Surrey: Families using savings to fund SEND assessments, meeting told

Parents are paying for private assessments after being told of lengthy waits through Surrey County Council

Families are using "savings and holiday money" to pay for private educational psychologist assessments, councillors have heard.

Some parents are opting to go private rather than face up to a two-year wait for a Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) through Surrey County Council.

One councillor said families who went private after facing lengthy council wait times should be reimbursed.

In 2022, Surrey completed 26% of EHCPs within the legally-required 20 weeks.

This is down from 65% in 2021. The council is aiming to be back over the 60% target of EHCPs issued within 20 weeks by the end of May 2024.

EHCPs are put in place to ensure children with additional needs or disabilities get the help they need at school.

'Challenge communicating'

A temporary reimbursement offer was put in place for parents, up to £925, where private advice was obtained and where no further SCC advice was required for the 2023 summer and autumn terms.

At a meeting this week, questions were raised about how the council was communicating with parents over eligibility and the refund scheme.

Chairperson Fiona Davidson said it was clear the council had a "challenge communicating with parents and carers".

Councillor Rachael Lake said she spoke with one family who were told in summer 2022 there would be a two-year wait, and challenged the policy of only allowing reimbursements in specific circumstances.

"Last summer when this family was told that it was a minimum two-year waiting list, in writing, they chose to use their family savings and holiday money for an assessment which Surrey County Council has accepted in its totality and has acted upon, for which they are extremely grateful."

SCC's leader said before the meeting that, with appropriate support at an earlier stage, families might not need an EHCP.

Councillor Tim Oliver said "looking through the other end of the telescope" could lead to "low level" support given earlier and a "more resilient, preventative system".

Cabinet member for education and learning, councillor Clare Curran, told the meeting she was "really confident" the plan to catch up on overdue EHCPs could be achieved.

But she said it would be put under pressure if there was a "massive increase" in new requests, or if a large number of staff left their roles.

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