Family Voice Surrey

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FVS break down barriers for children with SEND, by challenging and shaping local decisions, and policies to effect change. View our events, news and projects.

Family Voice Surrey champions the needs and rights of SEND families in Surrey: families with children or young adults up to the age of 25 who have special educational needs, chronic illnesses, including mental health conditions, or disabilities. Family Voice Surrey's vision is clear: cultivate a diverse and inclusive society where parents and carers feel valued and listened to and all children and young adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are supported to reach their full potential. We provide informative guidance to parents and carers of children and young people with additional needs aged 0-25 in Surrey, and shine a light on the challenges that SEND families come up against. We elevate the voices of SEND families, gather and champion parents and carers’ views, and empower them to address assumptions made on behalf of children with additional needs. We represent SEND families in Surrey with authenticity, transparency, and accountability. Together we're stronger; together, we can make a difference. Registered charity number 1175460

Links to external organisations and/or sites:-
Family Voice Surrey makes every effort to ensure that the information on this page is accurate and up to date. We may include links to external organisations and/or sites, which may include links to third party offers and promotions. We include these to provide you with access to information, products, or services that you may find useful or interesting. We are not responsible for the content of these sites or for anything provided by them. The fact that we include links to such external sites does not imply any endorsement of, or association with their operators or promoters. FVS do not accept legal responsibility for any third-party information provided within our website, and neither FVS, nor any of its employees is responsible or liable for any claim, loss or damage resulting from the use of this information.

11/11/2026

Have you watched Unauthorised Absence yet? The short film is now free to watch on YouTube.

It follows a mum who asks for support when her autistic daughter is too distressed to attend school. As she tries to get help, she faces fines for her daughter’s absences.

Watch the film: https://youtu.be/dn8C7WuGv8g

At Family Voice Surrey, we care about what’s behind a child’s absence. When anxiety or distress makes school hard to attend, children need to be understood and families need support.

That’s why we’re running a survey on Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA). We want to hear from parents and carers across Surrey about what’s made school hard to attend, what’s helped and what support has been missing. Your experiences can help us show schools and local services where support needs to improve.

If this is something your family has experienced, you’ll find the survey link in the comments.

If you’ve seen the film, what stayed with you?

https://youtu.be/dn8C7WuGv8g?si=dnKQ3yTDZGSxijix

Anna, a single mother, fights to protect her nine-year-old daughter...

09/11/2026

Join Family Voice Surrey for our next online participation drop-in!

We’re pleased to welcome SEND Advice Surrey , who will be on hand to answer your questions, offer advice and share helpful information.

📅 15th December
⏰ Drop in anytime between 10:00am and 12:00pm
🔗 Click here to join: bc5a4f10-632b-4c87-9d63-9297386e75c1@47850cc7-0029-456e-a39f-868909baf60b" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/bc5a4f10-632b-4c87-9d63-9297386e75c1@47850cc7-0029-456e-a39f-868909baf60b

We look forward to seeing you there!

08/11/2026

🚨 WE NEED YOUR VOICE! 🚨

Is your child struggling with school attendance because of anxiety or emotional distress?

Family Voice Surrey wants to hear from you.

We’re running a new survey about Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA) to understand what families are experiencing right now.

Your experiences can help us build the evidence needed to improve support, training and resources across Surrey.

If EBSNA has affected your family, please take our survey

👉 TAKE THE SURVEY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5NH7BZK

Please share this post with anyone who may have an experience to share.

Together, we can help make sure families are heard. Every response matters. Every voice can help create change

07/11/2026

Family Voice Surrey is delighted to welcome back Nickie Sutton, expert sleep practitioner, for another informative webinar! This time, we’ll be exploring the connection between sensory needs and sleep.

Join us to:
✨ Learn more about how sensory differences can affect sleep.
✨ Explore the connection between sensory needs and sleep.
✨ Discover helpful insights and practical strategies to support better rest.

📅 Wednesday 2nd December
⏰ 7:00pm
💻 Online via Zoom
🎟️ Book your FREE place here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/family-voice-surrey-sensory-sleep-webinar-tickets-2003652949910?aff=oddtdtcreator

Alternatively, if you have any difficulties booking, please email us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. We look forward to seeing you there!

06/11/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at our Additional Needs Service Showcase in Caterham this week!

It was wonderful to meet so many families.

Don't worry if you missed it as our next showcase is just around the corner, and we'd love for you to join us.

📍 Guildford: Guildford Baptist Church, Millmead, Guildford, GU2 4BE
📅 18th November
⏰ 10:00am – 2:00pm

Our showcases are run in partinership with Surrey SEND Local Offer and are a fantastic opportunity for families, parents carers and the professionals who support them to discover and connect with a wide range of local services, organisations and charities.

