Lib Dems Secure Commitment Towards SEND Panel Improvements

At Surrey County Council’s Cabinet meeting on 28 January, Councillor Liz Townsend (Cranleigh & Ewhurst) successfully secured approval for her proposal to automatically include the SEN case officer in panel meetings.

Cllr Townsend had previously introduced this motion at the December full council meeting. Unfortunately, it was not considered at that time and was instead referred to the January Cabinet meeting for further discussion and debate. During this session, Cllr Townsend presented three distinct proposals aimed at enhancing the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) process by ensuring greater involvement of parents/carers, children/young people, and the relevant case officer in panel meetings.

The motion was driven by numerous complaints Cllr Townsend had received, highlighting concerns about both the lack of transparency in the panel’s decision-making process and the insufficient quality of information provided to support decisions affecting a young person’s future. Parents expressed significant frustration with the ‘closed nature’ of these panel meetings, where decisions are often made by professionals who may lack critical data and have never engaged directly with the family. One parent remarked, “The panel could be Mickey Mouse and friends for all we know.”

Following the Cabinet’s decision, Cllr Townsend shared her optimism:

“I appreciate this is just one small step, but it is a positive and very welcome move in the right direction to improving a process that is so stressful for all involved. The case officer works closely with the family, and hopefully, this will lead to better representation of the child’s needs. I was also encouraged that the Leader suggested this should become a mandatory requirement. However, we know there is much more to be done to give children with additional needs a better future.

I was disappointed that the Cabinet did not accept the need for greater involvement from parents and children themselves in the process. Nonetheless, I am determined to continue challenging the administration every step of the way. We must recognise that working with parents as equal partners is essential to putting the child—not bureaucracy—at the heart of every decision.”

This development marks a significant step towards improving SEND processes and fostering a more inclusive, transparent approach to decision-making that prioritises the needs of children and their families.