Gillian Doherty
@gilliandoherty.bsky.social
Writer/editor/researcher, disability rights campaigner, co-director @spcialndsjungle and co-founder of SEND Action.
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
Would be quite the move for such a fragile govt to try to take away the rights of some of the most put-upon, stonewalled (and very driven & tenacious) people in the country liveapp.inews.co.uk/category/419...
Parents of SEND children face being blocked from EHCP appeals
Ministers are seeking to curb the sharp rise in tribunal challenges – where parents win 99 per cent of cases
liveapp.inews.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Would be quite the move for such a fragile govt to try to take away the rights of some of the most put-upon, stonewalled (and very driven & tenacious) people in the country liveapp.inews.co.uk/category/419...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
Even in the most optimistic reading, it will take long years to begin to turn everyday SEND provision around. It's a 15 year story of decay, at least. In the meantime, rights & redress are all hundreds of thousands of families have. If they are taken away on promises, people will fight. Ends.
January 28, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Even in the most optimistic reading, it will take long years to begin to turn everyday SEND provision around. It's a 15 year story of decay, at least. In the meantime, rights & redress are all hundreds of thousands of families have. If they are taken away on promises, people will fight. Ends.
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
Latest from me, and one of the most important pieces on Special Needs I've written so far: "In fifteen years of political journalism, I don’t think I have seen anything quite like this: a mad game of briefing, counter-briefing and official stonewalling."
maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/why-the-po...
maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/why-the-po...
Why the politics of media leaks, briefings and "sources" is only spreading dread and fear
The painfully long story of the government's SEND reforms has pushed exactly those buttons, among people already used to a level of anxiety that may soon get even worse
maybeimamazed.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:59 AM
Latest from me, and one of the most important pieces on Special Needs I've written so far: "In fifteen years of political journalism, I don’t think I have seen anything quite like this: a mad game of briefing, counter-briefing and official stonewalling."
maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/why-the-po...
maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/why-the-po...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
Massively important news: the biggest teaching union backs Save Our Children's Rights
NEW POST: The @neunion.bsky.social announces support for our #SaveOurChildrensRights campaign to protect SEND legal rights! www.specialneedsjungle.com/n...
#Disability #SENDSky @johnharris1969.bsky.social
#Disability #SENDSky @johnharris1969.bsky.social
January 28, 2026 at 7:02 AM
Massively important news: the biggest teaching union backs Save Our Children's Rights
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
#SaveOurChildrensRights campaign urges Starmer not to diminish legal rights of SEND children— we’re joining our SOCR colleagues at 1pm today at Downing Street to hand in the petition that you made such a massive change by signing. - www.theguardian.com/educatio...
New campaign urges Starmer not to diminish legal rights of Send children
Backed by actor Sally Phillips and MPs across parties, group raises concerns about overhaul of provision in England
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM
#SaveOurChildrensRights campaign urges Starmer not to diminish legal rights of SEND children— we’re joining our SOCR colleagues at 1pm today at Downing Street to hand in the petition that you made such a massive change by signing. - www.theguardian.com/educatio...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
SEND law is good law. IPSEA solicitors explain why, in simple terms for those finding it hard to understand—and why diluting it will harm children. #SaveOurChildrensRights
www.tes.com/magazine/analysi...
www.tes.com/magazine/analysi...
January 14, 2026 at 10:21 AM
SEND law is good law. IPSEA solicitors explain why, in simple terms for those finding it hard to understand—and why diluting it will harm children. #SaveOurChildrensRights
www.tes.com/magazine/analysi...
www.tes.com/magazine/analysi...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
On SNJ Today: Why we're just getting started on our campaign to #SaveOurChildrensRights. Here's what happened when campaigners, cross-party MPs, and (Larry the Cat), handed in our 133k-signature petition that changed the debate. Find out how to join us www.specialneedsjungle.com/c...
