Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

The SEND system in Surrey Heath is failing children, families, and schools. In 2023, only 16.2% of Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) were issued on time. While this improved to 70% in 2024, many plans still contain incorrect details, misidentified conditions, and inadequate support. More than 1,800 SEND children in Surrey missed over a third of school last year, leaving families struggling.

Al Pinkerton has raised this issue in Parliament, calling out Surrey County Council’s failures and urging the Government to ensure EHCPs are both timely and accurate. Parents are being forced to quit their jobs to become full-time carers, while schools are stretched beyond their limits. Despite this, Surrey County Council continues to deny there is a problem, even claiming parents are "too articulate."

The Government’s £1 billion SEND funding boost is only a short-term fix. The national system faces a £6 billion deficit by 2025, with Surrey alone £118 million in debt. Without real reform, families will continue to suffer.

Al Pinkerton recently met with nearly 70 local parents, many of whom have children who have been out of school for months due to a lack of proper support. The system is pulling parents out of work and limiting children’s futures.

Alongside his work on SEND, Al Pinkerton has written numerous letters to hold the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to account for ensuring high-quality patient care in Surrey Heath.

He will continue to push for urgent reform and proper funding to fix this broken system. Children in Surrey Heath deserve better.