Gillian Doherty
@gilliandoherty.bsky.social
Writer/editor/researcher, disability rights campaigner, co-director @spcialndsjungle and co-founder of SEND Action.
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...
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...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
If there is any truth to the recent ‘statutory SEND plans will only be for special school pupils’ kite-flying exercise, then it’s nailed on that there’d also be a fettering of tribunal appeal rights
May 17, 2025 at 11:15 AM
If there is any truth to the recent ‘statutory SEND plans will only be for special school pupils’ kite-flying exercise, then it’s nailed on that there’d also be a fettering of tribunal appeal rights
Destroying disabled children’s rights isn’t bold and brave. It’s the exact opposite. Desperately worried about this.
NEW POST: What kind of government is “bold” enough to scrap statutory #EHCPs from vulnerable children? We look at some controversial remarks and what they may mean for families of disabled children www.specialneedsjungle.com/w...
May 17, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Destroying disabled children’s rights isn’t bold and brave. It’s the exact opposite. Desperately worried about this.
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
On SNJ Today: Understanding the history of disabled children's education and the work of the #disability movement is vital to understand why #inclusion is important, says Dr Richard Rieser OBE. Vital for educators and families alike. www.specialneedsjungle.com/d...
May 14, 2025 at 6:35 PM
On SNJ Today: Understanding the history of disabled children's education and the work of the #disability movement is vital to understand why #inclusion is important, says Dr Richard Rieser OBE. Vital for educators and families alike. www.specialneedsjungle.com/d...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
NEW POST: Where is the accountability in #SEND? Catriona Moore watched the latest SEND Inquiry hearings on accountability, including her IPSEA legal colleague, who emphasised that compliance shouldn’t be optional for LAs and health services www.specialneedsjungle.com/a...
May 15, 2025 at 5:02 AM
NEW POST: Where is the accountability in #SEND? Catriona Moore watched the latest SEND Inquiry hearings on accountability, including her IPSEA legal colleague, who emphasised that compliance shouldn’t be optional for LAs and health services www.specialneedsjungle.com/a...
Reposted by Gillian Doherty
NEW POST: In this important article, inclusion expert Dr Richard Rieser OBE explains how learning from #Disability history can help create policies where inclusive education can become a reality www.specialneedsjungle.com/d... #inclusion
May 14, 2025 at 5:02 AM
NEW POST: In this important article, inclusion expert Dr Richard Rieser OBE explains how learning from #Disability history can help create policies where inclusive education can become a reality www.specialneedsjungle.com/d... #inclusion
Musing on this. If it isn’t costed then surely it’s an idea, not a plan? Imagine trying this with your boss or bank and the response you’d get. #SEND
so, a SEND reform plan apparently due in June-ish, phase 2 of the Spending Review wrapping up in a few weeks, but target date for an actually costed SEND plan is April 2026?
The government says it aims to produce a fully costed plan to improve the SEND system by April 2026, a plan for with LA SEND debt this summer & to set out what inclusive schools should be like by the end of 2025. We'll be looking at this more closely
www.tes.com/magazine/news/sp...
www.tes.com/magazine/news/sp...
May 8, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Musing on this. If it isn’t costed then surely it’s an idea, not a plan? Imagine trying this with your boss or bank and the response you’d get. #SEND