Latest news with #ClareCurran
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- BBC News
Shorter summer holidays and longer half-term for pupils in Surrey
Would you prefer a longer October half-term in exchange for a shorter summer break? Schools in Surrey will be doing just that from the autumn of 2026 after a survey showed people were in favour of the new means that pupils and teachers will have a two week long half-term in October next year and their summer holiday will be shortened by five days. Overall there will still be the same number of school days in the year. Do you think this is a good idea? Would you like it at your school? Let us know in the comments. Why is Surrey council changing school holidays? Schools in Surrey were asked if they were in favour of a two week autumn half-term in a survey. 60% of schools said yes, 30% were against a new system and 10% were unsure. Clare Curran from Surrey County Council said the survey was in response to a wider discussion about term dates. She added that the decision was based on "the feedback received by the council from schools, school staff, and families regarding the challenges of differing term dates". Are other places changing their schools holidays too? Surrey isn't the only place in the UK reviewing the length of school holidays, with some areas like Suffolk and the Isle of Wight already implementing a two week October Welsh government looked at shortening their summer holidays too but has since shelved the plans after opposition to the idea. The discussion comes after a report from last year by the Nuffield Foundation suggested summer holidays should be cut down from six weeks to four and half, with terms made longer to improve the wellbeing of both teaching staff and pupils. That's something schools part of the Unity Schools Partnership in Suffolk found after introducing the longer autumn break. Pupil absences for illness after the holiday fell by 25% at 31 of its primary and secondary schools. What do you think? Would you give up a longer summer break in favour of a two week holiday in October? Let us know in the comments.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Surrey council introduces two week half-term break for schools
Schools in Surrey will have a two-week long half-term break in the autumn of 2026, following a council change by Surrey County Council (SCC) means that the October half term will be extended by one week and the summer holiday will be shortened by five days.A public opinion survey carried out from December 2024 received 3,775 Curran, SCC Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning said the results from recent public consultation exercises with schools and residents show "there is a clear appetite" for the new system. 'Term dates that are consistent' She said 60% of schools that responded were in favour of a two-week autumn half term - 30% were against and a further 10% were undecided. "The majority of resident respondents were also in favour," she two week autumn half-term break for community and voluntary controlled schools will begin in the 2026/27 academic additional five days will be taken from the 2026/27 summer Curran said: "This work is in response to the national conversation regarding school term times, and the feedback received by the council from schools, school staff, and families regarding the challenges of differing term dates."It is our intent to facilitate the council, schools and multi academy trusts working in partnership to set term dates that are consistent across the county."SCC said that nationally around one in ten state-funded schools have already made the switch, including schools and education settings in school year will still be 195 days, including the five inset staff training dates for the 2026/27 academic year have been published.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
MPs should not 'talk down' Surrey's SEND service, says council leader
The leader of Surrey County Council, Tim Oliver, has said MPs should not "talk down" the service which handles special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).Liberal Democrat and Conservative MPs have written separate letters to Clare Curran, the councillor in charge of children's services, after she sent an email saying the department would respond to fewer SEND cases raised by told BBC Radio Surrey she wanted MPs to "ensure" that parents who were hoping to challenge decisions use the "correct" appeal MP for Guildford, Zöe Franklin, said she was "stunned" to receive the email. In a speech at a full council meeting on Tuesday, Oliver said Surrey County Council had more than 16,000 children with education health and care plans (EHCPs), one of the highest numbers in the country."I urge all our MPs to use your position to speak up for Surrey in Parliament, not to talk down a service that needs urgent national reform and support this council and government to implement reforms that work for our children, their families, and for all councils across the country," he told BBC Radio Surrey she understood the frustration that families have with SEND services and why they would want to speak to their MPs."I am purely asking those MPs to ensure that their constituents are aware of the correct channels of appeal," she said she was "frankly stunned" to receive the email and that she'd had "no advance communications" indicating the council was concerned."I, for one, have 50 cases relating to SEND, so we are trying to support parents and families," she said people approaching her had already been through the proper procedure and that MPs were a "last resort" most of the the meeting, Woking's MP Will Forster, who is also a county councillor, said he had about 40 active SEND cases. Eber Kington, from the Residents' Association and Independents group, said it was important that councillors and MPs did not have "communication barriers put in place by children's services."
