My personal journey of fighting for my son's right to quality education is what drives this petition. After a waiting period of 8 agonising months, my son's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) was finally reviewed and approved. Unfortunately, the process was fraught with errors, discrepancies, and a lack of adequate consultation with schools. The erroneously crafted EHCP could now result in mediation battles and left us at the precipice of potential tribunals.

In the interim, I, as a concerned and involved parent, painstakingly researched and assessed SEN-accredited high schools in my locality. My objective was to find a suitable educational environment for my son, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Tragically, my attempts were unconsidered, as the Local Authority arbitrarily selected a school without consulting me.

Every child, irrespective of their neurological make-up, deserves the best education tailored for them. This decision should equally apply to neurotypical children and those with special educational needs (SEN). A child's schooling should not be mandated solely by cost implications; it should account for the child's feelings toward the school, their social adaptability, emotional stability, and, above all, the quality of education they would receive.

It's high time we change this. We urge the Local Authority to respect and consider parents' informed choices in selecting an SEN school for their children. We demand an open, just, and inclusive selection process that puts our children's best interests at heart.

Please, put your signature on this petition. Every voice counts. Together, we can fight for our children's right to quality, tailored, and appropriate education.