Last night, Calderdale Council passed Labour’s motion on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) – a clear commitment to improving support for children and families across our borough.
This matters because SEND is not a niche issue. Around 1 in 5 school-aged children in Calderdale either have an EHCP or receive SEND support. Behind those numbers are families who too often face an exhausting battle to secure the help their children need and deserve.
Our motion recognised both the challenges and the progress being made locally – from improving EHCP timeliness to investing in early help, expanding specialist provision, and strengthening inclusive practice in mainstream schools. But it also made clear that we must go further and faster.
We are pleased that this motion received cross-party support from across the chamber – demonstrating a shared commitment to children and families in Calderdale.
However, it is deeply disappointing that Reform UK did not support the motion.
In recent months, we have seen concerning remarks from Reform figures both locally and nationally on SEND, even implying that some parents exaggerate or fabricate their children’s needs to get benefits. Nationally, Reform Deputy Leader Richard Tice has described children using ear defenders in classrooms as “insane” – despite the fact that these are a simple and widely used tool to help children with sensory needs feel safe and able to learn. Another Reform representative described SEND children as “naughty children, often as a result of bad parenting”.
These comments are not only wrong – they are hurtful. They risk undermining families, stigmatizing children, and devaluing the very real challenges that so many face every day.
It is hard not to conclude that this kind of rhetoric is why Reform chose not to back a motion focused on strengthening support for SEND families.
Calderdale Labour takes a very different approach.
We believe children with SEND deserve understanding, not suspicion. Support, not stigma. Investment, not dismissal.
We will continue working with families, schools, and partners to build a more inclusive borough – one where every child and young person, regardless of their needs, has the opportunity to thrive.