Overview
- More than 90 coordinated actions on November 3–4 saw pairs of children’s shoes placed at local authority buildings across England and Scotland, organised by The SEND Sanctuary UK with Let Us Learn Too and Let’s Make a Difference.
- Families highlighted prolonged waits for Education, Health and Care Plans, with local reports of 25–35 week assessments in areas such as Dudley and Gloucestershire despite a 20‑week legal limit.
- Councils acknowledged strain from rising plan numbers and outlined local steps, with Southampton citing 88% of assessments on time, Norfolk reporting 58–61% and a £183m deficit, and Shropshire claiming progress alongside “work to do.”
- The Department for Education reiterated its reform commitment after more than 100 listening sessions and pointed to £740 million for 10,000 specialist places, as wider national reforms remain delayed until 2026.
- Parents described children missing education, deteriorating mental health and carers leaving work; coverage cited over 600,000 children with special needs in England and more than 70,000 awaiting EHCPs.