Overview
- Dozens of synchronized local actions under the Every Pair Tells a Story banner took place outside council buildings from 10:30am to 1pm, with reports of about 97 events nationwide.
- Demonstrations featured rows of children’s shoes to represent pupils denied suitable places or left without adequate support in the special educational needs and disabilities system.
- Events were reported at sites including Swindon’s Civic Offices, Kirklees Civic Centre, Shire Hall in Gloucester, Hull’s Guildhall and Staffordshire County Council’s HQ.
- Organisers cited more than 600,000 children identified with SEND in England and over 70,000 waiting for Education, Health and Care Plans, with EHCP numbers up roughly 50% since 2019 in several areas.
- Parents highlighted waits of around 30–35 weeks for EHCP decisions and pointed to Ofsted/CQC findings on weak leadership and coordination, renewing calls for urgent action from councils and the government after an earlier London rally backed by MPs.