January 13, 2026 at 7:45 PM
On SNJ Today: Why we're just getting started on our campaign to #SaveOurChildrensRights. Here's what happened when campaigners, cross-party MPs, and (Larry the Cat), handed in our 133k-signature petition that changed the debate. Find out how to join us www.specialneedsjungle.com/c...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
Our campaign group, #SaveOurChildrensRights is leading this fight and we’re ready- if the government want another benefits fiasco, bring it on. We’re strong, determined SEND parents and aLLM are welcome. Are you with us? Article: archive.is/ARzQU
Socr.org.uk
Socr.org.uk
January 2, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Our campaign group, #SaveOurChildrensRights is leading this fight and we’re ready- if the government want another benefits fiasco, bring it on. We’re strong, determined SEND parents and aLLM are welcome. Are you with us? Article: archive.is/ARzQU
Socr.org.uk
Socr.org.uk
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
On SNJ Today: Delaying SEND changes is right—as long as it's not JUST a delay. And why do the DfE letter & a new report from @ippr.org both use "most complex needs" to describe children who should be in special schools? What does the term even mean? www.specialneedsjungle.com/s...
October 23, 2025 at 6:45 PM
On SNJ Today: Delaying SEND changes is right—as long as it's not JUST a delay. And why do the DfE letter & a new report from @ippr.org both use "most complex needs" to describe children who should be in special schools? What does the term even mean? www.specialneedsjungle.com/s...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
NEW POST: Independent public accountability initiative, Measure What Matters writes an excoriating, evidence-backed article that the law on #SEND isn’t failing, it’s been systematically undermined from within. Please consider sharing with your MP:
www.specialneedsjungle.com/l...
www.specialneedsjungle.com/l...
October 24, 2025 at 5:02 AM
NEW POST: Independent public accountability initiative, Measure What Matters writes an excoriating, evidence-backed article that the law on #SEND isn’t failing, it’s been systematically undermined from within. Please consider sharing with your MP:
www.specialneedsjungle.com/l...
www.specialneedsjungle.com/l...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
The petition to protect the rights of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities closes TOMORROW. Please sign and share as widely as possible. Children with their own email address can sign.
www.saveourchildrensrights.o...
www.facebook.com/share/v/1Fe...
www.saveourchildrensrights.o...
www.facebook.com/share/v/1Fe...
3,3 d. weergaven · 55 reacties | The Education Secretary, Bridget...
The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, speaking on BBC Newsnight yesterday, still wouldn’t commit to keeping the legal rights that children and young people with SEND rely on.
The “change”...
www.facebook.com
October 8, 2025 at 1:01 PM
The petition to protect the rights of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities closes TOMORROW. Please sign and share as widely as possible. Children with their own email address can sign.
www.saveourchildrensrights.o...
www.facebook.com/share/v/1Fe...
www.saveourchildrensrights.o...
www.facebook.com/share/v/1Fe...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
They're toast. Official line will still be 'no decisions made', but next step will be a DfE tendering notice for Ghanian dancing pallbearers, a 10-foot floral arrangement that they'll spell "ECHP", and a post-event posting contract with Wayne Rooney
NEW EXCLUSIVE: The DfE has ditched plans for digital, standardised EHCPs. We ask why it would scrap such an easy win—is it a sign Labour is aiming to kill off statutory SEND provision completely? www.specialneedsjungle.com/d...
September 1, 2025 at 6:27 AM
They're toast. Official line will still be 'no decisions made', but next step will be a DfE tendering notice for Ghanian dancing pallbearers, a 10-foot floral arrangement that they'll spell "ECHP", and a post-event posting contract with Wayne Rooney
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
NEW POST: The Department for Education's URGENT survey for data on its new obsession: Mainstream SEND units. All good, or is there a danger of shunting children into generic provision? We give you our views, then please give the DfE yours www.specialneedsjungle.com/g...
