SCC AW Surrey Online School

Surrey Online School (SOS) is part of Surrey County Council’s Education & Lifelong Learning Directorate. It sits within the School Relationships & Support Service. SOS provides live online lessons in a secure environment to children across the County. It has been commissioned since September 2015 and is now embedded as an alternative provision offer to Surrey schools and council services. SOS provides online teaching by qualified teachers at KS1, KS2, KS3 & KS4 as well as ability to provide for KS5. SOS also provides English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASCs). By offering schools in Surrey the option to set up lessons quickly the service has helped to reduce Permanent Exclusions as well as give children the opportunity to achieve academically which they may not have been able to otherwise do. The service supports children with a range of medical needs, such as anxiety; those at risk of permanent exclusion; school refusers; Looked After Children and those with additional needs (SEND). The SOS team at Surrey County Council (SCC) work closely with Surrey schools, SCC services and the lesson provider to ensure a seamless offer to children for the duration of the time they are unable to attend their school in person. Learners in alternative provision have on occasions been marginalised from conventional schools because of their behaviour or other social/educational challenges. They may be permanently excluded, or at risk of being permanently excluded, or simply disengaged. Many have additional needs (SEND), including social, emotional, mental health or other health needs. Some may have challenging home circumstances. Where the responsibility to educate the student is with the home school, Surrey Online School will act as a broker with the school to provide online provision via the supplier platform.