Home / Education / Surrey SEND Families Face Tuition Crisis
Surrey SEND Families Face Tuition Crisis
27 Aug
Summary
- Surrey County Council has not confirmed support packages for special needs children.
- Over 300 children in Surrey receive special tuition instead of attending school.
- A mother shared her son's transformation through tailored education.
Families of many children with special educational needs (SEND) in Surrey are facing the potential loss of their tuition services just days before the new academic year. As of August 27, 2026, Surrey County Council has not formally confirmed essential support packages for numerous families whose children require alternative teaching methods because traditional schooling is not suitable.
These children, numbering over 300 in Surrey, are enrolled in Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) programs. These arrangements provide tailored education, such as home tuition and specialized activities like forest school, designed for their unique needs. For instance, one 14-year-old has flourished in his EOTAS program after struggling in a school setting for years.
In response to the situation, Helyn Clack, the cabinet member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, stated that additional commissioning resources were deployed over the summer. The council aims to ensure that these vital support packages are put in place to prevent disruptions for the affected students and their families.
