HAPpy & Wraparound Childcare Training Programmes

The Partnership has two separate contracts with Hertfordshire County Council to provide training opportunities to the staff of organisations who are approved to deliver or who will potentially be delivering activities to children and young people as part of two main Department for Education (DfE) funded programmes; Hertfordshire’s Holiday Activity and Food programme (HAPpy) and the funded expansion of the Wraparound Childcare Programme.

Both training programmes have a slighltly different focus but are mutually beneficial to each other and enable Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership (HSP) to adopt a more holistic and innovative approach to traditional training and workforce development.

HAPpy Training programme

Taken on by HSP in January 2023, it is a sub project within the Hertfordshire contract of the national Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme, ‘HAPpy’ which runs in the main school holidays of Easter, Summer, and Winter to combat holiday hunger, inactivity and social isolation of children in receipt of benefits related Free School Meals.  It aims to support the overall programme delivery by providing a diverse, fit for purpose training programme for providers and delivery staff to enable them to meet mandatory training requirements for quality assurance standards and provide a safe enriching environment.

Wraparound Childcare programme Training offer

A newer contract commissioned by Hertfordshire County Council, HSP are now delivering on the training element of the roll out of the DfE funded Wraparound Childcare programme from November 2024-March 2026. We organise and deliver a suite of training opportunities for staff, focused on specific areas necessary for the quality delivery of wraparound provision, including a particular focus on delivering for children with SEND in mainstream provision.

Where there are shortfalls in uptake, opportunities are offered to partners and other relevant contacts to upskill the wider future workforce within the county.

The training offer is an extensive programme of opportunities which include the following:

1. iHASCO – this is an on-demand platform of courses providing a diverse range of opportunities to providers. Courses include Food Hygiene Safety & Nutrition, Health & Safety Management, Safeguarding, Behavioural Support and Soft Skills.
2. First Aid – run in Partnership with Hertfordshire Sports Village we offer funded spaces on a range of dates for in person First Aid courses throughout the year and three key qualifications - one-day Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) or one & two-day Emergency Paediatric First Aid (EPFA).
3. Safeguarding – there are several options available. Our iHASCO on demand course covers both levels 1 & 2 and Care Certificate Standard 11. We then provide live online and in person UK Coaching Safeguarding & Protecting Children Level 1 courses for 18+ and 16–17 age groups ahead of each delivery phase. As well as a level 3 safeguarding course once a year to upskill designated safeguarding leads.
4. StreetGames UK – several opportunities are made available throughout the year to access their suite of workshops. We have also partnered with our local Further Education colleges to deliver specific training (Multi-Skills Activator course) and industry talks to their students.
5. Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) Specific – is an area of focus for the training offer. There are courses on iHASCO (Neurodiversity Awareness and Autism Awareness). Live and face-to-face training is also delivered annual with ADD-Vance (ADHD Awareness and Autism Awareness, Understanding and Managing Challenging Behaviour, Understanding ADHD & Autism for Activity Coaches - Practical Support and an Understanding & Managing Challenging Behaviour). In addition, the Partnership commission specific training providers to deliver one-off sessions for example, Phoenix Group for Deaf Children & Young Adults (TPG) to provide a bespoke Deaf Awareness & British Sign Language training.  
6. The Behaviour Bank – we have funded subscriptions for HAPpy & funded Wraparound Childcare providers to access SPD Tuition & Coaching Ltd.’s innovative on-demand platform The Behaviour Bank which offers education, resources and activities to providers who are working with young people with challenging behaviour.  
7. Learn & Share Events – specifically for providers who are part of the HAPpy programme, these are events bringing together delivery providers as a group to reflect on past delivery, look ahead to the next delivery phase, react to any emerging trends or changes to processes in the sector and network with fellow providers. 

The Partnership also provided additional opportunities for delivery providers including access to its: -  

1. Annual Coach Education Week – delivered during February Half Term, 
2. Inclusion through Sport Learning Series - monthly webinars about how to be more inclusive and understanding current trends and issues found in the sector, 
3. Partnership Workshops with Beezee Bodies (Maximus) - nutrition support
4. Access to various National Campaigns and Resources.
5. Playwaze Booking and Support Clinics (for HAPpy providers only) – supporting providers to maximise this system.
6. SENse Assist - supporting providers with interpreting Educational Health & Care Plans. 

If you are a HAPpy Provider or a Wraparound Childcare Provider and would like to see more of the opportunities available to you, please view the HSP training page.

For more information or to speak with Emma Catlin who leads on the training offer for HAPpy and Wraparound childcare programme please email hsptraining@herts.ac.uk

Ongoing opportunities for any delivery providers

Finally, the Partnership also offers any delivery provider (regardless of their involvement in HAPpy or Wraparound) the opportunity to unlock their full potential through accessing a comprehensive suite of resources delivered by us and our partners. From courses to practical tips, the following page will offer a range of educational materials suitable for beginners and professionals alike. Whether you're looking to acquire new skills, sharpen existing ones, or explore emerging disciplines, these training resources will empower you to achieve your goals and thrive in today's dynamic landscape.

See our comprehensive Directory of Training providers.