SEND Families To Hold Peaceful Protest At Staffordshire Place In Stafford
- Chris Shepherd
- May 7
- 2 min read
Families of children with special educational needs and disabilities are set to hold a peaceful protest in Stafford this weekend.
The protest will take place at Staffordshire Place, Tipping Street, Stafford, ST16 2LP, on Saturday 9 May, from 11.30am to 1pm.
The event is being organised locally by Staffs SEND Warriors as part of the national Save Our Children’s Rights campaign.
Why is the protest happening?
Parents and supporters are protesting against proposed changes to SEND support and legal rights.
Campaigners say they are worried that the proposals could make it harder for children with SEND to get the right support in school.
They are also concerned about possible changes to Education, Health and Care Plans, often known as EHCPs, and the role of the SEND Tribunal.
Organisers say the protest is not about refusing change. They say families want a better SEND system, but believe any changes should make legal protections stronger, not weaker.
What are campaigners concerned about?
The Save Our Children’s Rights campaign says it is worried that families could lose important legal protections.
In campaign material, organisers claim the proposed changes could mean:
Some children get an individual support plan without the same legal right to provision or appeal
Schools could move some children to in-school inclusion bases without an EHCP or legal appeal route
EHCPs could be based on set national provision packages, rather than each child’s individual needs
A successful appeal may only mean the local authority has to make the decision again
These are the concerns being raised by campaigners. They should not be read as confirmed outcomes, as the proposals are part of a wider debate and consultation.
The campaign message on the poster is:
“Families need rights, not reassurances.”
What will happen in Stafford?
The Stafford protest is expected to be a peaceful gathering for parents, carers and supporters.
People are being invited to:
Chat with other parents
Share, support and connect
Come and go as they please
Bring a soft toy to represent a child whose rights they feel they are standing up for
Organisers say they hope to create an artistic focal point with the soft toys. Any toys left over at the end are expected to be donated to charity.
The message from organisers is: “You are not in this alone.”
The Stafford event is part of a wider national day of action, with similar protests expected in towns and cities across England.
Local organiser speaks out
Local organiser Laura Mccutcheon said it is already hard for many families to secure the right support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
She said:
“It is already so hard to secure the right support for children with special educational needs and disabilities. If we lose the legal protections and safeguards, it will become even harder.
“If we don’t speak up now, these rights could be lost. Please join us at Staffordshire Place on Saturday 9 May to stand up for SEND legal rights.”
Who is behind the campaign?
The national Save Our Children’s Rights campaign is made up of SEND charities, parent groups, campaigners and supporters.
The campaign says its key message is simple:
“Do not take away our children’s legal rights.”
More information about the campaign can be found here:
Comments