Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice has called the sight of children wearing ear defenders in school "insane" and claimed neurodiverse conditions such as ADHD are being overdiagnosed. Speaking at a press conference in Westminster on Monday, he warned that without resolving the special educational needs and disabilities (Send) crisis, there will be "no bins collected".
Tice said there is a "crisis of overdiagnosis of children with neurodiverse issues". He argued that schools and teachers should handle support without formal labels: "The best thing to do actually, is to push almost all of it back to the schools. The schools know best, the teachers know best."
He added: "Stop labelling people, just say 'you need a bit of extra support, you might need a bit of extra time'." Tice claimed the situation has become absurd, with unlabeled children feeling left out as "the normal minority".
On ear defenders specifically, he said: "I'll just raise one more point, the sight of children in classes wearing ear defenders, I'm sorry, this is just insane. It's got to stop. The teachers want it to stop. Heads want it to stop. It's not the right way forward."
Strong pushback from autism charity
Joey Nettleton Burrows of the National Autistic Society sharply rejected Tice's claims. "Parents aren't profiting from the education system, they are spending time and money fighting against a broken Send system, just to get the most basic support at school," he said.
He added: "Claiming there is 'overdiagnosis' couldn't be further from the truth. The system needs reform to meet the needs of all children, so that Send children, including autistic young people, can access a suitable school place and thrive. Spreading these kinds of lies stigmatises autistic people and makes life harder for them and their families."
Financial crisis looming
Recent research from the County Councils Network and Isos Partnership projects that Send debts will reach £17.8 billion by 2029 — nearly £1,000 per child and young person in England. More than half of councils surveyed said they would go bankrupt as soon as a statutory override protecting them ends in March 2028.
Tice also criticized annual reviews of education, health and care plans as "unnecessary", claiming they cost "two to four grand a pop". He said: "It's just not fair and it's not fair to the children most in need, who are not getting the provision they require in the speed they require it."
At the press conference, Tice also highlighted that Reform-controlled local authorities are making savings totalling "well over" £300 million and have filled more than 136,000 potholes since May. Reform UK secured 677 seats at the May local elections, taking over several formerly Conservative-controlled authorities including Derbyshire, Kent and Lancashire.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
