Shoes protest at County Hall by families 'failed' by SEND service

ONE MUM SAYS HER CHILD HAS BEEN LEFT ‘BROKEN’

- By LAUREN MONAGHAN Local democracy reporter

PARENTS of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) gathered outside Nottinghamshire County Council's West Bridgford headquarters on Monday to protest about children who have been let down by the authority's SEND service.

Similar protests took place across 88 local authorities in England and Scotland on the same day, involving parents or guardians leaving a pair of shoes outside a council house to represent individual children who have been ‘failed’ by their SEND service.

One mum, named Jess, said she has “had to fight” for her nine-year-old son’s autism diagnosis and for him to be placed into a school better suited to his needs.

She initiated the process to get him an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in October 2024. EHCPs are legal documents detailing a young person's needs, the support they require, and the progress they want to make. The target issuing time for one is 20 weeks after assessment.

Her son initially got through the first stage of the process and an assessment, but was told there was “not enough evidence” for his needs due to good school attendance and academic performance.

She said there has been a “massive delay” in his EHCP process after putting in for mediation. The family is now on week 56 of the EHCP process. Her son has been granted an extended half-term from his mainstream school.

Jess said: “He’s now unable to leave the house. His anxiety is manic and chaotic to the point where we've had to ring the crisis team.