An ITV News investigation has sparked an important national conversation after a whistleblower working within a council’s SEND service made a series of serious allegations about how some children are denied access to support.
These allegations are exactly that—allegations. They should be thoroughly and independently investigated.
However, what caught my attention wasn’t just what was said during the report.
It was the reaction from SEND families across the UK.
“This sounds exactly like our experience.”
Within hours of the report being aired, parents began sharing their own stories.
Stories of:
- Waiting months or even years for support.
- Emails that went unanswered.
- Feeling unable to speak to their child’s caseworker.
- EHCPs delayed well beyond legal timescales.
- Being left to fight through complaints, mediation and Tribunal simply to secure support their child needed.
Over the last two years through AskEllie, I have spoken to thousands of SEND families.
Every family’s circumstances are different.
Every local authority is different.
Every professional is different.
But one thing I cannot ignore is how often parents describe remarkably similar experiences.
This Is Bigger Than One Council
It is important not to assume that one person’s allegations represent every council or every SEND team.
They don’t.
There are many dedicated SEND caseworkers, teachers, educational psychologists and local authority staff who work incredibly hard for children every day, often under enormous pressure.
Many professionals care deeply and are doing their very best with limited resources.
This conversation is not about questioning their commitment.
It is about asking why so many parents feel they are fighting a system instead of working with one.
The Numbers Raise Their Own Questions
Whatever the outcome of any investigation, there are already facts that cannot be ignored.
- More than one in five pupils in England now require additional SEND support.
- Many Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) applications exceed the legal 20-week deadline.
- Around 99% of parents who reach Tribunal succeed, either because they win or because the local authority changes its position before the hearing.
Those statistics alone suggest that many families experience significant difficulties accessing support.
Parents Aren’t Asking For Special Treatment
The overwhelming majority of parents I speak to are not looking for conflict.
They don’t want to spend years appealing decisions.
They don’t want to attend Tribunal.
They don’t want complaints, legal letters or endless meetings.
They simply want their children to receive the education and support they are entitled to under the law.
Trust Matters
One of the saddest things I hear is this:
“I’ve lost trust in the system.”
When parents stop believing that services are there to help them, relationships break down.
That helps nobody.
Not professionals.
Not parents.
And certainly not children.
Rebuilding that trust has to start with openness, transparency and a willingness to listen.
Every Story Deserves To Be Heard
The ITV report has opened an important conversation.
Whether the allegations are ultimately substantiated or not, the response from families shows that many people feel their experiences have not been fully heard.
That alone should matter.
Every child deserves fair access to support.
Every family deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
And every concern deserves to be investigated properly.
We Want To Hear From You
Have you experienced delays in securing SEND support?
Have you struggled to communicate with services?
Have you felt your child’s needs were misunderstood or overlooked?
Share your experience.
Not because every council is the same.
But because every family’s voice matters, and understanding those experiences is an important step towards improving the system for everyone.
Need support with an EHCP, SEND appeals or understanding your rights?
Visit AskEllie.co.uk for practical guidance, resources and personalised support designed to help families navigate the SEND system with confidence.
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