Charity’s New Programme Meets Needs of SEND Children Without School Places

Published on: 30 May, 2025
Updated on: 2 Jun, 2025

Paralympian Rachel Morris, a patron of the charity, with one of the Challengers children

By David Reading

Challengers, the Guildford-based charity, is expanding the help it offers to parents of children with special educational needs (SEND).

The charity said large numbers of children in Surrey are still waiting to hear if they have a school place for September 2025, and its new programme fulfils an urgent need.

One mother said she had “gone through hell and back” fighting to try and get her autistic son into school.

The charity supports children aged two to 18 with a range of services for disabled children, and this new service supports five to 12-year-olds with SEND who are out of education – either due to a shortage of school places or schools being unable to meet their needs.

Challengers said in a statement: “This is a particular issue in Surrey. We have seen information showing there are more than 248 children and young people with additional needs currently without an appropriate educational placement. The issue stems primarily from an insufficient number of specialist school places and inadequate support within mainstream schools, resulting in high rates of exclusion.

“Alarmingly, children with SEND are more than twice as likely to be excluded, often due to unmet needs rather than disciplinary issues. In addition, the number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) issued in the county continues to rise significantly, further exacerbating pressures on already strained resources.”

Chase – one of the children who will benefit from the new scheme

One parent, Selina from Ash, whose son Chase is autistic and has not been allocated a school placement, said: “Chase was meant to go to school in September 2024 and I was told there were no places available for him. He’s meant to be going into Year 1 in September 2025, but they’re saying there are still no school spaces available at all.

“It is so stressful and mentally I have gone through hell and back, fighting to try and get him into school. He has a right to be in school, and no one will take accountability.”

Already operating in Farnham, the service has now been launched at Challengers’ centre in Stoke Park, Guildford, currently supporting 10 children and their families. This will grow to 16 with additional staffing.

The charity says that unlike school, the scheme is uniquely focused on helping children maintain an essential routine, developing their confidence and social skills, and providing essential respite for their families.

Gen Dearman, Chief Executive Officer of Challengers, said: “Across Surrey, too many children with additional needs are falling through the gaps in the education system. Going to school is a right for every child, and it’s heartbreaking that so many of them – especially disabled children – are being denied this.

“As a charity working closely with families whose children have been excluded from school, we are seeing an increasing number of families in complete crisis. Our expanded 555 Service provides support and respite for these families, offering their children a safe, nurturing environment where they can thrive, and where our trained staff can prepare them for a successful return to school.”

An official launch event was attended by Surrey county councillors Catherine Powell and Fiona Davidson, the High Sheriff of Surrey, Peter Cluff, and Challengers Patron Michael More-Molyneux, the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey.

Cllr Fiona Davidson

Cllr Davidson (R4GV, Guildford South East), chair of Surrey County Councils Children, Families, lifelong Learning and Culture Select Committee, said: “It is truly shocking that in an affluent county like Surrey in May 2025, there are 30 children under the age of 16 requiring specialist provision who still do not have a school place, they should have started in September 2024.

“There are also 392 other Key Stage Transfer children with an EHCP who still do not have a place for September 2025. It is a measure of Challengers’ deep commitment to SEND children and their families that they have expanded the 555 Service.”