Disabled Children's Partnership

Panel discussion at a conference with several participants seated at a long table, facing an audience in a meeting room.

Yesterday, we hosted an event at the Labour Party Conference to speak up for the two million children struggling to talk and understand words!

Thank you to our panel for joining this session.

Disabled daughter excluded from playground in Bromsgrove - family A family say upgrade plans to a playground in Bromsgrove mean their disabled daughter cannot use it.

"I wish the council would do better and that they would see all children, not just able-bodied children first, because implementing a ramp, for example, it doesn't take away from able-bodied children; it just opens things up to more children." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Katie, a young person addressing the Fight For Ordinary Rally.

Harjap Bhangal addressing the Fight For Ordinary Rally

Alastair Barrie addressing the Fight For Ordinary rally

Agnes Agyepong addressing the Fight For Ordinary Rally

Thank you to everyone who joined the #FightForOrdinary rally last week.

As the Labour Party Conference begins tomorrow, we’re hopeful that the voices of families, young people and professionals will be heard.

Together, we can build a system that works for every child.

A photo of Tiya outside Parliament holding a placard and the Speech and Language UK alternative White Paper. Navy background with white text. Text reads "The SEND system is failing the very children it is meant to protect... Every child deserves the right support, in the right place, at the right time."

The Government’s upcoming Schools White Paper could change everything for children with speech & language challenges.

We must get SEND reform right. Join us and @speechandlanguk.bsky.social and email your MP today: speechandlanguage.eaction.org.uk/transforming...

Photo of a young girl with a doctor. The doctor is using a stethoscope. Blue background. White text reads "The Child Health Workforce Alliance, which brings together over 25 different organisations working on child health, will engage collaboratively with government to ensure babies, children, and young people, remain a priority in the upcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan."

Babies, children and young people make up around 25% of the population, yet they only account for 11% of NHS spending. The #ChildHealthWorkforceAlliance is here to make sure government addresses this in its new NHS workforce plan. Find out more: buff.ly/gF261o1 #ChildHealth #10YearPlan

Getting SEN support is 'like fighting a war' The mother of an autistic teenager says it is a

Ms Turner said trying to get an education for her daughter had "turned our life upside down".

"The education system has just failed her completely." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Response following the publication of ‘Solving the SEND Crisis’ by the Education Select Committee This is a crucial, thoroughly-researched report from MPs that puts children and families at the heart of reform. We strongly agree with the Committee that the government must not remove vital existing legal rights and protections and must be much clearer about its vision for “inclusive mainstream”. We agree with the Committee that this must include strengthened duties and accountability on schools, councils and the health service to make inclusion real for children. We also agree that the government must ensure nurseries, schools and colleges will be equipped and supported to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND. Ensuring local education, health and social care teams work together is hugely important so that children and young people can have a shot at ordinary things like being able to learn in a safe environment and having access to health care and family support where it's needed. Getting this right would be a win-win for government; with the right investment and reforms now, not only will they improve outcomes for children and families, but they will also save money in the longer term. Anna Bird, Chair of the Disabled Children’s Partnership – September 2025

The DCP response following the publication of ‘Solving the SEND Crisis’ by the Education Select Committee

The SEND system is broken and needs serious reform.

I support @dcpcampaign.bsky.social in calling for no child to be left behind.

This can't just be about councils trying to cut costs.

We must end the battles too many families are fighting for their children and improve outcomes for all.

Thank you for joining us!

“Fixing SEND by fixing education” with Stephen Kingdom Talking Inclusion… With Geoff Barton · Episode

🎧 In episode 9 of Talking Inclusion... with Geoff Barton, Stephen Kingdom from @dcpcampaign.bsky.social joins @mmulholland.bsky.social, arguing we’re asking the wrong question on SEND: it’s not about “fixing SEND” but the whole education system.

Disabled children and their parents have a right to the same, ordinary, family life other families expect.

