZIG ZAG LINES AT THE SCHOOL ENTRANCE, OR BLOCK ACCESS TO THE SITE AT ANY TIME

Matt Bennett PCSO
Police Community Support Officer
Neighbourhood Watch
Email: Matthew.Bennett@Herts.pnn.police.uk
Tel: 01707 354192

 Courses & Information for Parents and Families

Free online emotional wellbeing/mental health workshops for young people

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT) Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners regularly run a variety of workshops focused on children and young people's emotional wellbeing and mental health. Some workshops are for the parents/carers of primary school aged children and others are directed at adolescents although parents can also attend these. The workshops aim to provide support, guidance, some strategies and tips to try to improve children and young people's mental health.

The workshops are free to attend and currently take place on Microsoft Teams. The workshops available can be found on the Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners Eventbrite page, where you can also find out more information about what the workshop will cover and book a place. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/childrens-wellbeing-practitioners-school-nursing-service-hertfordshire-33494371787

The service has also produced a two-part recorded webinar to help with anxiety about going to school. Please take a look at the links below: 

1.     Theory and Psychoeducation (just under 18 minutes long)

2.     Strategies and Tips (just over 30 minutes long)

For further details on dates, or to book a workshop, please click here

Support for Parents/Carers caring for a loved one with an Eating Disorder
 

Skills for Parent & Carers of Children with Eating Disorders
First Steps ED are offering 4 week ‘Skills for Carers’ workshops, they are full of practical tips,
scenarios and case studies.
This series is designed to help carers develop self-reflective, care-giving skills to role model
confidence, compassion and courage. The aim is to offer attendees the knowledge and ability to be an important part of supporting a loved one.
Sessions are delivered online (via Zoom) over 4 weeks and following the first session, the team will close the group to ensure that the parents and carers in attendance can develop a positive peer group through the entire four-week programme.

These courses are Free of Charge.

To self-refer, visit https://form.jotform.com/220964041104343

or contact info@firststepsed.co.uk for more information

Parenting Courses

What's available through your local Family Centre

If you feel you might need a little bit of extra parenting support, we can offer the following parenting courses over a variety of dates and times:
 

Families Feeling Safe – this is a 9 week course to help you to recognise and build on your own
strengths in communicating with others; understanding and managing your children’s behaviour; expressing feelings and making safe choices.
 

Family Toolkit - if you have children aged between 2 and 5 years old, this 4 week course will help you to understand the connection between feelings and behaviour, different elements of parenting and lots more.
 

Parenting Puzzle - for parents/carers with children aged 3 to 11 years. This course will enable you to understand how emotions can influence actions and offers practical ways of guiding children so that they learn to manage their feelings and control their own behaviour.

You can speak to a member of our team on 0300 123 7572 to find out if one of these courses would be helpful for you and your family. Take a look at our timetables on the What’s On pages for the latest dates.

Visit the Family Centre website to find out more

Steps2Skills – Courses for Hertfordshire adults and families

Step2Skills offers a range of courses for Hertfordshire residents. The full range can be browsed on their website at www.step2skills.org.uk.

Children's Wellbeing Practitioners workshops

Workshops are open to all young people and parents/carers of children and young people who attend a school or are registered to a GP in Hertfordshire. A referral is not needed to access a workshop.

All workshops are currently being delivered online via Microsoft Teams. For more information about what each workshop covers and to book a place onto a workshop, visit the Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner Eventbrite page:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/childrens-wellbeing-practitioners-school-nursingservice-hertfordshire33494371787

To access the recorded Emotionally Based School Avoidance Webinar please visit: https://www.hct.nhs.uk/ourservices-and-referral-information/our-services-a-z/childrens-wellbeing-practitioners-service/

Fran Wilson Life Coach is available to help children with confidence building, coping with transitions and developing positive mindsets. For more information please see her website:   www.franwilson.co.uk

SURVIVORS AGAINST DOMESTIC ABUSE (SADA) OFFER A NUMBER OF VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON SESSION FOR FAMILIES

Free 6 week course for parents and carers of children aged 2-19 years with a recognised additional need. Diagnosis is not essential.

Call 07512 709556 email bookings@supportinglinks.co.uk www.supportinglinks.co.uk

6 Free weekly sessions for fathers and male carers of children aged 0-19, conducted over ZOOM

Call 07512 709556 email bookings@supportinglinks.co.uk www.supportinglinks.co.uk

6 Free weekly sessions for parents and carers of children aged 0-12, conducted over ZOOM

Call 07512 709556 email bookings@supportinglinks.co.uk www.supportinglinks.co.uk

The aim of this training is to help parents, carers and family members to recognise when their young people are experiencing suicidal thoughts and provide next steps support, along with practical advice, information and signposting.

