Families protest over 'broken' Send school system

Parents and children gathered outside County Hall in Taunton

Dozens of families gathered outside a council's headquarters to protest against special educational needs and disabilities (Send) provision.

More than 50 parents and children gathered outside County Hall in Taunton, Somerset, angry about the authority's Send service which they said was failing their children,and leaving parents "exhausted".

Organiser Tatjana from Somerset Send Army said: "We are barely standing. I'm just about keeping my job. I'm mentally exhausted. It's very tough but I'm never going to give up fighting for my son."

Somerset Council said it was working hard to address a "very significant rise in demand" for support.

Children joined parents at the protest calling for better Send support

Melanie was at the protest and has five neuro-divergent children.

"We have had to fight for every single one of them to get the support they need," she said.

"We've had broken promises, endless forms, endless meetings and endless professionals and nothing comes of it - we are absolutely exhausted and depleted."

The Somerset gathering was part of a national action taking place at a number of council offices across England organised by The SEND Sanctuary UK, a parent-led organisation representing more than 35,000 families.

Aimee Bradley, Founder of The SEND Sanctuary UK said: "It is time for every council and every decision maker to recognise the human cost of an underfunded and broken system."

Councillor Heather Shearer apologised to families at the protest.

Councillor Heather Shearer, Lib Dem Lead member for children, families and education on Somerset Council said she was "sorry for any problems any family has had".

"We have a huge volume - a much bigger volume than we used to - we do have a lack of capacity in certain parts of our system."

"Also we do not have enough school places, which is part of the EHCP process, so we can actually identify the best school place for that child."

Around 60 people joined the protest organised by Somerset SEND Army

In a statement, the Department for Education said: "This government inherited a Send system left on its knees, which is why we are engaging closely with children, parents and experts as we develop plans to ensure all children get the outcomes and life chances they deserve.

"We're already taking action to reform the system, including through improved training for teachers, £740m to help create more specialist school places and earlier intervention for speech and language needs – reassuring parents that support will be available as routine at the earliest stage."

The Labour government is expected to publish its Send reforms this autumn.