TOGETHER WITH
Good Morning Surrey,
Half term, and the kitchen table is on a rota: cereal bowls, glue sticks, then a laptop before the 07:32. Somewhere under it all are the school letters about support, and the council paperwork that quietly decides what next year costs.
We’ve pulled out what actually moves this week, from the SEND deficit write-off to Surrey’s budget headlines and cost-of-living help, plus a handful of half-term ideas if you just need everyone out of the house for an hour.
In today’s edition
SEND deficit write-off and what it could change for Surrey schools and councils
Budget decisions across Surrey, including the 4.99% rise and borough next steps
Help with costs, from e-vouchers to Warm Welcome venues and local support hubs
Half term ideas, plus a run of markets for an easy weekend plan
Jobs, and a refreshed Directory for boilers, plumbing and car fixes
Let’s take a look.
—Prince Khurram
P.S. Our Monday Update leans more towards news, the Wednesday Midweek Brief balances news and events, and the Friday Weekender is lighter on news and fuller on events and Eat & Drink. We would really welcome your thoughts on this format and how we can improve The Surrey Digest for you.
News
SEND deficit write off gives Surrey some breathing space
The government is moving to write off a large chunk of historic Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) deficits, including the significant hole in Surrey’s special educational needs budget. It should ease pressure on finances and the “knock-on” effect on mainstream schools, even though the underlying demand for support is still there.
National plans cover around £5 billion to wipe out roughly 90 per cent of councils’ SEND deficits overall.
Locally there are about 46,000 children with additional needs in Surrey, with around 16,870 on Education, Health and Care Plans, more than double the 2018 total and the third highest in England.
The write off recognises that councils have been carrying structural pressures that annual efficiency drives were never going to solve.
In practical terms, it gives the county more headroom to plan future SEND places and support, rather than servicing past overspends.
National headlines: why they matter in Surrey
UK GDP flat at the end of 2025
Source: ONS
The Office for National Statistics says GDP growth was 0.1 per cent in the final quarter of 2025, with services flat, construction down and business investment falling. For Surrey households and employers, it’s a cautious backdrop for hiring, spending and public budgets.
Click here: To read the full release and see the charts
Online Safety laws lining up for AI chatbots
Ministers have set out plans to bring AI chatbots and some recommendation tools under Online Safety Act-style duties, aimed at tackling AI-generated child abuse images and deepfake sexual content. Parents and schools can expect tougher expectations around monitoring and reporting.
New AI investment push and skills drive
A recent speech from AI minister Narayan set out an investment push, including claims around venture funding, an AI Growth Zone infrastructure plan, and a target for 10 million workers to gain AI skills. In Surrey, that tends to show up fast in training offers, hiring language, and where new offices and labs land.
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County Updates
Guildford Borough balances its books
Photo by: TSD
After a spell on the brink of effective bankruptcy, Guildford Borough Council has agreed a three-year balanced budget that local leaders describe as an “extraordinary achievement”. It does not signal free spending, but it does move the borough away from crisis-mode.
A significant budget gap closed through savings, income and one-off measures.
Plans to keep the budget balanced over a three-year horizon, not just one year.
The move is framed as a signal of stability to residents and partners.
Future projects will face scrutiny on how they are funded, given the recent history.
Community Digest
Everyday Essentials E-Voucher – when the next window opens?
Surrey’s Everyday Essentials E-Voucher scheme offers supermarket vouchers for households struggling with core food and essentials, funded through the national Household Support Fund. It runs in monthly application windows, so timing matters.
Here is how it works in practice.
Eligible households can receive up to £300 in supermarket vouchers
Household Support Fund 7 is currently running until March 2026.
Applications are only accepted during monthly windows, which close once that month’s budget has been used.
The February window is closed. The next E-Voucher scheme application window will open on Wednesday 4 March at 1pm.
“Let’s talk finance” – all student money support in one place
The university’s “Let’s talk finance” page brings together student money support in one place, from hardship funds to laptop loans. If finances are wobbling, it’s a clear starting point before the problem gets louder.
Information on hardship and emergency funds, plus how to apply.
Guidance on budgeting, student discounts and cheaper food and drink options on campus.
Details of laptop loans, childcare discounts and other practical help.
Signposting into specialist student money advice if things are feeling unmanageable.
Click here: To explore the full range of support on offer
🗓️ Events
Family & Kids
February half term activities | 14–22 February 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Brooklands Museum, Weybridge
Description: A full week of family activities around Brooklands’ motoring and aviation heritage, with trails and themed sessions. Good if you want an indoor-outdoor mix and something that works for multiple ages.
February Farming Week | 14–22 February 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Bocketts Farm Park, near Leatherhead
Description: Lambing, meet-the-shepherd talks, birds of prey demonstrations and a Little Farmer trail alongside the usual animals and play. Online booking is required.
Wind in the Willows family trail | 14–22 February 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: RHS Garden Wisley, near Woking
Description: A story-themed family trail through the gardens, with the glasshouse and play areas as backup if the weather turns.