July 23, 2025 at 5:02 AM
NEW POST: The Department for Education's URGENT survey for data on its new obsession: Mainstream SEND units. All good, or is there a danger of shunting children into generic provision? We give you our views, then please give the DfE yours www.specialneedsjungle.com/g...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
NEW POST: Join our joint campaign to #SaveOurChildrensRights. We've launched in @theguardian.com with a letter cosigned by 100 SEND charities & groups, academics, disability campaigners & celebrities, incl Chris Packham and Christine McGuinness www.specialneedsjungle.com/s...
July 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
NEW POST: Join our joint campaign to #SaveOurChildrensRights. We've launched in @theguardian.com with a letter cosigned by 100 SEND charities & groups, academics, disability campaigners & celebrities, incl Chris Packham and Christine McGuinness www.specialneedsjungle.com/s...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
"We won't be removing any existing effective support" says SEND & Schools Minister Catherine McKinnell to the Education select committee. Well, that's not reassuring at all when it comes to removing rights parliamentlive.tv/event/inde...
Parliamentlive.tv
Education Committee
parliamentlive.tv
July 1, 2025 at 5:29 PM
"We won't be removing any existing effective support" says SEND & Schools Minister Catherine McKinnell to the Education select committee. Well, that's not reassuring at all when it comes to removing rights parliamentlive.tv/event/inde...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
EHC plans can be the difference between a child who has Down's syndrome thriving in school and being unable to attend at all.
We support the DCP campaign that is calling on Ministers and policymakers to retain EHCPs.
Please check out the letter: https://loom.ly/MjKKPw0
@dcpcampaign.bsky.social
We support the DCP campaign that is calling on Ministers and policymakers to retain EHCPs.
Please check out the letter: https://loom.ly/MjKKPw0
@dcpcampaign.bsky.social
June 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM
EHC plans can be the difference between a child who has Down's syndrome thriving in school and being unable to attend at all.
We support the DCP campaign that is calling on Ministers and policymakers to retain EHCPs.
Please check out the letter: https://loom.ly/MjKKPw0
@dcpcampaign.bsky.social
We support the DCP campaign that is calling on Ministers and policymakers to retain EHCPs.
Please check out the letter: https://loom.ly/MjKKPw0
@dcpcampaign.bsky.social
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
On SNJ Today: SNJ's @captaink77.bsky.social has delved deep into obscure statistics to uncover a curious conundrum: Despite the DfE wanting more mainstream “special” provision, resource bases and units vanish almost as often as they're created... www.specialneedsjungle.com/v...
May 30, 2025 at 6:46 PM
On SNJ Today: SNJ's @captaink77.bsky.social has delved deep into obscure statistics to uncover a curious conundrum: Despite the DfE wanting more mainstream “special” provision, resource bases and units vanish almost as often as they're created... www.specialneedsjungle.com/v...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
I wrote this. I kind of had to. maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/is-the-gov...
Is the government going to take away the rights of children with Special Needs?
It is beginning to look like it.
maybeimamazed.substack.com
May 30, 2025 at 11:27 AM
I wrote this. I kind of had to. maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/is-the-gov...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
It’s overwhelmingly mothers who fight these SEND battles, who leave their jobs, who have their lives turned upside down, & who keep on fighting for others
I wonder if the No10 strategy and comms bros who’ll sign this off have clocked this
I wonder if the No10 strategy and comms bros who’ll sign this off have clocked this
This is a full page in The Sun. It's going to be an interesting summer.
May 30, 2025 at 5:31 PM
It’s overwhelmingly mothers who fight these SEND battles, who leave their jobs, who have their lives turned upside down, & who keep on fighting for others
I wonder if the No10 strategy and comms bros who’ll sign this off have clocked this
I wonder if the No10 strategy and comms bros who’ll sign this off have clocked this
Over 64,000 signatures. Please sign and share to protect the rights of disabled children.
We’ve passed 60,000 —we need 100,000 people to sign to get a parliamentary debate—If you haven’t already, please SIGN and SHARE this post and petition! www.specialneedsjungle.com/a... Please Share!
May 25, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Over 64,000 signatures. Please sign and share to protect the rights of disabled children.
