The Save Our Children’s Rights campaign came together in the middle of 2025, after it became apparent that the Government was planning to alter the legislative framework that governs SEND education — the Children and Families Act 2014 (CFA).
The CFA is widely acknowledged to be good legislation that supports children and young people with SEND and their families.
WHO WE ARE
Save Our Children’s Rights is a collaborative campaign, made up of a number of SEND organisations and individuals. Click the arrows next to each organisation to find out more about them
The steering group is made up of:
SPECIAL NEEDS JUNGLE
Special Needs Jungle (SNJ) is a non-profit website started in 2008. SNJ publishes news, information, and resources about special educational needs and disability and has a wide readership, ranging from parents to SEND sector leaders, practitioners, SEND officials, voluntary sector professionals, and politicians at all levels.
SNJ was founded by Tania Tirraoro, who is now joint co-director with Renata Watts, Dr Sharon Smith, and Gill Doherty (SEND Action), all parent carers. SNJ’s campaign team includes, educator, Frances Akinde, SEND advocate, Diana Read, and content editor, Jenny Ellery, all of whom are parent carers.
The team are all volunteers.
IPSEA
IPSEA is a SEND law charity that helps families in England navigate the SEND system and secure the education their child is legally entitled to. They provide free and independent legal advice and support to families of children and young people with SEND.
IPSEA also provides training on the SEND legal framework, and works to influence policy at both a local and national level. Its SOCR team includes Policy Manager, Catriona Moore, Campaigns Manager, Charlotte De-Vilder, and Communications Manager, Emma Brock.
SOS!SEN
SOS!SEN is an independent UK charity supporting parents, carers and young people navigating the SEND system. It provides legally informed advice via a national helpline, advice centres, and document support to help families understand their rights and secure appropriate education, health and care support for their children.
SOS!SEN aims to give families the knowledge and confidence to manage complex SEND processes and achieve the best possible outcomes for their children. SOS!SEN’s SOCR team includes Eleanor Wright, Solicitor, and Richard Orchard-Rower, CEO.
SEND NATIONAL CRISIS
SEND National Crisis is a parent-led group that organised marches and protests across the country in 2019, putting pressure on the Government to act on SEND. It has active Facebook groups for different areas of the country. Its spokesperson is Sharon Pratt.
SEND RIGHTS ALLIANCE
SEND Rights Alliance was created by campaigner, Rachel Filmer. Rachel, who is part of the SNJ team, created the first parliamentary petition, publicised on the SNJ website and pushed by the organisations that became Save Our Children’s Rights.
BLACK SEN MAMAS
Black SEN Mamas, led by Marsha Martin, is a grassroots collective of Black mothers advocating for the rights and inclusion of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). BSM works to challenge systemic inequities and ensure that Black, neurodivergent/disabled children receive fair and culturally competent support; so that all SEND children receive equitable access, to statutory support.L
LEARNING DISABILITY TODAY
Learning Disability Today (LDT) is a national magazine focusing on the lives of people with learning disabilities and autism. It has a wide readership and is part of Pavilion Publishing. Its SOCR representative is LDT Editor in Chief, Alison Bloomer, herself a parent carer
INDIVIDUAL CAMPAIGN PARTNERS
The SOCR campaign steering group is also made up of Guardian journalist, John Harris (co-founder), and Rummy Kaur, Midlands-based campaigner, who now also works for IPSEA in community outreach
WIDER SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
SOCR has a growing base of supporting organisations and individuals who offer active help. We welcome more SEND groups and individuals who may like to play an active role. See this page for more info. Current members include:
- Child Autism UK
- Disability Rights UK
- National Star College
- Autistic Girls Network
- Define Fine Parent Peer Support
- Eastleigh SOS Group
- Bheard
- SENsational Tutors
- Like Me Stories
- Oxfordshire SEND Parent Action
- PANDAS Foundation
- SEND Voices RBWM
- Sunshine and Smiles
- SENDmummies
- Teach Us Too
- The Children’s Hyperinsulinism Charity
- Trade Union Community Group
- The SEN Expert
- more to come…
OUR START
At the end of 2024, concern had been growing that the Government was considering removing disabled children’s rights. In May 2025, the Government’s Strategic SEND Adviser, Dame Christine Lenehan, made comments to journalists intimating that this was indeed what was under discussion.
Around the same time, SOCR co-founder Special Needs Jungle had been preparing to publish an article boosting a petition lodged by their team member Rachel Filmer. It called for the Government to commit to retaining current legal rights. Four days later, they published the article and the petition began to gain traction.
Other organisations, including SOCR’s other co-founder, IPSEA, got behind the petition. Within a month it had garnered over 85,000 signatures. An inadequate Government response came and went. The Government continued to refuse to guarantee rights.
Behind the scenes, Special Needs Jungle, IPSEA, and Guardian journalist and SEND parent, John Harris, were planning a campaign to highlight the Government’s plans and stop them. Launched in July 2025, this became the Save Our Children’s Rights campaign. We sent out an open letter outlining our mission signed by 100 celebrities, organisations and thought-leaders.
The petition far exceeded the 100,000 signature threshold, prompting a parliamentary debate, which took place in September 2025.
SEND DEBATE
Our petition to retain SEND legal rights closed with 132,000 signatures!
The SEND parliamentary debate then took place in Westminster Hall on 15 September, coincidentally on the same day another parent rally took place in Parliament Square.
Inside Westminster Hall, it was standing room only. Led by Lib Dem MP, Dr Roz Savage, there were enough MPs to last double the length allocated as MPs maxed out the capacity. 90 MPs showed up to speak.
Our campaign partners, Special Needs Jungle, covered the debate on their website here (opens article in a new window). You can also read the transcript here.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
FOLLOW US ONLINE
If you’re a Facebook user, as well as following us on our social media, you can join in discussions and tell us what you’re doing and your thoughts too. Click the FIRST Facebook icon. The second takes you to our Facebook page.