ADD-vance courses and support groups can be accessed by clicking here. These include a telephone helpline, private facebook page, free online courses, free online support groups, access to QbCheck to measure for 3 core sypmtoms of ADHD, family coaching service, help with EHCP applications or annual reviews and a list of funded courses.

SPACE Support Group meets the second Friday of the month, term time only. Click here for details

Spectrum Famillies and Young People's Service, Hertfordshire: a free and confidential service for young people under 18 and young adults up to 25, offering help and advice with challenges in everyday life. Click here for more information

You can also book a free support session with a member of the BeeZee Bodies wellbeing team. They are experts in engaging children with healthy eating and physical activity and can help you turn healthy efforts into healthy habits for life. Sign up for a free session on www.beezeebodies.com/signup 

FREE a fun, family-focused masterclass on how to approach the topic of a healthy weight. Aimed at parents and carers of children who are above they healthy weight for their age. Get support from a team of Registered Nutritionists at BeeZee Bodies. Click above for for details.

click to download

My Baby's Brain Online Training Programme, a 3 step combined learning programme of webinars, e-learning and tutorials offering support to parents at the earliest opportunity. To find out more, please click here

Parent and Carer peer support facebook group A community peer support group for parents and carers supporting young people who are experiencing low mental health, emotional overwhelm or are in crisis. The group is for everyday support, and also for crisis moments when you may find yourself with your child at the GP or in A&E. Click here for more information and details about how to join

An integrated Children and Young People’s Therapies Service Advice Line has recently been launched by The NHS Community Trust. This is for parents, carers and professionals who may have a concern about a child or young person and wish to discuss a potential  referral to either Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy or Speech & Language Therapy. Click here for further information

For all Natural Flair Coaching courses booking please phone

01992 446051 or visit www.natural-flair.com

Potential Kids: Social Activities and Training for Neurodiverse Children (autism/adhd and related conditions), their Siblings and Families. Click here for more information

Potential Girls, a social meeting group on the first Tuesday of every month, starting on the 2nd October for girls age 12-18 with ADHD or on the Autistic Spectrum. For details click here

At any given time up to 40% of adults and 50% of children (this rises to 80% with a SEND diagnosis) have difficulties with their sleep. Yet in a recent survey, almost 60% of adults felt there was a lack of support for sleep issues. Sleep problems can leave people feeling isolated and lonely.

Our free helpline is run by trained sleep advisors, many of whom are specialists in working with SEND. We can talk to young people directly, or parents (we can also talk to adults, including older people, about their sleep issues).

The helpline is open 5 times a week, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday evenings 7-9pm, and Wednesday mornings 9-11am. The number is 03303 530 541.

You can read more here: https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/national-sleep-helpline/

Family Resources

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/in-the-home/home-alone/

Following on from the recent flu season, Vaccination UK would really appreciate feedback from you on what they can do to improve for the next season.

Parent and Carer survey link:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/family-feedback

School Nursing Service

You may not be aware that you can self-refer your child to the school nursing service. They can offer support and advice on topics such as relationships, eating, sleeping, behaviour, and feeling sad or angry. Text your school nurse on 07480635050 or look for an on line referral form on www.hct.nhs.uk/our-services/school-nursing 

You can also seek advice for teenagers on www.healthforteens.co.uk

There is also an interactive website for children and parents www.healthforkids.co.uk

Hertfordshire Family Centre Service: Supporting families, parents and carers
Family Centres are there to help with all aspects of life; from raising healthy, happy children to supporting with problems at home. They offer both universal and targeted services. The Family Centre Service is there to offer advice and guidance or to support families
during periods of difficulty. They offer targeted support through 1-1 and group packages of support, tailored to the needs of families. To find out more contact the Family Centre Service. Click here for more information about the support on offer, and how to contact them.

Are you pregnant or have a child under four? Did you know you could be missing out on free fruit and vegetables or milk worth at least £220 a year?

If you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four years old, and in receipt of certain benefits, you could be entitled to a Healthy Start prepaid card worth £4.25 per child per week, to spend on healthy food and milk.

If you are entitled to Healthy Start you will also get free vitamins designed to help pregnant and breastfeeding women and growing children.

Pregnant women and parents of children over one and under four years old can apply online for a new Healthy Start digital prepaid card which will be topped up every 4 weeks. Children under one year old can get £8.50 per week.

Check your eligibility on How to apply – Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)

You can also use the benefit-checker on the County Council’s website, and access free information about benefits that you might be missing out on – www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/benefits

Click here for further information from HCC

Sustainable St Albans has two thermal imaging cameras and it runs (free) information sessions showing residents how to use a Thermal Imaging Camera and what they see with it.  Residents in St Albans District can then borrow (again free) to see where heat is leaking from their houses. The information sessions have moved to Zoom and they have in place fully socially distanced arrangements for one resident to collect the camera outdoors from one volunteer.