Barnsley parent claims parents are ‘villanised’ and ‘accused of abuse’ if they criticise council
“We’ve been villanised, we’ve had cease and desist letters sent to us for some of the stuff we’ve then put on social media.”
A parent campaigning for special educational needs reform in Barnsley has accused the council of villanising parents and accusing them of abuse if their children don’t want to go to school.
James Swallow-Gaunt, aged 51, lives in Penistone and has two autistic sons and a daughter.
He has been campaigning online for reform to the support offered to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
With four child suicides in Barnsley in the last four years, he deems there to be a health crisis in SEND support, despite the recent inspection report.
“I can’t understand for the life of me how we managed to pass an inspection when we’ve had four child suicides.
“We’re in a really dangerous situation at the minute.”
In 2022, 13-year old Alex Dews took his own life after struggling with his mental health.
15-year-old Jack David Allot and 17-year-old Thomas Turner also took their lives in 2025 after suffering from bullying.
14-year-old Ollie Lee was the fourth child to take her own life in 2024. An inquest into her death found that a “lack of communication” between mental health services had led to her taking her life in 2024.
Despite these deaths, Barnsley Council celebrated ‘top marks’ for their SEND support inspection in May, 2026.
Mr Swallow-Gaunt says the lack of an independent parent and carer forum in Barnsley means feedback has become “an echo chamber”.
“The argument that [the council] is saying is that typically most people have a really positive experience, but that’s going to be the case when you’re going to the people who are in groups that have been supported by the council.
“The parents we work with and are in support of are the ones that have been really neglected and let down by the services, the ones that have been branded as the problem parents, the ones who have been banned off school premises, the ones who really don’t get any help,” he said.
“Not having that independent voice and having echo chambers where the council can really control that narrative has really affected services.”
He also claims that parents are villanised and blamed if they try to scrutinise the council and SEND services.
“It’s like ‘oh your child is struggling, what’s going on at home?’ Then they literally go and say they’ll start a Section 47 process, to look at child abuse and neglect.
“The ones who become vocal and put their complaints in, that want to sort out the best possible future for their child, they’re villanised by the council and social services. They’ll try and find neglect or child abuse from your family,” he said.
Mr Swallow-Gaunt says he and other parents have received cease and desist letters for voicing their frustrations.
“We’ve been villanised, we’ve had cease and desist letters sent to us for some of the stuff we’ve then put on social media.
“That disconnect between parents and schools has been there for as long as my oldest son was born in 1997. The whole system is broken.”
Councillor Gary Hall, cabinet spokesperson for children’s services at Barnsley Council, said: “While we cannot comment on individual cases, we take the views and experiences of children, young people and families seriously. We recognise that families want the best possible support for their children, and we are committed to listening, learning and working with parents, carers, schools and partners to ensure children with special educational needs and disabilities can access the right support at the right time.
“It is important to be clear that safeguarding enquiries are only undertaken where there is a reason to believe a child may be at risk of significant harm or neglect, and decisions are made in line with our statutory duties and established safeguarding procedures. Parents are not subject to safeguarding investigations because they raise concerns, make complaints or advocate for their child’s needs.
“We understand that navigating the SEND system can be challenging for families, and we remain committed to working constructively with parents and carers to improve services and achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people.”
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