This year’s Ofsted inspection upgraded Surrey’s Children’s Services rating to Good in each of the four inspection areas, and for overall effectiveness.
The Ofsted report comments “improvements to practice have been achieved through skilled leadership, strong political and corporate support, and well trained and committed staff” and notes “Early help services, relationship-based practice, the quality of direct work with families, and a focus on supporting children to remain within their family networks are areas of particular strength”.
Some real challenges remain, for example with Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND). Some families are not getting the service they should, and we take that extremely seriously. However, tangible progress is being made. Cllr Jonathan Hulley, in his new role as Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning is listening to SEND parents to inform further improvements in Surrey’s SEND services.
Surrey’s SEND system has performed above national averages on several metrics:
• In 2025 needs assessment requests in Surrey were solved in a timely fashion at a rate of 84% (national average 50.3%).
• 99% of Education, Health & Care Plans audited in December 2024 were rated as outstanding, good, or satisfactory, exceeding the target 80%.
• Children and young people with SEND in Surrey are outperforming both national and local GCSE standards.
The County Council is committing c£260m to almost double specialist school provision to 5760 places by 2028. This includes three new special free schools and redevelopment of existing facilities. So far 52 school construction projects have been completed.
While the Lib Dems play politics with SEND children, they have no serious plan to improve provision.
The Conservatives will continue to improve services, fight for more funding, and seek national reforms to benefit local families.
*In a recent newsletter we made reference to progress the Conservative-led Council has made improving Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision, and the recent upgrading of Surrey Children's Services OFSTED rating to 'Good'.
For clarity, the OFSTED report provides an overall effectiveness rating for Surrey's local authority children's services, of which SEND is a part. The ‘Good rating’ is for the overall department, encompassing other improving areas as well.
As a result, this is an update to the original article to give clarity.
