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Southampton SEND Failure
Save Our Children: Government Intervention in Southampton SEND
We are an ordinary family from Southampton, fighting for our autistic son’s right to education. For six years he attended Grateley House School, a specialist residential placement where he thrived. In 2025, everything changed. Southampton City Council ignored the law, stripped away his placement and transport, and left him without education. This page sets out the timeline of events so that the press, policymakers, and the public can see exactly how families are failed by the system.
Who We Are
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Dad: living with autism and multiple sclerosis.
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Mum: living with ADHD and fibromyalgia.
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Two children, both autistic.
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We understand first-hand the struggles SEND families face — but nothing prepared us for what happened in 2025.
In the Media
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Southampton Daily Echo: Read the story here
Timeline of Events
2019–2025
Grateley House School
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Our son attended Grateley House School, a specialist residential setting.
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His EHCP consistently included this placement in practice, even when it wasn’t explicitly written into later versions.
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He made progress, supported by integrated education, therapy, and care.
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Southampton City Council funded his placement
March 2025
Southampton City Council
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By law, Southampton City Council should have issued his phase transfer EHCP by 31 March 2025.
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They failed to meet this deadline.
23 June 2025
Southampton City Council
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The Council finally issued the phase transfer plan — almost three months late.
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In this plan, they:
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Removed his specialist residential placement.
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Removed transport.
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Named Eastleigh College, a mainstream setting that cannot meet his needs.
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July 2025
Southampton City Council
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An emergency review meeting was held. Grateley House staff, medical professionals, and Cambian Wing College all confirmed:
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Our son needs a specialist residential placement.
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Cambian Wing College assesses and offers a 38-week residential placement with 1:1 support.
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Eastleigh College (mainstream placement nominated by council) is wholly unsuitable.
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Despite this, the Council refused to reinstate his specialist residential placement or transport.
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SEND Tribunal appeal lodged (phase transfer).
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Stage 1 complaint submitted to SCC.
August 2025
Southampton City Council
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Stage 1 final response: Council admits EHCP lateness but refuses to reinstate specilaist residential placement or transport. Unable to provide reasoning.
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Tribunal process (FTT) continues. Tribunal confirms to parents it cannot order interim relief before the full hearing. Tribunal interim order notes the lack of interim powers.
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Tribunal (FTT) confirms hearing for late January 2026.
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Stage 2 complaint submitted → Stage 2 final response issued: no remedy
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Pre-Action Protocol (PAP) JR letter served on SCC setting out legal breaches.
September 2025
Southampton City Council
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SCC PAP response received: admits the EHCP plan was late; asserts Eastleigh is appropriate; no interim education/transport offered.
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Lodged complaint with the local government ombudsman (LGO).
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Ofsted/CQC notified and asked to log the case as inspection intelligence for the local area SEND partnership.
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HIOW ICB engaged about health provision delivered via education; ICB begins gathering therapy evidence from Grateley/clinicians.
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DfE complaint under s496/497 (Education Act) submitted; DfE reference number issued; No.10 forwards correspondence to DfE.
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Council leadership & Scrutiny formally contacted (Leader, Cabinet Member for Children & Learning, Scrutiny Chair) with documents and requests for urgent action.
STATUS TODAY
OUT OF EDUCATION
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Still out of school at start of term despite strong GCSEs at Grateley.
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Tribunal final hearing: January 2026; Tribunal cannot grant interim relief.
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LGO investigation active; Ofsted/CQC notified; DfE engaged; SCC maintains Eastleigh is suitable and offers no interim plan.
Media Enquiries
Contact us for a full document pack, internews and questions
We’re happy to brief journalists and editors. We can provide a chronology, key documents (complaints, PAP, tribunal order, school letters), and arrange on-record or background interviews. Click the button below to contact us and tell us your deadline; we’ll reply quickly with access to a secure folder and any quotes you need.