Half term outdoor adventure | 14–22 February 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Go Ape, Alice Holt Forest, near Farnham
Description: High ropes, zip lines and treetop crossings in the woods just over the border. Daytime sessions tend to book up, so this is one to plan.
Nature spotting trail | 14–22 February 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Hatchlands Park
Description: A bingo-style nature spotting trail around the park. No booking is needed, which helps if you’re playing weather roulette.
High ropes half term opening | 14–22 February 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Wild Wood Adventure, Stoke Park, Guildford
Description: High ropes and zip wire courses running half term sessions in Guildford’s main park. One for older children who need something properly active.
Discovery Week | 14–22 February 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Godstone Farm
Description: A learning-focused Discovery Week layered on top of the usual farm animals and play areas. Check the homepage for the half-term specifics once live.
Creative make up workshop (ages 7–11) | 18 February 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Description: A one-day film make up workshop for children, covering basic creative techniques in a theatre setting.
Family days at the gallery | 18–19 February 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Watts Gallery – Artists' Village
Description: Bookable family activity slots across two days, with trails and time in the galleries. A good indoor option that still feels like a day out.
Half term guide – more ideas around Surrey | 14–22 February 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Various venues across Surrey
Description: A round-up of February half term activities, from big venues to smaller local days. Useful if you’re still hunting for one specific day.
🛍️Markets
Guildford town centre markets | Friday 20 & Saturday 21 February 2026 (Info)
Location: North Street and High Street, Guildford
Description: Weekly Friday and Saturday markets on North Street, plus the usual High Street pattern, make for an easy half-term outing. Expect general stalls, food, and the usual pinch points in town.
Farnham Farmers’ Market | Sun 22 Feb 2026 (Info)
Location: Central Car Park, Farnham
Description: Monthly market with fresh produce, baked goods and crafts; good for stocking up before half term drains the cupboards.
Surbiton Farmers’ Market | Saturday 21 February 2026 (Info)
Location: Maple Road, Surbiton
Description: Third-Saturday community market, usually 09.00 to 13.00, with bread, cheese, deli stalls and local producers. Over the border, but a familiar option for north-west Surrey.
🍴🍷Eat and Drink
Chessington Garden Centre – pizza and circus themed sessions (Info)
Location: Chessington Garden Centre
Description: Bookable half-term sessions combining pizza making with circus-themed activities for children, alongside the usual café and garden centre browsing. Handy if you want one contained plan that feeds them and fills a morning.
Kids eat free at The Surrey, St Johns (Info)
Location: The Surrey (Flaming Grill), St Johns, Woking
Description: A half-term kids-eat-free promotion, with one free children’s meal and dessert for each paying adult main on qualifying weekdays. It’s worth checking the fine print before you set off.
Lightbox Café and Canal Side Bite | Wed to Sun, during half term (Info)
Location: The Lightbox café, central Woking
Description: An easy add on for coffee, cake or lunch alongside exhibitions and family sessions; a practical kindness to yourself.
Price: Standard café prices, check menu on site
Local Jobs
Senior Public Health Lead, Environmental Determinants, SCC (Info)
Location: Reigate
Description: Senior role leading on “healthy places”, from planning and transport to green spaces, with a focus on health equity in policy. The job is advertised at £61,784 with hybrid working based out of Reigate, and is open until late February.
Senior Team Administrator – Fostering Business Support – SCC (Info)
Location: Guildford
Description: Senior administrator post supporting the fostering service, with a hybrid pattern that includes at least two days a week at the St Francis Centre. The salary is listed at £30,647, with some discrepancy over the closing date, so it is worth checking and not leaving it late.
Weekend Library Assistant – Farnham Library (Info)
Location: Farnham
Description: Saturday-only role of five hours a week at Farnham Library. Pay is £12.42 per hour (£23,322 full-time equivalent) and the closing date is currently listed as 3 March 2026.
🏢 Directory
Bailey Plumbing & Heating (Info)
Location: Guildford and surrounding areas
Description: Gas Safe and OFTEC-registered engineers covering boilers, bathrooms, oil tanks, drainage and landlord certificates across much of west Surrey and nearby counties.
Remedial Plumbing & Heating (Info)
Location: Guildford, Cranleigh, Alfold, Godalming and nearby villages
Description: Boiler repairs, servicing, new installations, emergency plumbing, bathrooms and powerflushing, focused on the south-west Surrey belt.
On The Go Mobile Mechanics (Info)
Location: Guildford and surrounding areas
Description: Mobile mechanics who come to your home or workplace for servicing, diagnostics, MOT preparation and emergency repairs.
And Finally,
Half term has a way of making the days feel both long and oddly fast, especially when you’re juggling plans, budgets and the usual life admin underneath. I hope you find one easy outing, one decent coffee, and one calmer evening. If you spot a useful local scheme or a genuinely good half-term idea, hit reply and point me to it.
Thank you for reading. See you on Friday.