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council responds to fewer SEND cases from MPs
Surrey MPs say they are disappointed that Surrey County Council (SCC) has said it will respond to fewer special educational needs cases raised by constituents. An email, seen by the BBC, tells the politicians that "the council will no longer provide a response to individual cases where a more appropriate alternative route is available". Liberal Democrat and Conservative MPs have written separate letters to the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Learning, Clare Curran, about the decision. In a statement from SCC, Curran said the email was to "remind them that the current process" is through a "formal appeal". The Liberal Democrat letter, which is signed by Guildford's Zoe Franklin, Dorking and Horley MP Chris Coghlan, Will Forster in Woking, Monica Harding in Esher and Walton, Helen Maguire in Epsom and Ewell and Al Pinkerton in Surrey Heath, has urged SCC to reconsider. The letter also said that the goal of the MPs is to "improve outcomes" for constituents and "improve the systems and processes in place". It adds: "The decision to sever communication between our offices and the council in this manner contradicts these principles and ultimately harms the very people we are all here to serve: the residents of Surrey." The Conservative letter is from Runnymede and Weybridge MP, Dr Ben Spencer, Reigate's Rebecca Paul, Lincoln Jopp in Spelthorne, Greg Stafford in Farnham and Bordon, Claire Coutinho in East Surrey, Sir Jeremy Hunt in Godalming and Ash and Jack Rankin in Windsor, who represents people living in Virginia Water and Englefield Green. It says that "limiting engagement with MPs who advocate for constituents in this way is likely to be concerning to the public". It adds: "Should the decision stand, we would welcome further clarity on the scope of engagement you are proposing with MPs, in particular regarding whether responses will still be provided where constituents experience difficulty receiving timely communication from SCC." Curran said the council values "strong relationships" with the MPs and that there are "clear channels of communication". "The recent communication sent to all MPs was to remind them that the correct process for families who are dissatisfied with a final council decision is to challenge it by way of a formal appeal," she said. "This is the appropriate and most effective route for families, and information on how to do this is always included when families are notified in writing of the council's decision." Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, and on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. County council missed education plan deadlines Council apologises to families over SEND provision MPs concerned SEND school provision in 'crisis' Five takeaways from council leader in hotseat Surrey County Council
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Surrey County Council responding to fewer SEND cases from MPS
Surrey MPs say they are disappointed that Surrey County Council (SCC) has said it will respond to fewer special educational needs cases raised by email, seen by the BBC, tells the politicians that "the council will no longer provide a response to individual cases where a more appropriate alternative route is available".Liberal Democrat and Conservative MPs have written separate letters to the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Learning, Clare Curran, about the a statement from SCC, Curran said the email was to "remind them that the current process" is through a "formal appeal". The Liberal Democrat letter, which is signed by Guildford's Zoe Franklin, Dorking and Horley MP Chris Coghlan, Will Forster in Woking, Monica Harding in Esher and Walton, Helen Maguire in Epsom and Ewell and Al Pinkerton in Surrey Heath, has urged SCC to letter also said that the goal of the MPs is to "improve outcomes" for constituents and "improve the systems and processes in place".It adds: "The decision to sever communication between our offices and the council in this manner contradicts these principles and ultimately harms the very people we are all here to serve: the residents of Surrey."The Conservative letter is from Runnymede and Weybridge MP, Dr Ben Spencer, Reigate's Rebecca Paul, Lincoln Jopp in Spelthorne, Greg Stafford in Farnham and Bordon, Claire Coutinho in East Surrey, Sir Jeremy Hunt in Godalming and Ash and Jack Rankin in Windsor, who represents people living in Virginia Water and Englefield Green. 'Strong relationships' It says that "limiting engagement with MPs who advocate for constituents in this way is likely to be concerning to the public".It adds: "Should the decision stand, we would welcome further clarity on the scope of engagement you are proposing with MPs, in particular regarding whether responses will still be provided where constituents experience difficulty receiving timely communication from SCC."Curran said the council values "strong relationships" with the MPs and that there are "clear channels of communication"."The recent communication sent to all MPs was to remind them that the correct process for families who are dissatisfied with a final council decision is to challenge it by way of a formal appeal," she said."This is the appropriate and most effective route for families, and information on how to do this is always included when families are notified in writing of the council's decision."
