In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Simon Scott and Jordan James react to the brand-new BBC Panorama documentary Autism, Schools and Families on the Edge, presented by EastEnders actor Kellie Bright.

The documentary follows three families fighting for EHCPs (Education, Health and Care Plans) for their autistic children and exposes the devastating impact of a broken SEND system in the UK. Drawing on their own lived experiences and community feedback, Simon and Jordan unpack why the system feels rigged against neurodivergent children and families — and why system reform is urgently needed.

Together, they explore:

• The uphill battle parents face to secure EHCPs for autistic and ADHD children
• How government underfunding and council gatekeeping harm children’s futures
• Why do so many families feel forced into private assessments or tribunals
• The emotional toll on both neurodivergent children and their parents
• The importance of representation and why documentaries like this matter
• Why real change needs more than awareness — it needs action, funding, and empathy

Watch the Documentary on BBC iPlayer here 🔗.

This is one of the most urgent conversations the show has hosted, highlighting both the failures of the SEND system and the resilience of the families fighting within it.

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