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
🚨Children with SEND deserve support, not cuts to their rights. The Children and Families Act 2014 is vital. Let's protect it — and them.
Sign the petition and help @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social
reach 100k signatures for a parliamentary debate.
#SEND
Sign the petition and help @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social
reach 100k signatures for a parliamentary debate.
#SEND
50,000 signatures! Halfway to the 100k we need for a parliamentary debate! Have you added your name and shared with schools, colleagues, family and friends? Get Grandma to sign! Act now! Sign and Share the Parliamentary Petition to PROTECT SEND RIGHTS! www.specialneedsjungle.com/a...
Act now! Sign and Share the Parliamentary Petition to PROTECT SEND RIGHTS! - Special Needs Jungle
Our petition to protect SEND rights has taken off but we need 100,000 signatures so it gets debated in parliament! Please SIGN and SHARE
www.specialneedsjungle.com
May 23, 2025 at 12:59 PM
🚨Children with SEND deserve support, not cuts to their rights. The Children and Families Act 2014 is vital. Let's protect it — and them.
Sign the petition and help @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social
reach 100k signatures for a parliamentary debate.
#SEND
Sign the petition and help @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social
reach 100k signatures for a parliamentary debate.
#SEND
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
50,000 signatures! Halfway to the 100k we need for a parliamentary debate! Have you added your name and shared with schools, colleagues, family and friends? Get Grandma to sign! Act now! Sign and Share the Parliamentary Petition to PROTECT SEND RIGHTS! www.specialneedsjungle.com/a...
Act now! Sign and Share the Parliamentary Petition to PROTECT SEND RIGHTS! - Special Needs Jungle
Our petition to protect SEND rights has taken off but we need 100,000 signatures so it gets debated in parliament! Please SIGN and SHARE
www.specialneedsjungle.com
May 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM
50,000 signatures! Halfway to the 100k we need for a parliamentary debate! Have you added your name and shared with schools, colleagues, family and friends? Get Grandma to sign! Act now! Sign and Share the Parliamentary Petition to PROTECT SEND RIGHTS! www.specialneedsjungle.com/a...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
NEW POST: @rachel.stopsafetyvalve.uk writes about why the petition to protect SEND rights needs 100,000 signatures—and though it's well on the way, read about why signing is vital—and if you haven’t already, please SIGN and SHARE this post and petition!
www.specialneedsjungle.com/a...
www.specialneedsjungle.com/a...
May 20, 2025 at 5:02 AM
NEW POST: @rachel.stopsafetyvalve.uk writes about why the petition to protect SEND rights needs 100,000 signatures—and though it's well on the way, read about why signing is vital—and if you haven’t already, please SIGN and SHARE this post and petition!
www.specialneedsjungle.com/a...
www.specialneedsjungle.com/a...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
The government is considering removing EHCPs for pupils with SEND in mainstream schools. SNJ team member Rachel Filmer has started a petition to call for the protection of disabled children’s rights.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...
Petition: Retain legal right to assessment and support in education for children with SEND
Support in education is a vital legal right of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). We ask the government to commit to maintaining the existing law, so that vulnerable chil...
petition.parliament.uk
May 18, 2025 at 2:57 PM
The government is considering removing EHCPs for pupils with SEND in mainstream schools. SNJ team member Rachel Filmer has started a petition to call for the protection of disabled children’s rights.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
The UK government is considering removing education, health and care plans for disabled children in mainstream schools. This would affect 252,000 disabled children, including my son Jack who has Down syndrome. Please sign and share this petition.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...
Petition: Retain legal right to assessment and support in education for children with SEND
Support in education is a vital legal right of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). We ask the government to commit to maintaining the existing law, so that vulnerable chil...
petition.parliament.uk
May 17, 2025 at 6:56 PM
The UK government is considering removing education, health and care plans for disabled children in mainstream schools. This would affect 252,000 disabled children, including my son Jack who has Down syndrome. Please sign and share this petition.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...