Parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Suffolk are facing an anxious wait to secure school places for the upcoming September term.
Roxanne, a mother from Martlesham, does not yet know where her five-year-old son, Franklin, who was diagnosed with autism in November 2025, will attend school. Franklin was attending school for only one hour a day during the latter part of his first school year in 2025 after teachers determined he could not settle in a mainstream setting.
Another Suffolk mother, Xylina, is in a similar situation with her seven-year-old daughter, Lyla, who has autism and complex sensory needs. Lyla is moving into Year 3, and her family is struggling to find a suitable specialist education placement.
Both Roxanne and Xylina have requested tribunals with Suffolk County Council due to the uncertainty surrounding their children's education. Data from a Freedom of Information request shows there were 366 SEND tribunal appeals in Suffolk between April and December 2025.
Sophie Underwood, from Suffolk Child Counselling, stated that schools are struggling with budgets and a lack of SEND funding and places. A Suffolk County Council spokesperson acknowledged family concerns and stated they are committed to helping families access appropriate education and support.
Earlier this year, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission found that Suffolk's SEND partnership had taken "effective action" to address weaknesses identified in a 2023 inspection. This included a £9.1m investment in SEND services and recruitment into statutory SEND teams, though further improvements are still required in some areas.