In a significant update to the full meeting of Surrey County Council, Cllr Clare Curran, Portfolio Holder for Children and Families, Lifelong Learning, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), outlined comprehensive advancements in several key areas of her portfolio.
The Councillor’s report provided insights into the remarkable strides made towards improving education and support systems for children and families across Surrey. The SEND Improvement Plan, a strategic response to the Ofsted/CQC Inspection findings, was at the heart of Cllr Curran's update. Submitted to the Department for Education (DfE) at the beginning of March, the plan has received positive initial feedback. Developed through a collaborative effort with stakeholders, this blueprint aims to significantly enhance the quality and efficiency of SEND services.
Cllr Curran highlighted the progress in addressing the backlog of Educational Psychology (EP) assessments—a critical component of the SEND Recovery Plan. The backlog, once standing at 1,014 in May 2023, has been entirely cleared as of February 2024, marking a significant milestone. This achievement was made possible by expanding EP capacity through external contractors and a lower-than-anticipated assessment demand.
Further, the report proudly notes that 98% of SEN Officer positions are now filled, bolstering the council’s ability to support its SEND strategy effectively. Establishing an Education, Health, and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) Recovery Team ensures that the SEN team can finalise EHCP processes within targeted timelines, with an ambitious goal of achieving 60% EHCP timeliness by May.
Understanding the critical nature of communication, the council has launched a SEN helpdesk aimed at improving interactions with families and schools. This initiative, along with pilot sessions for SENCo and parent drop-ins, has already begun to yield positive feedback, reducing the volume of complaints received by the service.
On National Offer Day, 1st March 2024, the Surrey School Admissions team successfully issued outcomes for secondary school places for the academic year starting in September 2024, reaching over 12,200 Surrey residents. A notable 83.1% of applicants were offered a place at their first-choice school, indicating an improvement from the previous year and showcasing the council’s commitment to meeting parental and student expectations.
The Council is also turning its attention to the youngest members of the community through the Early Years Expansion to Entitlements. This initiative, endorsed by the Cabinet in February, aims to ensure that the sector grows in both capacity and quality, reflecting the council's dedication to providing the best start in life for all children.
With recruitment for new positions within the Early Years Teams already underway, the council is poised to support the developmental needs of early years provision. A first grants funding panel is scheduled to convene in March, focusing on financial support for schools and settings to create additional places needed to meet the demands of Surrey’s families.
Through these comprehensive updates, Councillor Curran has demonstrated Surrey County Council’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives and education of children and families in the region. With ongoing initiatives and strategic plans in place, the Council is set to continue making significant progress in ensuring that Surrey remains a supportive and enriching environment for its youngest residents and their families.
