Hot topics for SEND Advice Surrey

Top 5 enquiries for the last month

• Placements
• Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment
• Support at school/college
• Difficulty contacting case officers
• Draft Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP)

Placements

We are still receiving enquiries relating to school placements as we are aware that there are still some children without a school place who should have changed setting as from September 2024. We would encourage you to stay in regular contact with your Case Officer who should be managing this process but please do come to us if you need any support.

Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment

We are still seeing a large number of enquiries relating to EHC needs assessments. Information can be found on the Local Offer on the Ordinarily Available Provision that schools should be providing and what to do if this is not meeting the needs of your child. We also have information about how to make a request for a needs assessment.

Support at school/college

Information regarding support for your child can be found on our Special Educational Needs (SEN) support pages

Difficulty contacting Case Officers

All Case Officers should have a bounce email that shows who to contact if they are away from the office or if you wish to escalate an enquiry. If you don't receive this information, then please contact us and we can support you to find who to speak to.

Draft EHCP

Guidance on how to check the draft EHCP and what to check for can be found on our YouTube channel.

IPSEA have guidance on their website as well as an explanation of the sections of the EHCP and an EHCP checklist.

Improvements to the website

We have been hard at work improving our website. We still have a lot to do but if you have any comments on any of our pages then please do contact us.

Other services that may be able to help

• Contact run a free advice and information helpline for parents and carers with a disabled children aged from birth to 25, living in any part of the UK. Helpline is 0808 808 3555 or email helpline@contact.org.uk
• Independent Provider for Special Education Advice (IPSEA)
• Family Voice Surrey is the Surrey parent/carer forum and they can offer independent guidance for Surrey families. Call 01372 705 708 or email contact@familyvoicesurrey.org

If you have any worries about a child/young person's wellbeing then please contact:

• C-SPA (Children's Single Point of Access) by telephone 0300 470 9100 or email cspa@surreycc.gov.uk.
• Or dial 999 if they are at risk of immediate harm.