Every Pair of Shoes Tells a Story of Forgotten Children
Across the UK, an emotional and symbolic protest is making headlines — one that doesn’t rely on loud chants or megaphones, but instead on something as simple and powerful as a pair of children’s shoes. Hundreds of parents have laid shoes outside council offices across England, each pair representing a child who has been failed by the country’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system.
The campaign, called “Every Pair Tells a Story,” was launched by the SEND Sanctuary UK, a group led by parents who know first-hand what it means to fight for their children’s education. The idea behind the protest is heartbreaking yet deeply human — each shoe carries a note or photo telling the story of a child who has been left behind, unable to access the right education or support.
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Parents say the system is simply not working. From Lancashire to Suffolk, families have been forced to make unimaginable choices — leaving jobs, juggling multiple roles, and battling bureaucracy just so their children can learn safely and be included. Hannah Collins from Leyland shared how she had to quit her job after her autistic son was left without a suitable school placement for nearly two years. “We were doing constant risk assessments at home,” she said, describing how her son would eat non-edible things due to his condition. “I had to give up working.”
In Preston, protesters lined the county hall steps with tiny shoes — a haunting display that made it impossible to ignore the number of children left waiting for help. Parents spoke of endless delays in getting Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), which are supposed to guarantee the right kind of support. But for many, those plans take years to be approved, and in that time, children lose confidence, fall behind, and often suffer emotionally.
Campaigners like Aimee Bradley, who has three SEND children, say what they want most is to be heard. “We’re not asking for miracles,” she said. “We just want a fair system where our kids can learn and grow like everyone else.”
Officials from the Department for Education acknowledged that the SEND system is under strain, admitting that it was “inherited on its knees.” They’ve promised reforms and say they’re committed to “delivering better outcomes for every child.” But many parents have lost patience after years of promises and delays — the government recently postponed its long-awaited SEND reforms until 2026.
In towns like Bury St Edmunds and Dorchester, parents like Rebekah Wright and Nicola Proctor shared stories of exhaustion, financial hardship, and mental strain. “It breaks families apart,” Nicola said. “You have to fight for absolutely everything.”
As those shoes sit silently outside council buildings, they speak volumes — a quiet reminder that behind every pair is a child still waiting to be seen, and a parent who refuses to give up hope.
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