Families gather to protest lack of Send provision

The shoes were chosen to symbolise absence, waiting, and the loss of a normal school life

Families in Cornwall have held a silent protest about special educational needs and disabilities (Send) provision.

In Truro, rows of empty children's shoes from 30 children were laid out at County Hall to represent children failed by the education system.

It was part of similar protests held across more than 80 council locations in England and Scotland as part of the Every Pair Tells a Story campaign. Local organisers said there was a "massive Send deficit" in Cornwall.

The Department for Education said the government inherited a Send system "on its knees", but had carried out more than 100 listening sessions with families and had made progress on plans to build a "truly inclusive system".

The protests were a coordinated visual movement organised by Send Sanctuary UK, in partnership with Let Us Learn Too and Let's Make a Difference.

Kirsty Pellow said steps needed to be taken to stop parent blaming

Kirsty Pellow, regional hub organiser for Cornwall for Send Sanctuary UK, has two sons, aged 14 and 16.

She said her 16-year-old goes to a "specialist college provision but was only getting "three days out of the five he is entitled to".

As well as that, she said her 14-year-old had been at home with her for nearly three years after struggling with school.

The shoes at the event were each labelled with a brief description of some children's stories being failed by the Send systems, she said.

She added she had "empathy" that it was a government-down issue and she knew "there's a massive send deficit that particularly with Cornwall Council".

She said: "I mean again we're right at the end of the map, aren't we?

"We're often forgotten, we're vastly underfunded in so many things, and education and Send is no different."

Louise Gilburt said her daughter had been struggling for about five years

Louise Gilburt, a volunteer, said her daughter had been struggling for about five years.

She said: "It got to the point that the school didn't know how to help, and they would make my daughter sit in her pyjamas outside the reception until she was ready to come in.

"It took the spark away from her. "

Ms Gilburt added she was yet to find another parent that had a positive experience with the process.

She said: "It's scary but not surprising, sadly.

"We're exhausted. We are parents... we shouldn't have to be battling every single day."

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "This government inherited a Send system on its knees, with thousands of families struggling to secure the right support.

"We're determined to put that right and deliver a better system that supports children and families at every stage."

They said that, after carrying out listening sessions with families, ministers would be "leading the engagement with more parents to make sure we deliver better outcomes for every child".

They added: "We have already made progress on our plans to build a truly inclusive system - including through improved training for teachers, £740m to create more specialist places, earlier intervention for speech and language needs and embedding Send leads in our Best Start Family Hubs in every local area."