Whether you're looking for advice, support, information or simply want to find out what's available in your local area please do come along.

No booking required.

04/11/2026

School Anxiety (Emotional Based School Non-Attendance / EBSNA) Online Drop-in Session

Thursday 26th November 2026 11am-1pm

Leanne Henderson, Participation Lead and EBSNA project lead at Family Voice Surrey invites parent carers with children and young people who experience anxiety around school which affects attendance to join an online drop-in session on Thursday 26th November 2026 between 11am and 1pm.

You can pop in at any time within the 2 hours and stay for as long or as little as you wish. The session is an opportunity to come and chat to Leanne and other parent carers, share experiences, find out ways to get involved and discuss and help shape the way you would like to see the Family Voice Surrey School Anxiety/EBSNA group to run moving forwards. It will also be a chance to think about how the group can regularly feed into the EBSNA Partnership work at Surrey.

No booking required just join via the link here: 59c08fd3-b1e0-47ca-b0f3-f2494eee0a08@47850cc7-0029-456e-a39f-868909baf60b" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/59c08fd3-b1e0-47ca-b0f3-f2494eee0a08@47850cc7-0029-456e-a39f-868909baf60b

Prior to the session please do fill in the EBSNA survey - this runs until the 11th November and we need your responses to ensure maximum impact. The link can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5NH7BZK

Any questions or if you need any support with completing the survey or joining the session you can email [email protected]

03/11/2026

Is school anxiety or emotional distress making attendance difficult for your child?

Share your experience here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5NH7BZK

Family Voice Surrey wants to hear what life is like for families experiencing Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA) in Surrey.

Your experiences will help us understand what’s working, what’s missing and what families need now.

• Help inform support, training and resources across Surrey.
• Responses are anonymous. Sharing your email at the end is optional.

Our 2021 survey helped inform whole-school training and resources. This survey gives families an opportunity to share their current experiences.
Please take part and share this post with other Surrey families who may want to contribute.

03/11/2026

Happening TOMORROW - last chance to sign up to our "Update & Follow-Up Session on the new SEND communication arrangements at Surrey County Council"

Wednesday 4th November at 12.30pm.

Thank you to everyone who joined our engagement session in July with Debbie Degnan from the Surrey County Council SEND Team, focusing on the new SEND communication arrangements.

At that session, Debbie offered a follow-up meeting to provide an update now that the new process has been in place for longer, and to hear further feedback from families and professionals.

💻 The follow-up session will take place online on Wednesday 4th November at 12.30pm.

👉 You do not need to have attended the previous session to join us. The session is open to anyone who has been affected by the new arrangements and would like to share their experiences.

Link to register: 9575e2a5-a832-4420-9d75-bddf2db8c951@47850cc7-0029-456e-a39f-868909baf60b" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9575e2a5-a832-4420-9d75-bddf2db8c951@47850cc7-0029-456e-a39f-868909baf60b

03/11/2026

We're here at the Additional Needs Service Showcase in Caterham today.

📍 Caterham: Oakhall Church Hall, Caterham CR3 5PL
📅 3rd November
⏰ 9:30am – 2:30pm

These events are a fantastic opportunity for families, parents and carers, and the professionals who support them to explore, discover and connect with a wide range of local services, organisations and charities.

Come along, meet local providers, find out what support is available and make valuable connections.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

02/11/2026

Apologies for the technical difficulties!

We’re sorry to anyone who has experienced problems booking onto our upcoming Sensory & Sleep Webinar. There was an issue with our Eventbrite booking page incorrectly requesting a donation. This has now been corrected.

Just to reassure everyone, this is a FREE event and there is no charge to book your place.

Family Voice Surrey is delighted to welcome back Nickie Sutton, expert sleep practitioner, for another informative webinar! This time, we’ll be exploring the connection between sensory needs and sleep.

Join us to:
✨ Learn more about how sensory differences can affect sleep.
✨ Explore the connection between sensory needs and sleep.
✨ Discover helpful insights and practical strategies to support better rest.

📅 Wednesday 2nd December
⏰ 7:00pm
💻 Online via Zoom
🎟️ Book your FREE place here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/family-voice-surrey-sensory-sleep-webinar-tickets-2003652949910?aff=oddtdtcreator

Alternatively, if you have any difficulties booking, please email us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. We look forward to seeing you there!

Address

Family Voice Surrey, Astolat, Coniers Way, Guildford
Leatherhead
GU47HL

Telephone

+441372705708

Website

http://www.familyvoicesurrey.org/

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