Councillor Calls on Colleagues To Stop Patronising Parents of SEND Children

Published on: 17 Jul, 2025
Updated on: 19 Jul, 2025

By Emily Dalton

local democracy reporter

“Let’s not talk about loud voices anymore”, is one councillor’s plea for discussions around special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

What started as a speech about equity of opportunity, soured into a request for councillors and staff to refrain from using “sharp elbows” or “pushy parents” to describe those wanting SEND support.

Cllr Liz Townsend

Speaking at a Surrey County Council select committee meeting on July 16, Cllr Liz Townsend (Lib Dem, Cranleigh & Ewhurst) issued a “really heartfelt plea” to county council members and officers to stop the patronising language about parents who want the best for their children.

She said: “Please let’s not talk about loud voices anymore. I really really think we need to stop doing that. Parents are rightly raising their voices, we are rightly raising our voices as well and I think we need to get rid of that language about sharp elbows, pushy parents, loud voices.”

The debate emerged from a discussion about whether the council was only listening to parents’ complaints when measuring the progress of the service- and if families who do not raise their voice go ignored.

Cllr Clare Curran

Cllr Clare Curran (Con), former SCC Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, emphasised the importance of reaching all families, not just those the most vocal. “It’s that idea of equity that we don’t just want to hear from those who have loud voices. Every child needs the same access to the same support.”

She added: “Not every family has the same advantages or comes from the same background… We are striving for equity in education so all children are entitled to the same opportunities and the ability to pursue their own individual goals.”

Rachel Wardel, executive director for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, addressed how Surrey measured improvements in its SEND service. She said: “There are many ways of evaluating the quality of our service, not just complaints and also many ways of reaching parents, not just those who complain to us.”

Ms Wardel listed evaluating the timeliness of assessments, the quality of EHCP plans, disruptions in education such as absences or exclusions, whether children got the place they wanted and overall academic results.

Concerns about the council’s attitude towards parents are not new. Al Pinkerton, MP for Surrey Heath, has also previously pointed to Surrey leaders for denying there is an issue with SEND provision and labelling parents as “too articulate” in a House of Commons speech.