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Discover the story behind SEND Rights Now

Discover the story behind SEND Rights Now. A Southampton family’s fight for their autistic son’s right to education has grown into a national campaign for SEND reform. Join us to demand accountability and change for disabled children across the UK.

How It Started

We’re an ordinary family navigating extraordinary challenges. Both our children have autism, dad lives with autism and multiple sclerosis, and mom with ADHD and fibromyalgia.

Get to Know Us

In 2025, our son, who has autism and complex needs, was left without education. For six years he thrived in a specialist residential school. But Southampton City Council issued his Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) nearly three months late, then removed his specialist placement and transport without lawful reassessment, consultation, or explanation.

Instead, the council named a mainstream college that cannot meet his needs. With medical evidence showing we cannot provide daily care and transport, the result is simple: our son is at home, out of education, with no support.

We are not alone. Families everywhere are facing the same unlawful decisions and delays.

Why We’re Fighting

This is not about one child or one family. It’s about:

  • Councils missing statutory deadlines.

  • Support being stripped away unlawfully.

  • Families being forced into costly, exhausting tribunal battles.

  • Disabled children losing months — sometimes years — of education

The law is clear: every child has a right to education. Councils have duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 to secure the provision in Section F of EHCPs. Yet too often, these duties are ignored.

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From Family Struggle to National Campaign

What began as one family’s desperate fight for their child’s education has grown into a national call for justice. Our son was left without education after his specialist placement and transport were stripped away unlawfully. In exposing this failure, we discovered countless families across the UK facing the same battles. Our personal struggle has become a campaign to protect the rights of all disabled children and to demand accountability from councils and government.

We're campaigning for the rights of all disabled children

Our personal fight has become a public campaign. We have:

  • Exposed Southampton’s unlawful actions.

  • Taken legal steps, including pre-action letters and tribunal appeals.

  • Raised the issue with our MP, the Department for Education, Ofsted, and even No.10.

  • Launched petitions demanding government intervention into SEND services.

The response from other families has been overwhelming. Parents from across the UK have shared similar stories. What began as one child’s case now highlights a systemic national crisis.

Our Mission

SEND Rights Now exists to:

  • Shine a light on systemic SEND failings.

  • Support families in sharing their stories.

  • Build a movement of parents demanding accountability from councils, Ofsted, and government.

  • Push for systemic reform so that no disabled child is left without education again.

Our mission is rooted in a simple truth: every child deserves the chance to learn, thrive, and be valued. Yet families are repeatedly let down by councils that ignore their legal duties and force parents into endless battles. By shining a light on these systemic failings, supporting families to speak out, and building a united movement, we can hold those in power to account and push for real reform, so no disabled child is ever left without education again.

Image by Annie Spratt

How You Can Help

Spread The Word

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Take Action. Make a Difference

This campaign only works if we act together.

  • Sign our petitions to show government and councils that families cannot be ignored.

  • Share your story so we can amplify your voice alongside ours.

  • Spread the word on social media, in your community, and with your councillors and MPs.

Together, our stories are impossible to ignore.

HOW WE HELP

SEND Rights Now is a parent-led campaign fighting for the rights of disabled children to receive the education they are legally entitled to. Councils must be held accountable when they break the law and leave children without support.

We’re not here to provide legal forms or duplicate the advice that other excellent organisations already offer. Groups like IPSEA, SOS!SEN, and Contact provide families with guidance and individual case support.

SEND Rights Now has a different mission: to fight for the rights of your children and to hold councils accountable when they break the law.

When you contact us and share your story, or when you choose to partner with us, you’re joining a movement that’s focused on systemic change. Our goal is simple but powerful — to make sure no disabled child is left without education, and to ensure councils are held responsible for their failings.

Together, our voices are stronger. Together, we can force change.

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