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Hertfordshire County Council

Schools and education

  • All schools are now open.
  • Staff at primary schools and both students and staff at secondary schools will be asked to complete rapid testing twice a week.
  • Your school will update you on how the process will work. Further information about home testing for parents and carers will be provided once we have further information from government.
  • Schools will inform parents about specific arrangements for their child returning to school.
  • Staff and students at secondary schools and colleges are advised to wear face coverings in all areas, including classrooms where social distancing can't be maintained. Face coverings in classrooms is a temporary measure until Easter.

 

Childcare and family centres

  • Parents and carers can continue to access early years settings as normal.
  • If your child attends a school-based nursery, check with your school to see what they’re offering.
  • Find available childcare
  • If your child goes to a childminder or early years provider, contact them direct for updates.
  • Family centres are supporting families through bookable appointments in centres and are now running face to face sessions.  Future services will be delivered through both face to face and virtual sessions.  Keep an eye on the family centre Facebook pages for further updates or Contact the team if you'd like to speak to us.

 

Libraries and archives

Most Hertfordshire libraries, including the Performing Arts library are now open. Opening hours and services available will vary, however, most of our larger libraries have now resumed their full opening hours.

Check opening hours for your library before travelling.

 

Hertfordshire archives

The Archive Reading Room is open for pre-booked appointments.

No booking is required for the Local Studies Library except for Tuesday evenings and Saturdays.

Archives re-opening - what you need to know

Unable to visit? Try our remote research and copying service.

 


Adult social care and day services

People with support needs (and their carers)

 

Carers

 

Day services

All Hertfordshire County Council in-house day services will remain open during the new national restrictions. However, capacity is reduced due to social distancing measures.

Contact your usual day service if you have any queries.

How we're keeping day services Coronavirus secure

 

Direct payment users and their personal assistants

Care homes

We are working with Hertfordshire Care Providers’ Association (HCPA) to facilitate care home visits in line with the government guidance on care home visiting. There is additional local guidance on HCPA’s website.

 


Email web.team@hertfordshire.gov.uk if you need an accessible version of any easy read documents.

 

Register offices

All our register offices are open for pre-booked appointments only.

Registering a birth

All of our register offices are still open for pre-booked appointments only.

  • You must wear a face covering in any register office.
  • To make an appointment to register a birth please book online.

Registering a death

We are still only registering deaths by phone. Call 0300 123 4045 between 9am and 4.30pm. Our busy period is 12–2pm.

Funerals during the coronavirus pandemic.

The coroner service will be running as normal and inquests will be going ahead.

Copy certificates

You can apply online for copies of death certificates or birth certificates.

You can also apply for current or historical birth, death, marriage or civil partnership certificates.

Our priority service is closed. Current birth and death certificates are being issued within 7 days from receipt of the application

Weddings and civil partnerships

Latest government guidance about weddings and civil partnerships

Hertfordshire is maintaining all restrictions currently in place for all council buildings, including register offices.

  • Approved venues in Hertfordshire will advise how many guests you can have at your ceremony
  • Hertfordshire register offices will still have social distancing and the following restrictions in place:

    • Bishop’s Stortford register office - couple and 42 guests
    • Cheshunt register office - couple and 35 guests
    • Hatfield register office - couple and 40 guests
    • Hemel Hempstead register office - couple and 39 guests
    • Hertford register office - couple and 36 guests
    • St Albans register office - couple and 42 guests
    • Stevenage register office - couple and 30 guests
    • Watford register office - couple and 27 guests.

To book or rearrange a ceremony, email registrars.admin@hertfordshire.gov.uk or call 0300 123 4045.

Citizenship ceremonies

Social distancing measures remain in place and you will be asked to wear a face covering at your ceremony.

To book a private or group citizenship ceremony, call 0300 123 4045.

 

 

Highways and bus travel

  • Roadworks during coronavirus restrictions - how we’re maintaining the roads whilst keeping people safe
  • Temporary cycle lanes - to encourage more walking and cycling for everyday journeys, we're introducing some temporary routes across Hertfordshire.
  • Safer town centres - Our priority remains to keep Hertfordshire safe and changes to high streets and town centres will remain in place across the county, whilst social distancing is Public Health priority. In May, we'll be engaging with stakeholders to get their views on the changes to date and to understand if there are aspects which should be considered for the longer term.
  • Bus travel information (Intalink) – including info about any disruptions.

 

Business advice

 

Planning

  • Our public office at County Hall is closed to visitors until further notice.
  • We are continuing to work on existing planning applications and permissions. At present the Development Control Committee meetings are held virtually.
  • New planning applications - email spatial.planning@hertfordshire.gov.uk before submitting applications via the planning portal or making a request for pre-application advice. The process for new applications might change, due to the statutory need for publicity.

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But, doing this may stop you from using some of the online features and services on this website. 

Cookies we use

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Cookies of the same names are also used for the same purpose by other websites such as Building Futures, Countryside Management Service and Hertfordshire LIS.

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