Within a few hours of talking to two well-placed campaigners, the extent of the difficulties facing children with special educational needs and disability (SEND) in the United Kingdom begins to become clear.
Message after message hits my inbox. Parents from across the country tell their horror stories. They talk about children trying to take their own lives, they talk about considering taking their own lives themselves, they talk about the strain and toil that comes from fighting a running battle with local authorities facing budget cuts for years on end.
What becomes clear too, is just how often the law is being broken. Children with SEND have to be provided with an education, health and care plan (EHC plan), a legal document that describes their special educational needs, the support they need and the outcomes they would like to achieve.
