'My child had no education for 16 months' - Blackpool mum reveals her battle navigating SEND provision help

A Blackpool mother has revealed the constant worry in trying to ensure her three children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the educational chances they deserve.

The mum, who has three autistic children with additional needs, says she is being pushed to breaking point and believes few are aware of the ‘impact it has on the people living it every day”.

In a piece written to The Gazette, she said she must remain anonymous to ensure her children’s privacy.

But said dealing with the red tape connected to navigating EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) applications is virtually a full-time job.

The mum said: “Across the country, families of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are being pushed to breaking point, and too often nobody sees the impact it has on the people living it every day.

I am a mother of three autistic children with additional needs. Like many parents, I spend my days navigating EHCP applications, assessments, tribunals, school meetings, mental health concerns, and endless paperwork.”

She also reveals that her eldest child, who now has an EHCP and attends a specialist school, spent 16 months out of education while they waited for a SEND tribunal.

She said: “Those 16 months had a profound impact on her wellbeing.

“Although she now has the EHCP and specialist placement that we fought so hard to secure, the damage caused by such a lengthy period without appropriate support has not simply disappeared.

“She now struggles with significant anxiety, exhaustion, and difficulties attending school.

“While the specialist placement is the right setting for her needs, she was left without suitable education and support for so long that the effects are still being felt today.

“This is something that is often overlooked within the SEND system. Winning a tribunal or securing an EHCP does not undo the harm caused by years of unmet needs, delays, and uncertainty.”

Her second child is currently being home-schooled and is going through the EHCP assessment process. She says he hs “significant” SEND and mental health needs.

Before receiving appropriate support, she says unmet SEND needs contributed to a severe deterioration in her mental health, resulting in hospital admissions.

She said: “Despite the seriousness of the situation and the impact it was having on our family, I was still required to attend mediation simply to secure an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment.

“My youngest child is currently in mainstream primary education while we await a SEND tribunal. He is on a part-time timetable and, like many autistic children, masks his difficulties well.

Because he appears to cope on the surface, his vulnerabilities are often overlooked and his needs underestimated.

As a parent, this is incredibly worrying because the signs that he is struggling are not always recognised until situations become serious.”

The mum believes many children are “falling though the cracks” because they do not fit the image of what a child in distress should look like.

She said: “During that time, children's mental health can deteriorate, attendance can collapse, families can reach exhaustion and children can be left without the support they desperately need.

“Early intervention is spoken about constantly, yet many families experience support arriving only after a child has reached crisis point. By then, the damage has often already been done.

“As a mother of three autistic children, I am not choosing to keep my children out of school. If they felt safe, supported and able to attend, I would welcome the routine, education and opportunities that school can provide.

“Receiving attendance warning letters, threats of legal action, or School Attendance Orders can feel incredibly distressing when parents are already doing everything they can to support their children.Behind every SEND statistic is a family trying to hold itself together.

“I have SEND needs myself, including ADHD, and the constant pressure is exhausting. The emotional toll of fighting for support year after year is immense.

“There are days when I feel completely burnt out.

“We need meaningful change. We need earlier intervention, better understanding of SEND, improved mental health support and a system that recognises the impact on the whole family.

“As a result of our experiences, I have begun exploring the idea of creating a local charity or support organisation for families navigating SEND, school attendance difficulties, EHCP processes and the mental health challenges that often accompany them.”

Blackpool Council has been approached for comment.