"We've had a diagnostic explosion" Conservative Baroness Spielman says special needs education has become a "political hot potato" as demand for services has outpaced funding. Parent Kate Cox adds we should be “proud” of how we diagnose young people. #Newsnight

@vicderbyshire SEND has always been underfunded…regardless of uptake of diagnosis’… #Newsnight

There is no " explosion" of people being diagnosed. Many, especially girls/women fell through the net BC understanding of eg autism was based on male behaviour. Lives have been ruined because people were diagnosed late, and post diagnosis no support.

Funny the ex head of Ofsted talks about a diagnostic explosion unchallenged. Ofsted under her leadership made many oppressive diagnoses of many schools. #Newsnight

@mohammedahmed85 Absolutely no evidence for her assertions I see. What a shock. We've got more diagnoses because of better understanding. And you don't help those children who could potentially manage in a mainstream setting with the right support by removing EHCPs and specialist provision.

Diagnosis has absolutely nothing to do with an EHCP. It is based on need. Does Spielman know how long some waiting lists are for diagnosis? I bet not. There has been no explosion. Also calling ADHD & autism behaviour disorders is abhorrent.

The parents/guardians are so busy on their mobiles, not spending enough time teaching their children the basics, some even want "Send" children so they can claim #PIP and every other benefit going #Newsnight

One size does not fit all. There needs to be different school models for education to be equitable

So much money being spent on children with diagnosed special needs - all children have special needs - there isn’t just one model of child - of course there are some children with extreme difficulties but surely we should be helping all children to overcome difficulties

Spielman just wanted boxes to put kids in as part of an OfSTED checklist, kids just don't fit into her weird, neat little boxes nor her weirder definitions.

Fulffy Spielman, the myth, the woman, the leg-end 🤦 An explosion of diagnoses, I guess you've never read historical evidence from the Warnock report regarding the % of school pupils with some form of SEND. Shall we ignore children's disabilities Amanda? #smokeandmirrors