County to reimburse parent over psychologist use

PARENTS of children with special educational needs who were left with little choice but to use private educational psychologists may be due money back from Surrey County Council.

- By CHRIS CAULFIELD Local democracy reporter

So far 27 families have been reimbursed for having to go private between the 2023 summer term and May 2024 due to a lack of qualified professionals needed to form education, health and care plans.

This has resulted in £26,475 being returned to families - although it has not been a straightforward process for some parents.

The figures emerged following a recently published complaint against the county council.

The local government and social care ombudsman upheld that the authority refused to reimburse a mother who used a private educational psychologist (EP) in support of her son’s education health and care (EHC) needs assessment.

The ombudsman also upheld the council delayed making payments for her son’s tutor and that its communications were poor.