Allow a play date where mum unapologetically supports children’s education tax

[GigglyOrange]

Just this really, our local independent prep school closed due to the education tax earlier this year and has caused absolute chaos for lots of families, including my own. My dd (6) has been invited for a play date with a girl she seems very friendly with and who seems very sweet, but I’ve since found out from another parent that the mum is an ‘unapologetic education taxer’. My instinct is to cancel the play date, AIBU?

And me

It is not a "children's education tax" as many here have explained.
I am sorry this had such a profound impact on your child but it is important to be accurate about what it is.
I have GC at both state and private schools. The parents of the latter agree that it was unfair that the schools were VAT exempt saw this coming and took steps to save up for this eventuality.

It is sad that some schools have had to close but please bear in mind that the majority of children have been at cash-strapped state schools in need of funding. It was no longer reasonable to offer this sort of tax favour to pruvate schools.

The school didn’t have enough children because the government put the fees up by a fifth half way through the year.

No ... the governors chose to put the fees up by 20%.

why have you replicated your previous thread?

Jesus Christ, OP. Get a grip of yourself.

Why?!

Tax payer funded education is not what I mean when I say tax free education, some of us already fund that. I mean non tax payer funded tax free education, I want every child to have access to tax free education and vocational training, including yours, as many education options as possible just as the rest of the world does.

I simply don’t understand the mentality of trying to limit children’s education because it wasn’t an option you choose for yourself, it’s just mean and yes immoral. I think it’s more unsettling because the target is children and do you genuinely feel better about yourself and your life seeing children having to move schools or people lose their jobs ?

My daughter is now at state, I don’t class that as tax avoidance (?!?)

I can’t see that?

Ah, so she's at state school now. Did you know that at the time of the last General Election, 60% of state school teachers voted for Labour?

What if your DD's teacher is "one of those people"? Will you ban them from teaching your child?

Most of these of these are not personality traits. You wriggled out of the question in the same cowardly way as you are going to avoid the play date. If you had any courage you'd tell this mother what sort of person you think she is, but you'd rather involve your daughter in lying, wouldn't you?

There is a lot of ignorance around this, even though it is very straight forward. The 20% is paid by the children or fee payer on any educational or vocational training services provided. So yes the government put the cost to children/parents up by a fifth half way through the academic year.

Why though? At least have a backbone and the courage of your convictions, and be honest and open about them - as she has. The mum is likely to try again, and you will run out of excuses. I would rather someone just said no and told me why, so that I didn't waste time trying to foster a friendship that can never go anywhere.

This.

Yeah because telling a stupid person they’re stupid always works out for the best

She’ll get the hint eventually.

DS2’s best friend is a lovely young adult. His dad is a Reform councillor. The best friend is still a lovely young man and DS is sure he’s a friend for life. We are not Reform voters in this house but his dad’s role is entirely irrelevant to their friendship. So OP I completely disagree with you.

However. It is simply not true that state schools can meet the needs of every child. Anyone who believes that they do, clearly has a privilege not experienced by my DS1. Labour claimed that the VAT would fund improvements to state schools. This has not happened and is not in the process of happening, because whatever little has been raised has been directed elsewhere. The Tories made state education impossible for my son and many many other young people and Labour have done nothing to improve it.

You're being ridiculous, and this is why "play dates" are a stupid concept.
All too often it's parents who haven't mentally left their own school days and are still in the playground behaviour wise.
Letting their little Henry and Lola's only playing with their own friends kids, despite whether they actually want to play together or not. Or like in your case, only if you like the parent and if they are "up to standard."
You'd have a point if they discriminating against others and were racist or homophobic for example, in case that rubbed off, but this? Nope. She's entitled to her opinion, even if it doesn't align with yours.

Jesus Fuck, get over yourself.

Fair enough, agree with that.

OP is on a chomp. This thread is a complete wind-up.

This post is super funny.

🍪

I'm sure she will. I don't agree with her stance to be fair, but I have far more respect for her - at least she's honest.

When she does and tells the other school gate parents, what do you think the impact will be on your DD? How will you explain it to her when she doesn't get invited to ANY playdates or parties because her mum thinks she's cleverer and has better morals than everyone else?

Costa is a business, yes and it will pay corporation tax on profits. Independent schools ran as businesses will also pay corporation tax on profits. Some schools are ran as charities which goes back to the thinking that educating children benefits all of society, they don’t pay tax on profits as they don’t make any and run at cost.
The childrens education tax is a tax paid by the child or fee payer on education services or vocational training. Can I ask you thought the education tax actually was?