#FightforOrdinary (4/4)

We urge the government to take forward these proposals and ensure that disabled children and their families can get the support they need, free of stigma and blame and without having to hit crisis point first. (3/4)

We have long argued that the current law is outdated and not fit for purpose; the Law Commission have put forward comprehensive recommendations to address this. (2/4)

We welcome the publication of the Law Commission’s final report and recommendations following its review of disabled children’s social care. (1/4)

And of course, a huge thank you to
@letuslearntoo.bsky.social
and The SEND Sanctuary – without their tireless work, yesterday wouldn’t have happened. (4/4)

This is just the beginning. Change is coming, and we will continue to campaign until every disabled child gets the support they need. (3/4)

Together, we showed MPs the reality faced by disabled children and their families and made it clear: every child deserves the chance to live an ordinary life. (2/4)

Ed Davey addressing SEND campaigners outside Parliament

A parent-campaigner wearing a Fight For Ordinary t-shirt holding a hand-made banner.

Two parents at the rally holding hand-made placards

A group of parents at the rally, holding hand-made banners

Wow! Thank you to everyone who joined us at Parliament for the #FightForOrdinary rally and MP drop-in. Your voices were powerful, passionate, and impossible to ignore. 💬📢 (1/4)

@janeharrislondon.bsky.social was on Sky News this morning representing @dcpcampaign.bsky.social ahead of the SEND rally today!

Reform is desperately needed so that children with SEND and their families don’t have to fight for the ordinary things in life.

Great to hear @janeharrislondon.bsky.social from
@speechandlanguk.bsky.social & @dcpcampaign.bsky.social highlighting a clear need for more training & greater understanding in schools - reminding us that the system is still stacked against those with additional needs.

MPs drop in today was packed with young people, parents and politicians keen to share stories and solutions. Great to see new minister @georgiagould.bsky.social eager to listen to families’ experiences. These must be front and centre of the reforms. @dcpcampaign.bsky.social @kidscharity.bsky.social

It’s time to fix the SEND system. Because there’s nothing ‘special’ about an education that works for all of us.

Today parents are taking the #FightForOrdinary to Parliament.

Fight For Ordinary campaign poster. Text reads "ask your MP to attend our event in Parliament."

The DCP and @letuslearntoo.bsky.social event in Parliament takes place on Monday.

This is your last chance to invite your MP.

Have your voice heard.

bit.ly/FFOSEPTMP #FightForOrdinary

Photo of Harvey, outside smiling. He is blond and wears glasses.

Photo of Harvey and Kimberly in a ball pit

A hand-written note that says "There’s nothing ‘special’ about getting the support you’re entitled to. "

A photo of Harvey and his two brothers

Families like Kimberly’s deserve better.

There’s nothing ‘special’ about getting the support you’re entitled to.

#FightForOrdinary bit.ly/FightforOrdi...

Let’s fight for a system that works.

Invite your MP to the @dcpcampaign.bsky.social and Let Us Learn Too event in Parliament: support.disabledchildrenspartnership.org.uk/en-gb/invite...

#FightForOrdinary

Stella Creasy talks sense about SEND children and their families. Parents of disabled young people and those with additional needs just want the ordinary: for their children to learn, and for mums and dads to work. No one should be criticised for that. #FightForOrdinary

No parent any of our 130 member organisations have come across wants their child in a taxi for hours. They just want the ordinary ambitions of their son or daughter to have an education, to learn and for themselves to be able to work.

What we do know is that children with additional needs often have to travel many more miles to school or college than children of the same age because there is no suitable provision locally.

Newspaper headline. Text reads "Reform UK's deputy leader claims parents are 'using and abusing' free taxis for SEND children and warns 'unsustainable' spending will bankrupt local councils"

We are unaware of any evidence at all that backs up Richard Tice’s random assertion. Nor are we aware of Reform having a policy on special educational needs and disabilities.

I’m a secondary school teacher: We need more Send provision, not less Jeremy Hunt’s eye on the special needs budget is short-term when schooling prepares children for their working future, writes teacher Charlotte Harrison. We need to support students even further to le...

"Support, in whatever form it may come, is an investment. As a society, we need to support students even further to let them thrive – and remember that we benefit from their thriving." www.independent.co.uk/voices/send-...