Surrey's SEN crisis: The hidden costs

If you're a parent, you might think Special Educational Needs (SEN) issues don’t affect your child, but they do.

Surrey County Council is amongst the worst of local authorities in their support for SEN children, issuing only 16.2% of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) on time in 2023, well below the national average of 50.3%, with complaints more than 10 times the national average.

Cllr Andrew Matthews says, “When children with SEN lack support, it impacts all pupils. Teachers are already managing large classes with limited resources, and without the right provision for SEN, their workload grows. This leads to less attention for every child, causing disruptions in learning, increased behavioural
challenges, and greater strain on teaching staff. As a result, the overall quality of education is impacted for all students, not just those with SEN.

“Surrey’s failures weaken the entire system. Without early help, more children will struggle academically and emotionally, leading to more mental health issues, unemployment, and long-term costs for society. 

“When we fight for better SEN support, we fight for a better education and future for ALL children.”