Fight for Ordinary - Campaign
Monday 4 August 2025
Fight for Ordinary
It鈥檚 time to fix the SEND system. Because there鈥檚 nothing 鈥榮pecial鈥� about an education that works for all of us.
This year, the Government is proposing big changes to the way children get support in education. But a whole generation of disabled children and those with additional needs are being let down by a broken education system.听
We want to encourage the government to work with us, listen to us, and involve us in the big decisions.
What is Fight for Ordinary?
Fight For Ordinary is a bold, striking campaign aimed at uniting charities, parent groups and campaigners behind a singular call for positive SEND reforms. Children and young people with special educational needs want the same, ordinary things, that other children take for granted.
We are proud to support this campaign as part of our membership of the Disabled Children鈥檚 Partnership; a major coalition of more than 120 organisations. Together we campaign for improved support for children and young people with special educational needs.听
You can read the聽.
We鈥檙e not asking for 鈥榮pecial鈥�. We鈥檙e only asking for the very ordinary things that everyone should expect for their children.
- There is nothing 鈥榮pecial鈥� about getting a school or nursery place.
- There is nothing 鈥榮pecial鈥� about taking part in a lesson.
- There is nothing 鈥榮pecial鈥� about wanting to be happy at school.
- There is nothing 鈥榮pecial鈥� about wanting to combine parenting with work.听
These are just the ordinary things that all parents want for their children. But if your child is disabled or needs additional support, these ordinary things are somehow considered a privilege. They鈥檙e considered 鈥榮pecial鈥�. They are things you can鈥檛 just expect to happen. Instead, they鈥檙e things you鈥檒l have to fight for, things you might have to give up work for, and still might not get. And in fighting for them, you're seen as asking for more than you're due.听
We welcome
- The government鈥檚 commitment to addressing the failings in the SEND system.
- Being able to access support routinely.
- Emphasis on early intervention & more inclusive mainstream provision.
- We agree that the system should be less adversarial.
But the government must not dilute existing rights and protections or restrict Education Health and Care plans (EHCP) for those who continue to need them.听
What we are asking for
The government to strengthen support for children who do not have plans and ensure sufficient funding and accountability for all parts of the system.
This means
- Legally guaranteed support for children with and without EHCPs (putting the current SEN support arrangements on a statutory footing.
- Nurseries, schools and colleges are set up to succeed for children with SEND, with the training, tools and access to specialist advice and support
- Every local area has a plan for how they will provide a good education. Right mix of mainstream and specialist placements and sufficient therapists, educational psychologists and specialist teachers.
- The progress and experiences of these children is measured so that no one is left behind.
- Enough money in the system and the right incentives to ensure it works.
This is a once in a generation opportunity to make children and families lives better. Getting this wrong would make it even harder for families to get the support their children so desperately need.
The rewards of getting this right will be huge.听
- It will mean more parents who can combine work with caring responsibilities, contributing to economic growth.
- More teachers staying in the jobs that they love.
- Vast savings across welfare, social care and the NHS budgets.
- And more children who get the support they need first time, so that they can be happy, fulfilled and participate fully in life.
The risks of getting this wrong should concern us all.
- It would mean more parents having to give up work to provide care for their children.
- More exhausted teachers leaving the profession.
- More children leaving school without the skills they need to be more independent.
- More young people who are not in education, training or work.听
It鈥檚 time to unite and take action.听
- It鈥檚 time to call on the government to prioritise our children鈥檚 futures and commit to a new strategy that guarantees support to all children who need it.
- For schools, colleges and nurseries to be set up to succeed, with specialist support available in every part of the country, so that all children can feel happy at school.听
So, join the Fight for Ordinary and let鈥檚 fix the SEND system. Because there鈥檚 nothing 鈥榮pecial鈥� about an education that works for all of us.
#FightForOrdinary