A sea of empty shoes, each one telling the story of a child left behind by the system.
Parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are set to stage coordinated protests across England and Scotland next week, accusing local authorities and the government of failing thousands of young people.
Due to take place on Monday 3rd November, campaigners from the group Every Pair Tells a Story will lay rows of children’s shoes outside 92 council buildings. Each pair will symbolise a child who doesn’t have a school pace, is on a reduced timetable or has been waiting months, or even years, for essential support.
Cambridgeshire County Council is one of the local authorities taking part and families are set to gather outside New Shire Hall in Alconbury Weald. Aimee Bradley, founder of The SEND Sanctuary UK, said the council has admitted to a shortage of special school places and parents have reported waiting 30 weeks or more for education, health and care plan (EHCP) assessments.
However, there are now more than 6,000 children and young people with an EHCP in Cambridgeshire – an increase of over 45% since 2019.
The nationwide action has been organised by The SEND Sanctuary UK, in partnership with Let Us Learn Too and Let’s Make a Difference. Aimee Bradley said the protest should act as a visual reminder of ‘the children the system chooses not to see’.
‘These shoes tell the stories of children who want to learn, play and be included,’ Aimee said. ‘No child should be left behind because their needs are considered too complex or too inconvenient. Our children deserve more than words – they deserve real change.’
The campaign follows The Fight for Ordinary, a rally which took place in London earlier this year and was organised by The SEND Sanctuary UK and the Disabled Children’s Partnership. The rally was attended by over 800 parents and supported by MPs including Sir Ed Davey and Helen Hayes.
All protests are due to commence at 10.30AM on Monday and end around 1PM. Family members are also inviting members of the public to attend or donate a pair of children’s shoes for display – more information about the event can be accessed in full here.
Photo: STONES and BONES/UnSplash
In related news:
Leave a Reply