NOTE: We are closing this petition while we work directly with Southampton City Council to resolve matters before the tribunal.

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Southampton’s children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are being failed — and families have had enough.

Southampton City Council has issued Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) late, unlawfully stripped out specialist education and residential provision; and transport, abandoning children with autism and other complex needs without education at the start of the school year.

For example, my 16-year-old son, who has autism and attended Grateley House School, a specialist residential SEN school, for six years, had his EHCP issued nearly 3 months late. The Council removed his residential placement and transport, instead naming a mainstreaam college, despite medical evidence that we cannot provide daily care and travel. The SEND Tribunal is not until January 2026, and cannot order interim relief. That means he — and others — are left with no education now.

This is not just about one child or one family. It is a systemic failure. Families across Southampton are struggling with the same unlawful decisions and delays.

We are calling for:

1. Government intervention under the Education Act to force Southampton City Council to comply with the law.
2. Ofsted and CQC to carry out an urgent monitoring inspection of the Southampton SEND partnership.
3. A time-bound action plan with named accountable officers, so no child is left without education again.

Every child has a legal right to education. Southampton City Council has broken that promise and families cannot wait any longer. Please sign and share this petition to demand urgent government intervention and protect children with SEND.

Why your signature matters

• You add your voice to hundreds of UK parents demanding urgent support now
• You help force lawful, practical fixes while families wait months for hearings
• You show Ofsted, CQC and ministers this is systemic, not one family

Accountability matters

Southampton’s Director of Children’s Services, Robert Henderson, is the statutory officer legally responsible for delivering SEND duties. The Cabinet Member for Children & Learning, Cllr Amanda Barnes-Andrews, is the political lead responsible for policy and oversight. Both have the power to put this right — and both must be held to account for allowing children to be left without education.

Share your story 🧩

If you have been affected by the SEND crisis in Southampton, please read this Facebook post and add your comment to tell your story. Other parents are sharing their experiences. Join the voices and help us push for change.

Click here to read and comment on Facebook

We need your help to raise national awareness

👉 We have also launched an official UK Parliament petition calling for government intervention in Southampton SEND services. Please sign that too. When it reaches 10,000 signatures the Government must respond, and at 100,000 signatures it will be considered for a debate in Parliament.

View Petition here: UK Parliament Petition – Direct intervention into Southampton City Council SEND failures

This UK Parliament petition is the crtitical driver for real and meaningful change, supporting every family facing this crisis. We need your support!

Please sign both the change.org petition and the UK Parliament petition to help create the greatest possible impact on this issue.