Shoes To Line County Hall In Island Protest Over Special Needs Support

Families across the Isle of Wight will come together next month as part of Every Pair Tells a Story — a national movement shining a light on children failed by England’s education system.

The symbolic event, organised by The SEND Sanctuary UK in partnership with Let Us Learn Too and Let’s Make a Difference, will take place outside Isle of Wight Council’s County Hall in Newport on Monday, 3 November, from 10:30am to 1pm.

Pairs of children’s shoes will be displayed outside County Hall, each representing a child whose educational needs have been ignored, misunderstood, or dismissed.

The display aims to make visible the thousands of children across England who are out of school, without proper support, or waiting months — even years — for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

“This is about every child failed by broken promises and endless red tape,” said Aimee Bradley, founder of The SEND Sanctuary UK.

“No child should be left behind because the system decided their needs were too complex or too inconvenient.”

The campaign follows The Fight for Ordinary, a major rally held in London earlier this year that brought together more than 800 parents and young people.

The event, supported by MPs Sir Ed Davey and Helen Hayes, called for urgent improvement and reform of the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) system.

On the Isle of Wight, pressures on SEND services continue to grow.

• The number of pupils with an EHCP has increased by over 40% since 2019.

• Families report waiting up to 30 weeks for decisions — well beyond the legal 20-week deadline.

• Many children still travel to the mainland for school or remain out of education entirely due to limited local provision.

These challenges reflect a national crisis, with more than 600,000 children in England identified as having special educational needs and over 70,000 waiting for EHCPs.

“The government must listen to parents,” Aimee added.

“We are not the problem — we are the evidence of the problem. Our children deserve real change, and they deserve it now.”

Why Shoes?

Shoes were chosen as a symbol because they are universal — something every child should have a chance to wear to school.

For some, the shoes were never worn because the right school place was never offered. For others, they were only worn briefly before everything fell apart.

The empty pairs serve as a poignant reminder of children missing from classrooms due to lack of support, school anxiety, or unsuitable placements.

After the event, all donated shoes will be collected and given to local charities supporting children and families in need.

Event Details

📅 Monday 3 November 2025

🕥 10:30am – 1pm

📍 Isle of Wight Council, County Hall, High Street, Newport, PO30 1UD

👟 The public are invited to attend or donate a pair of children’s shoes

Every Pair Tells a Story will see more than 70 local displays taking place across England on the same day — each one standing in solidarity with children and families fighting for the education and inclusion every child deserves.