Consultation on VAT on private school fees ends tomorrow!!

[cheezncrackers]

Urgent: VAT on Private School Fees Consultation End

It has only recently come to light that H.M. Treasury has opened a consultation—created under the Labour Government—on imposing VAT on private school fees. Unfortunately, key contact information for submitting responses seems to be buried in the documents (refer to page 21 of the first PDF and page 3, item 22, of the third document linked below).

Many people remain unaware of this consultation, and the deadline for responses is this Sunday, 15th September

This legislation will have a significant impact on private schools, their pupils, parents, and staff across our constituency. We urge you to express your opposition to this proposal and make your voice heard. Your input could influence the outcome.

Please consider sharing your view with the Government urgently. You can go directly to the Government website by clicking on the following link.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees-removing-the-charitable-rates-relief-for-private-schools The above is a consultation to VAT on school fees from the Treasury. Unfortunately it has been kept so quiet and the closing date is this weekend!

Yes, I just received a message via WhatsApp from another parent.

Thanks for posting. The consultation questions are so narrow - it's hard to answer them with proper, principled objections to the overall policy.

@LizLooney I just wrote them an email explaining our position and how we have no choice but to send our DC to an independent school, since no mainstream school meets his needs. In doing so, we are saving the government multiple thousands of pounds, since we have not (so far) applied for an EHCP. I set out the maths for them of us doing so. A friend of mine (who is VERY well versed in SEN provision and all the facts and figures involved) tells me that there are 110,000 children with SEN in the independent sector and 103,000 of them do not currently have an EHCP. If we were all to apply for one and successfully argue that our DC are in the best places for them educationally, we'd bankrupt every LA in the country in weeks!

Thanks for the inspiration!

Will email my MP and a response to the consultation today.

Have already emailed local authority to find out about spaces in local schools.

So frustrating we had not already organised an EHCP. Not sure how to do that now as I'm sure this government will try to prevent many families in a similar boat.

This is the starting point @MindfulBear:

https://www.gov.uk/children-with-special-educational-needs/extra-SEN-help

@MindfulBear you can request an EHCNA yourself using the model letter on IPSEA’s website. The legal test for an EHCNA and an EHCP has not changed. Even if the LA refuse, you can appeal, then it isn’t the LA making the decision.

there are 110,000 children with SEN in the independent sector and 103,000 of them do not currently have an EHCP.

That isn’t accurate. Official EHCP statistics show more than 25,000 DC with EHCPs are in independent special schools alone without even considering mainstream independents.

Email sent...one minute before midnight!

Most mainstream independent schools won’t accept children with EHCPs, because the paperwork and other requirements are too onerous.