Families across Bucks, Beds & Herts stand in solidarity for children failed by SEND system
It's part of the national "Every Pair Tells a Story" action
Last updated 3rd Nov 2025
Families across Bucks, Beds & Herts are standing together in solidarity today to highlight the number of children being failed by the SEND system.
Three local events are taking place across the three counties as part of the national "Every Pair Tells a Story" action, showing that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities deserve education, support, and a future.
Participants have been asked to bring along a pair of shoes to represent their child with the aim that together they want to highlight the scale of the crisis.
Bedfordshire mum's Kayleigh and Sophie set up "Sending Help" a support group for other families struggling to get SEND support across the county.
Kayleigh shared her experience in getting support for her daughter Devon:
"We got to a point where at age six she was being physically restrained in school and she was so low she had suicidal ideation at six, she didn't feel like anyone listened to her and that was what really made me push for her EHCP and that for me was breaking point."
Sophie also struggled to get the support she needed for her two children Jacob and Phoebe:
"The problem is professionals have a way of wording things that makes us feel like we are asking for a lot and actually it's just a right that a child deserves education, be safe, nurtured and thriving and not surviving and this is the point I think we feel like we are constantly trying to survive."
In a statement a Bedford Borough Council Spokesperson said:
"Bedford Borough Council takes its roles and responsibilities regarding supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) very seriously.
In partnership with Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum (BBPCF) we actively engage and seek the views and lived experiences of families of children with SEND.
We do this through regular engagement sessions, through the annual BBPCF survey, and through regular ‘Meet the director’ sessions, which families can book on to.
Bedford Borough Council is keen to hear more about every pair of shoes that is left so that we can learn from any example of where things could be improved to better support families engaging with the SEND system in the future.
Bedford Borough Council received the highest possible grade in its most recent SEND inspection from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission, and our EHCP timeliness is significantly higher than the national average, but we recognise that there is always more to do.
We will continue to work in coproduction with Bedford Borough Parent Carer forum as our strategic coproduction partner and encourage families to access BBPCF as well as access other support services through our Local Offer."
The SEND Sanctuary UK who are behind today's action is a parent-led movement built from lived experience.
They bring together families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities to connect, share and be heard.
They believe no family should ever feel alone, unheard or unsupported and they are working to change the conversation around SEND through connection, awareness and action.
The movement today is a silent, fully inclusive event with no walking and no protesting.
Carl Jackson, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services, said:
"We respect the right to peaceful protest and understand this is part of a national action. We acknowledge the challenges experienced by children with SEND and their parents/carers and are committed to enhancing our service provision.
"Alongside our partners across Buckinghamshire, we have developed a comprehensive SEND and inclusion strategy designed to improve services for children and young people with SEND and their families and this remains a key priority for the council and our partners."
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council said:
“We acknowledge the powerful message shared through the national Every Pair Tells a Story action. Each pair of shoes placed outside local authority offices is a poignant reminder of the real lives and futures affected by the challenges within the SEND system.
“We recognise the national scale of the issues facing children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, and we understand the frustration and pain that many families are feeling. In Hertfordshire, we are working together—with families, schools, and partners— to address the challenges, build upon improvements made so far, and ensure that children and young people with SEND receive the support and opportunities they deserve.”
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.
“We have already carried out over 100 listening sessions with families, and Minister Gould will be leading the engagement with more parents to make sure we deliver better outcomes for every child through the Schools White Paper as part of our Plan for Change.
“Through that engagement we have already made progress on our plans to build a truly inclusive system – including through improved training for teachers, £740 million 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.”
All the event details can be found on the SEND Sanctuary website.