Parents who feel their children have been let down by education authorities gathered outside County Hall in Dorchester for a protest.
At least 50 pairs of shoes were left outside Dorset Council HQ by parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) - every pair represents a child 'who has been let down by a system that should protect and support them.'
Dorchester SEND protest at County Hall (Image: Hollie Carr)
This peaceful demonstration was organised nationally by The SEND Sanctuary UK, in collaboration with Let Us Learn Too and Let's Make a Difference.
Dorchester SEND protest at County Hall (Image: Hollie Carr)
The protest took place between 10.30am and 1pm on Monday, with parents and children arriving throughout the morning.
Dorchester SEND protest at County Hall (Image: Hollie Carr)
Notes were left on some of the shoes, including a pair of black plimsoles belonging to a six-year-old boy diagnosed with autism and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.
The note said: "Schools couldn't meet his needs, more focused on keeping an attendance score saying 'his lateness due to meltdowns is affecting the whole class learning.' They won't allow split days to help him slowly adjust or help guide me with an EHCP. They want him to come into school even if he is just in a nappy to keep his attendance. I had no choice but to home educate."
Parents also shared their stories about how they had either been failed by the system or had to fight to get their children a suitable school place.
Dorchester SEND protest at County Hall (Image: Hollie Carr)
Savannah Dennis attended the protest from Bridport to represent her three-year-old twins.
Her daughters Jessica and Lilly have been attending the Dorchester Opportunity Group, a specialist pre-school based at the Prince of Wales Preschool Centre.
Savannah Dennis (Image: Hollie Carr)
The pair had twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a condition in identical twins who share a placenta, caused by an unequal blood flow between them through shared blood vessels.
Savannah explained that there was only a 20 per cent survival rate.
Sadly, the pre-school which has been running for more than 30 years, has announced it will close in December.
Savannah said: "After Christmas they won't be able to attend. It has been vital to us. The support that we get from them is our respite and nothing measures up to the level of care they receive there. We are very grateful for their time there, other children won't be able to have that experience."
She explained that she was attending the protest 'because her children were being failed by the SEND system.
Savannah is now hoping to get her daughters into Mountjoy in Beaminster.
Natalie Tealdi, co-founder of the Autism Mums podcast was also at the protest 'to represent the children who are still waiting for support.'
Natalie Tealdi (Image: Hollie Carr)
Natalie's son is in specialist school at Arbour House School in Weymouth
She explained that fighting to get her son a suitable space was a 'really frustrating process' which she had to 'keep on chasing.'
Natalie further added that her son is thriving at the specialist school and when he was in mainstream school he was suspended twice.
Lyndsey D'Errico helped to organise the protest in Dorset.
Lyndsey D'Errico (Image: Hollie Carr)
She has four children, two of which have special educational needs.
Dorchester SEND protest at County Hall (Image: Hollie Carr)
Lyndsey said: "I have fought tooth and nail to get them the help that they need. My son is in special school and thriving and my daughter is currently out of school and not thriving.
"She sees her friends go back to school and is now clinically depressed."
Despite having a specialist school spot, Lyndsey's son still has a 40 minute journey to Shaftesbury from Bere Regis every day.
Dorchester SEND protest at County Hall (Image: Hollie Carr)
In response, Cllr Clare Sutton, Dorset Council Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education and Skills, said: "Dorset Council supports over 4,500 children and young people with SEND. We continue to invest in education and support services to ensure every child feels safe, supported, and able to thrive.
"We've invested capital funds to create over 250 new special school places and over 100 mainstream inclusion hub places, and our co-produced SEND Strategy - developed with families and the Dorset Parent Carer Council - is central to our approach. Our Children's Services were rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted in 2025 and in the SEND Area Inspection in March 2024 Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission awarded us the top 'outcome1' for services for children with SEND.
Dorchester SEND protest at County Hall (Image: Hollie Carr)
"However, Dorset Council operates within a national SEND system that is widely recognised, including by national Government, as failing. Local authorities remain responsible for school provision, but legislation makes it extremely difficult for councils to open new schools, leading to increased reliance on independent providers and growing pressure on local budgets.
Dorchester SEND protest at County Hall (Image: Hollie Carr)
"We join others in calling for urgent government reform and increased funding. The promised Schools White Paper in 2026 must deliver change. Locally, we remain committed to transparency, partnership, and action - but national reform is essential to deliver a fair, inclusive, and financially sustainable SEND system."