My name is Rebecca Harrison. I am a wife, mother of two boys, and a qualified teacher with over 20 years of experience in education. My journey into SEND home education began with my eldest son, C, who is autistic and has ADHD.

When C was just 5, his mainstream primary school told us they could no longer meet his needs and suggested a special school. With an EHCP (Education, Health & Care Plan) in place, I thought the transition would be straightforward. It wasn’t.

During Covid, the chaos in schools made C’s stress unbearable. We withdrew him from mainstream and began the long search for the right SEND school. Over four years, I visited more than 50 SEND schools across our area — each one telling us they had “no places available.” Eventually, the local authority agreed to an EOTAS package (Education Otherwise Than At School), with tutors coming to teach him at home.

This journey opened my eyes to how many families are left without the right support.