Chichester parents share heartbreaking struggles over SEND support at meeting with MP and council leader

Parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Chichester have spoken of years of frustration, lost education and the emotional toll of fighting for support during a meeting organised by local MP Jess Brown-Fuller.

The Liberal Democrat MP brought together families from across the Chichester area and West Sussex County Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning, Councillor Sam Raby, to hear first-hand about the difficulties they face.

The meeting provided a safe space for parents to share their experiences and discuss what needs to change to improve SEND provision across West Sussex.

Families attending the session had children aged between four and 17, with a wide range of complex educational, behavioural and health needs.

Despite their different circumstances, many shared similar experiences of lengthy battles with local authorities to secure appropriate educational support, funding and suitable school places.

Some parents described children missing significant periods of education, while others spoke about violence at home, relationships breaking down and the emotional strain of caring for children whose needs were not being met.

Several families also described having to give up careers to support their children, alongside feelings of isolation and frustration over poor communication between schools and the county council.

For some, the struggle to secure support had continued for years, while others were only beginning the process of seeking specialist provision.

One parent told the meeting: “Nobody gives you a manual on how to support a child with SEND needs, we have had to teach ourselves and there is no support.”

Another parent, whose child should be starting primary school, became emotional after hearing the experiences of other families.

They said: “Just hearing all of your stories has been so emotional because I am not there yet, but I know that’s where I am going and this will be our lives too.”

The pressures on family life were highlighted by another parent, who described caring for a child without adequate support as “more stressful than my job in an A&E department; I go to work for a break”.

The meeting also highlighted long-standing dissatisfaction with SEND provision, with parents raising concerns about delays, a lack of communication and the difficulty of navigating the education system.

Jess Brown-Fuller, MP for Chichester, said hearing the experiences directly from families was an important opportunity for the county council to understand the scale of the challenges.

She said: “Today was incredibly important; for the Cabinet Member to hear about the challenges that each family has had to overcome and, in their own words, describe how hard they have had to fight to support their child is heartbreaking. I know that there are many, many more families in Chichester that have similar stories too.”

Councillor Sam Raby, who recently took on responsibility for children, young people and learning at West Sussex County Council, said improving support for children with SEND would be a major priority.

He said: “I was really moved by the stories shared by the parents and carers about the struggles they faced getting their children’s needs met.

“I am determined to find ways to improve the system so that their children get the education and support that they need. This is an absolute top priority for me as the new cabinet member for children, young people and learning.”

During the meeting, parents were also updated on wider national pressures affecting SEND services and the financial challenges facing local authorities.

Councillor Raby confirmed that West Sussex's Local SEND Reform Plan had received approval from the Department for Education.

The associated funding is expected to help the county council maintain local SEND services despite historic funding deficits and growing demand for specialist support.

The meeting concluded with a discussion about practical improvements that could make a difference to children and their families.

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