Sources of support and information
Our Family Information Service (FIS) website has a range of information and guidance on all aspects of education and school, including support and advice for parents and carers and education and learning advice for families.
There is information about early learning and development, school years and post 16 options. We also have information on various aspects of school life and helping your child at school.
You can use our comprehensive Family Information Directory to find services, support groups, activities, events and more.
Support for mental health and wellbeing
Visit the MindWorks website for information on how you can support your child's mental health and wellbeing. If you need help now or are in crisis you can access their free helpline.
Extra support in school
We have a range of additional services that support children in school. The school can refer families, chilren or young peopls to these services where appropriate.
Support for children and young people with additional needs or disabilities
Our Local Offer website is for children and young people with additional needs, their families and the practitioners who help them. On it you will find helpful information and the details of support services in your area.
Welfare support for families with children
If you are struggling as a parent or carer you can ask your school if you can speak to the home to school link worker (HSLW) or another appropriate member of staff. Link workers help families who may need support with a wide range of issues or difficulties that may be impacting their family life for example, relationship concerns, Illness, disability, bereavement, or financial difficulty.
If you're responsible for a child, there is a range of financial assistance available depending on your family's circumstance. The FIS Website has information about welfare support for families. This includes information about:
- Financial assistance and benefits available
- Paying for school uniforms
- Childcare including after school clubs
- Club4 Holiday Activity and Food programme
Applying for a school place
Our school admissions section has advice on finding a school, how to apply, what to do if you apply late, in-year transfers and appealing decisions about school places.
School transport
Visit our school transport page for details of school transport, the behaviour expected from children travelling on school transport, how to obtain replacement tickets and where to check for disruption in bad weather or if there has been an accident.
School meals
Visit our school meals page for sample menus, how to pay online for school meals and advice on free school meals.
Complaints about schools and academies in Surrey
If you have a complaint, comment or compliment about a school or academy you will need to contact them directly, our complaints, comments and compliments page has more information. You may want to ready our guidance on disagreeing with your child's school.
If your concern is about the schools admissions process, you will need to follow our appeals guidance.
All other education complaints, including complaints about additional needs and disabilites services, will need to be submitted through our children's social care, education and SEND complaints process. Any comments or compliments can be submitted using our online comments and compliments form.
Understanding and dealing with issues relating to parental responsibility
The Department for Education has produced a guide on parental responsibility. Although the document is for schools and local authorities, it contains lots of useful information for you as a parent.