The Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture Select Committee met on Wednesday 10 June 2026 to discuss a range of critical issues affecting children and young people in Surrey. Key discussions included the significant pressures on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) sufficiency, proposed amendments to the Home to School Travel Assistance Policy, and an independent practice review into safeguarding following the tragic death of Sara Sharif. The committee also reviewed performance assurance data and Ofsted reports for children's homes.

SEND and Alternative Provision Sufficiency and Unmet Need

The committee reviewed Surrey's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) sufficiency forecasts, highlighting significant and growing demand that is outstripping local capacity. Councillor Helen Clack, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, outlined the Council's investment of over £250 million in a SEND and Alternative Provision Capital Growth Scheme, which has delivered 1,425 additional SEND places since 2019. Despite this, there remain pupils without school places for September.

Discussions revealed a disparity between East and West Surrey, with West Surrey experiencing higher overall demand and faster growth, particularly in autism and SEMH pathways. Councillor Jonathan Essex raised concerns about the clarity of data presented, specifically regarding alternative provision (AP) and the meaning of ALP in Table 1. Officers explained that AP refers to additional learning provision and that the data presented focused on children currently without a school place, excluding those awaiting specialist placements in September.

The committee also discussed the strategy for expanding local provision, including the use of mainstream school capacity. Eamonn, a service manager, explained the strategy of creating satellite sites and the challenges of school leader willingness to support these developments. Concerns were raised about the potential for increased reliance on AP and non-maintained/independent provision, particularly in West Surrey, if current forecasts are not addressed.

The committee debated the effectiveness of current strategies, with members questioning the barriers to implementing changes and the potential for integrated mainstream and autism provision. The report indicated that while capital investment is crucial, it is not sufficient on its own, and a coordinated whole-system response is needed.

Home to School Travel Assistance Under-16 Policy

The committee scrutinised proposed amendments to the Home to School Travel Assistance Policy for under-16s. Debra Smith, a service manager for the Surrey School and Travel Assessment Team, explained that the amendments aim to ensure legal compliance, reflect updated national guidance, and provide greater clarity for families. Key changes include clarifying the definition of the nearest school, updating wording to reflect the expansion of free school meal eligibility, confirming distance eligibility is measured by the shortest walking route, and clarifying provisions for Education Other Than at School (EOTAS) and alternative provision.

Concerns were raised about ensuring the policy did not prioritise distance over suitability, particularly for children with SEND. Claire Wiggin, a service manager for Home School Transport, assured the committee that suitability is paramount and that schools named on EHCPs would always take precedence over distance criteria.

The committee also discussed the process for parents and carers to access the same software used by officers to determine walking distances, with a new public mapping tool on the Surrey website planned for October, contingent on recruitment. Discussions also touched upon eligibility for faith grounds, the impact of feeder schools on admissions, and the challenges faced by parents with English as an additional language.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on the potential for increased appeals due to the policy changes and the need for clear communication, especially regarding the distinction between expanded free school meal eligibility and extended travel assistance rights. The committee also debated the role of councillors on appeals panels and the process for scheduling these hearings.

Independent Practice Review

Jenny Coles, an independent consultant, presented the findings of the review into Surrey County Council's children's services and their partners, focusing on the Local Safeguarding Practice Review into the death of Sara Sharif. The review found substantial and sustained improvement across practice, systems, and leadership, with strong evidence that recommendations are being acted upon. Frontline staff understand the learning, and there are stronger practice standards, enhanced supervision, and a well-developed quality assurance framework.

However, the review also identified areas for further development, including strengthening the partnership's focus on physical abuse and inquiries, improving communication with schools, and enhancing the strategic reach of the Local Safeguarding Partnership. Rachel Wardell, Executive Director for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, welcomed the recommendations and confirmed they would be incorporated into the Achieving Excellence programme.

Concerns were raised by Councillor Lance Spencer about the biggest ongoing risks to children, with Jenny Coles highlighting the challenges posed by concurrent changes in social care reforms, local government reorganisation, and health system transitions. Tanya from Surrey Police provided reassurance that systems are in place to protect children, citing a recent case where multi-agency action had protected children.

Chris Watson, the independent scrutineer, discussed the issue of defensiveness, emphasising the need for a culture of listening and learning from reviews, starting from the top of organisations. Karen Hughes, Detective Chief Inspector, detailed the training provided to police officers on perpetrator behaviour and domestic abuse matters. Naomi Ellis, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for NHS Surrey and Sussex, echoed the positive joint working arrangements and highlighted the robust safeguarding structure within the Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Representatives from schools, including Mary Ellen McCarthy, expressed concerns about inconsistencies in how children's services respond to referrals, the application of thresholds, and the need for schools to be considered as a more equal fourth partner. Rachel Wardell acknowledged these concerns and committed to further discussions.

Performance Assurance

The committee reviewed the Q3 and Q4 2025/26 performance assurance report. While many indicators were rated green, signifying strong performance, there were notable pressures with nine indicators rated red. These primarily related to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) issued on time, repeat referrals to Children's Services, the proportion of looked-after children placed out of county, and complaint response times.

Concerns were raised about the fall in timeliness of initial child protection conferences and the impact of concurrent changes, including the reduction in the number of directors. The committee requested to be kept appraised of capacity issues.

Children's Homes Ofsted Reports

The committee noted recent Ofsted reports for Surrey County Council-run children's homes. While one home retained its Good rating, another had improved from Good to Outstanding. The committee expressed appreciation for the work of the registered managers and staff. The committee also requested that these issues be further reviewed by the Corporate Parenting Board and that the committee remain engaged.

The meeting concluded with thanks to outgoing members and a reminder of the next meeting date.