Northamptonshire families face back-to-school challenges for special needs children
Parents have been speaking out on barriers, outdated care plans, and emotional toll as councils report rising SEND cases
A Northamptonshire mother has highlighted the difficulties that parents and children with additional needs endure during the back-to-school period.
Sofia Gaspar, 32, supports her five-year-old son who is currently out of formal education, and says problems with the council’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) service make her feel "stuck in the same place" while other families move forward. Despite growing numbers of children identified with SEND, councils in Northamptonshire say they are working to improve services.
Throughout the summer holidays, Ms Gaspar waited in uncertainty, hoping for confirmation that her son would be placed in an appropriate school. Since his previous placement ended earlier this year, he has been receiving tutoring at home instead of joining his peers in primary education. At the start of September, she discovered North Northants Council (NNC) had been sending an outdated, draft version of her son's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to schools, which she claims was riddled with errors. This led to him being refused places based on incorrect assessments of his needs, and she worries other families may be experiencing similar issues.
Ms Gaspar expressed her frustration, explaining that schools did not have the proper information to judge whether they could accommodate her son.
Following a complaint, NNC admitted it had sent the wrong EHCP but did not explain how the mistake occurred. Ms Gaspar has been told updated consultations will now be sent to schools. Drawing on her experience, she launched The Purple Guide, a website designed to help other families navigate the SEND system and unite in advocating for better rights and outcomes.
Ms Gaspar believes SEND children are often treated as less important and says the only way to change the situation is to fix the system itself for all families.
Other families in Northamptonshire have shared similar stories. Shannon Hitchcock, a mother from Northampton, was shocked after being informed her son Cassian had been deregistered from his alternative education school and enrolled elsewhere without her consent.
Support groups are playing a vital role for families facing these struggles. SEND Mummas, a peer group for mothers and female carers of children with SEND, regularly brings parents together both online and through in-person events. Co-founder Emma Briggs described how parents often take on extra responsibility, investigating and following up with the council to stay informed about their rights and options.
North Northamptonshire Council’s Children’s Services Executive Director, Cornelia Andrecut, acknowledged the pressure on local services caused by the rising number of SEND cases. The council has launched a strategic programme to create hundreds of additional specialist school places by 2031, and says it is working with families to provide bespoke support when placements aren’t immediately available.
The council also recently refreshed its SEND and Inclusion Strategy in collaboration with local organisations, reaffirming a commitment to early identification, co-production with families, expanding the SEND system’s capacity, supporting transitions, developing a skilled workforce, and fostering strong partnerships.
The council stated its commitment to helping every child with SEND reach their potential. West Northamptonshire Council said it does not comment on individual cases but remains dedicated to working closely with parents to tailor support and improve SEND services. Both councils emphasised their focus on achieving positive outcomes for children and young people.