Questions have been asked about whether the introduction of charges for some pre-school activities in Hertfordshire – such as 'Rhyme Time' and 'Stay and Play' sessions – is deterring some families from attending.

The new Family Support Service, which replaced the children's centre service in January 2025, offers a range of targeted and universal services to families with young children across the county.

Under the new contract, charges are levied on families to attend Little Herts activities that are open to everyone without referral.

Baby group or 'Twilight Tales' sessions cost families £1.50 while Rhyme Time, Family Fun, Physical Fun and Stay and Play cost £2.50.

Family first aid courses can be accessed for a £25 fee and a baby massage course for £35.

A loyalty programme offers families a free Little Herts session for every five they pay for.

And where payment would be a "barrier", families are issued with identical pre-paid cards that offer access to all the sessions without charge.

Feedback presented to a meeting of the county council's children's social care cabinet panel on Monday (March 16) described the sessions as "affordable", "exciting" and "great value for money".

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But data showed that of the 2,538 families who attended universal sessions in December, just 127 used a pre-paid Little Herts card. That prompted councillors to raise concerns about the relatively low numbers of families accessing the concessionary rates.

Cllr Paula Hiscocks (Con, Rickmansworth West) pointed to data for November that suggested just 14 of the 234 families attending Little Herts sessions had used a pre-paid Little Herts card – and just six out of 99 in December.

She said: "I'm a bit concerned that's a very low level – especially in Three Rivers. I know we have quite deprived areas, in South Oxhey, Mill End, Maple Cross etc.

"I want to make sure there are people who are still coming to rhyme and all the groups and are more than happy to pay £2.50. But are we prohibiting those who maybe don't even know about the card or are not going any more?"

Cllr Nigel Bell (Lab, West Watford) said there needed to be more work as to whether the fees had put off some families.

Cllr Kirsty Taylor-Moran (Green, Ware North) was curious to know whether the demographic of those attending the sessions had changed since introduction of the charging.

Income from Little Herts between April and November was £33,766. Cllr Taylor-Moran questioned whether it would be better to make the services free for all families, suggesting a card machine for donations could be available.

"Assuming it's the same-ish every month, we're looking at less than £60,000 income for the year," she said.

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"And for the removal of a barrier for somebody accessing something that may be really important, I'd really rather it was free at the point of access and had a similar thing to the library Rhyme Times, where they've got a card machine if you want to make a donation."

Cllr Moran-Taylor acknowledged money could be spent to improve uptake of the free cards, but still asked if it would be better to have the sessions free at the point of access.

In response, commissioning manager Apolline Festraets said that she understood the concerns about the numbers and that they were already exploring this in more detail.

She said local teams were looking at their knowledge of families and distribution of the Little Herts cards, which are also given out by organisations that include public health nursing, Home-Start, food banks, Playskills and Traveller Project.

Executive member for children's social care Cllr Anthony Rowlands (Lib Dem, St Albans East) acknowledged the "really good things that are going on". But he stressed the need to know whether the charges were having an impact.

Executive director of children's services Jo Fisher said that the report had focused on activities that were being charged for. She stressed that this was part of a much bigger offer through the family centres.

According to the report, the new contract – valued at £6.6 million a year – includes an agreement to make savings of 10%.

It says 7,502 families with a child under five attended at least one of the universal events.

Councillors heard that charges for universal activities would be reviewed annually and that they go towards the running of those activities, covering the costs of refreshments and resources.

The Family Support Service and public health nursing are both part of Hertfordshire's Family Centre Service.

According to the report, the ambition of the Family Centre Service is "that every Hertfordshire child has the best possible start in life to give them the best opportunities throughout their education and working lives, and to enable them to become healthy, resilient adults and able to contribute to their community".