Fight For Ordinary: Disabled Children’s Partnership’s new campaign launches today
4 mins read
Tuesday 22 July 2025
The Disabled Children’s Partnership (DCP) has today launched its latest report and campaign, Fight for Ordinary, which sets out a positive vision for a reformed special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system in England, while also protecting existing legal rights.
The report lays out a five-point plan to make ‘once-in-a-generation’ changes that will improve the lives of disabled children, young people and their families.
It also highlights the simple fact that disabled children and young people and their families want nothing more than the ‘ordinary’ things that other children take for granted.
Overwhelming public support
New research commissioned by the DCP demonstrates that there is overwhelming support for disabled children’s ‘ordinary’ expectations to be protected by law – almost 9 in 10 (89%) of the 2,000 adults surveyed agree that disabled children and children with additional needs should have legal rights and protections that give them the same education and opportunities as their peers.
What’s more, 94% of those polled believe all children should have a school place where they feel happy, belong, and can achieve; 93% believe children should have timely access to healthcare and 91% agree children should have the opportunity to make friends and take part in after-school activities.
This includes the chance to feel happy and safe in nursery, school or college, the opportunity to make friends and take part in after school activities and to have access to the right health and social care support when needed.
Fight For Ordinary’s launch comes after it was revealed in May that the Government is preparing major changes to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision in English schools. There have been rumours that this could include the removal of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for some children.
Many families, charities and campaign groups in the SEND community remain deeply concerned that the removal of EHCPs – statutory documents designed to support young people up to the age of 25 – will take away their child’s legal right to an education that is built around their specific needs.
Creating a system that works
Anna Bird, CEO of Contact and Chair of the Disabled Children’s Partnership, said: “Whilst we welcome the Government’s commitment to addressing the failings in the SEND system, it is important to state that this is a once-in-a-generation moment that we cannot afford to get wrong.
“In order to create a system that works for children, young people and their families the Government must strengthen support for children who do not have EHC plans, and ensure sufficient funding and accountability for all parts of the system. Reform must not dilute rights, remove vital protections or disrupt existing support. Anything else would be a catastrophic failure, and the cost of inaction would be perilously high – for children, families and public services.
“Families should not be expected to fight for ordinary expectations – an enjoyment of learning, of sitting in a classroom with friends, of taking part in after-school activities and the chance for parents to pursue careers to support their children without having to put their working lives on hold. Our polling shows that the public overwhelmingly supports SEND families in their desire to achieve ordinary expectations for their children. This issue can no longer be brushed aside – the time for decisive, collaborative action is now.”
Key recommendations
The Fight For Ordinary report’s five key recommendations include the implementation of:
- Legally guaranteed support for all children who need it, not only those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
- The correct provision of training and specialist support to ensure that nurseries, schools, and colleges are set up to properly support disabled and neurodivergent children.
- Comprehensive local area plans that ensure the right mix of mainstream and specialist school places along with sufficient specialist staff.
- Systems which can adequately measure the progress and experiences of children and young people with SEND, to ensure no child is left behind.
- Adequate funding and the right incentives within the SEND system to ensure reforms succeed.
What can you do?
To help support the campaign, you can ask your MP to join the Fight for Ordinary campaign.
