Warwickshire County Council has launched an investigation after a video revealed councillors making disparaging remarks about children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
The conversation took place on 25 January during a Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny meeting.
Confused as to why spending on children with SEND had rapidly increased, Cllr Brian Hammersley asks if it was ‘something in the water’.
Another councillor, Clare Golby, suggests that the increasing demand for SEND provision could be the result of families ‘swapping tips on how to get their children diagnosed’.
Cllr Jeff Morgan then argues that the council should not automatically accept that ‘Little Willy has ADHD when in fact Little Willy is just really badly behaved and needs some form of strict correction.’
“I don’t want to be too Daily Mail but I am.” Truly shocking stuff. Tory councillors at @Warwickshire_CC express the most awful, reactionary views about SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities) children, when what’s needed is understanding & funding pic.twitter.com/MHSU8imVSq
— People's Assembly (@pplsassembly) February 7, 2024
Responding to complaints, Warwickshire CC’s chief executive Monica Fogarty said the council was taking the concerns of residents ‘extremely seriously’ and had launched an investigation.
Council leader Izzi Seccombe added: ‘I am so sorry for the distress this situation has caused, particularly to SEND children and their families.’
The three councillors involved have apologised.
