Nope to labour

[Mrsdeehoang]

I was considering voting for Labour, but their manifesto proposal to change the VAT on private education has made me reconsider. I'm not financially well-off, just about managing, and I took on two jobs to afford the fees for my son’s private grammar school. Despite our efforts, he couldn’t get a place in any of the five local state schools due to oversubscription, and our appeal was unsuccessful. We were instead assigned a school outside our area with a poor Ofsted report. Faced with this choice, I opted to work harder to provide him with a better education privately. The proposed VAT changes would make it even harder for families like mine to manage.

For me, Labour doesn’t seem to understand that not everyone who sends their children to private school is wealthy. I don’t like the Tories either, but I would rather vote for them than for Labour.

I thought this was going to be about childbirth!😆

How so - I mean I don't see them all telling parents they have to close because 'evil Labour' are making them give up their privilege - sure my youngest child's school has no paper or glue sticks but it's still managing to deliver a full curriculum and education?

Tories are destroying the lives of disabled people. Why would anyone vote for a party that does that?

I think vat on private school fees is a good idea and should have been done years ago

The choice isn't binary - state schools would still struggle as these parents sending their children to private could send them abroad or home educate or hire private tutors.

No rough school is going to be saved by this.

I can only say as a parent of a SEN child, I would have loved to have seen her succeed in mainstream state - only an Independent would offer her a place - the state schools turned their nose up at her!

I don't understand the mindset of those with healthy non disabled children who simply resent those with a bit more wealth than they. They are already rich in my eyes.

And no, I'm not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination!

I can think of at least three better reasons not to vote Labour if you needed one, but this is the cliche Tufton Street figures is the hot button to push on MN?

On reading the title, genuinely thought this was going to be a thread about elective c section choice.

Lets see, staff leaving in hoardes, lack of TA's, meaning they can't meet SEN children needs, no supplies so have to buy out of their own paychecks.....

Why do we need a million threads on this same thing topic ffs.

My other kid is SEN as it goes. Went to a 'normal' school. I often wonder if he'd have benefitted from a private education. I could have afforded so I don't resent those who can. I just think he didn't like school tbh so paying for it would have been a bit of a waste.

Ok so 14 years of Tory crap and don't forget four prime ministers has driven the country into the ground. But you'll vote for them again to save money on private school fees whilst ordinary working people are using food banks.

Yeah. You do you

Yawn

My daughter has an EHCP. We have about 2k in savings at most. If Labour come in and take her place....

I will never vote Labour again.

Because the conservative policies are really benefitting women and families. Ok. Maybe look beyond and see the genuine poverty in this country

Sorry, but in your own words you're not well off.
If you're sending your kids to private school knowing this then that's on you
If you're relying on others to subsidise you..... you can't really afford it can you.

Yes thanks to TORY underfunding but they are STILL delivering at no cost to parents and many of the schools I work with are managing to find new ways to support kids - I work with kids in need of high levels of support and nurture - some schools do better than other but I find that's often cultural rather than resource based. Yes all children with support needs should access state school but it's TORY policy that has reduced the ability - Labour taking money of the richest to fund the poorest and improve outcomes for ALL kids is not a bad thing.

and yes I have a ND child - many an afternoon spent in her school discussing exclusions and fighting managed moves - it's not easy but her shitty knife addled drug shed of a school had a pastoral team that at least understood the needs of students - she's have lasted a week at a 'good' or posh school!

Good excuse to vote Tory then !

Nobody who is just about managing can afford private school

The State schools that our La consulted with could have taken her - they refused to. Thats not the entire fault of the Tories - the state system frequently lets down SEN children.

Tony Blair, don't forget, promised to build more special schools way back when. They never materialised.

And again, I don't like the Tories either but Labour represent the existential threat to the only school that were happy to take my daughter.

I will fight for it, nails and all.

My daughter's independent school is in no way posh!

Private education is more a sliding scale than a binary.

Rephrase as "Labour aren't automatically bowing down to culture wars"
and the use of the word wokeism just makes me want to say yawn.

Oh, quelle surprise - the OP @Mrsdeehoang hasn't come back to their thread

I don't think that it's fair to lump all private schools in together. Not all of them are Harrow or Eton; however, this policy is clearly not significantly impacting on the polls. Obviously people are entitled to be concerned about policies that affect them but there will never be a party that will appeal to everyone. What's certain is that Labour are running an effective campaign and it certainly appears to be the case that people are sick of the current government and want a change.

So, penalizing parents who choose to pay for their children’s education is the way forward? Wealthier parents can just move closer to top state schools, making those schools even more oversubscribed. This puts additional strain on the education system and increases the burden on taxpayers.