Starmer's stubbornness

As well as presumably placing an impossible burden on the mainstream schools who lack the funding, staff and resources.
Somebody needs to see this or it will come back to bite him and in the meantime, lives will be blighted.

I understood the exact opposite.

That an exemption is in place for children with these plans.

I’ll get back on this

They didn’t have EHCP when he was at school.
Possibly his children didn’t need one, so his knowledge is limited about how long it takes a for an EHCP assessment or a diagnosis of a problem which would entitle the child to have one, even when it’s obvious to the parents, or those teaching the child that there is a need.
As more children present with problems, the waiting time gets longer.
If parents are paying for their children to get the specialist help they need, is it right to make them pay even more?

Yes I can confirm that these children will be exempt from paying VAT on the educational services they receive from private schooling.

RosiesMaw

As well as presumably placing an impossible burden on the mainstream schools who lack the funding, staff and resources.
Somebody needs to see this or it will come back to bite him and in the meantime, lives will be blighted.

I agree, lives will be blighted. But Starmer doesn’t care about this, he is intent on raising money at the expense of those children who will be thrown into a state system which can’t cope with them. Pure hatred of independent schools and those who send their children to them.

I repeat.

Children as described by the OP will either be exempted from VAT or the services will be zero-rated. It makes a difference to the schoo,. As soon as I know which area of VAT law it comes under VAT 1994 maybe section 30? But nothing confirmed yet.

This will be worked on post election if Labour get into government and probably come into force during the next tax year.

Pure hatred of independent schools and those who send their children to them.

Yes, that’s what this policy is about. Starmer’s thoughts on independent schools seem to be shared by many on GN.

Perhaps State schools should aim to bring their standards up to private schools, this will need more financial input, more schools, so smaller classes, more teachers, but hey it's easier to bring hundreds more children into state schools, more overcrowding than already is, for what, it seems is an ideological move, rather than a sensibly reasoned one.

That's exactly why the tax exemption has to be removed. Why should schools have the exemption which is meant for charities?

It isn't enough to say children will be forced back into the state system. If there is no justification for the charitable status the school simply shouldn't have it.
It's nothing to do with hating private schools simply with removing an unjustified benefit and using the money to improve state education.

I wonder how many GNers would approve of paying 20% more benefit to people simply because those people claimed they were a charity?

The money is unlikely to be used to improve state schools.

Freya5

Perhaps State schools should aim to bring their standards up to private schools, this will need more financial input, more schools, so smaller classes, more teachers, but hey it's easier to bring hundreds more children into state schools, more overcrowding than already is, for what, it seems is an ideological move, rather than a sensibly reasoned one.

It's a spiteful move designed to appease the envious.

maddyone

The money is unlikely to be used to improve state schools.

I understand that it is to be used to fund the shortage of certain teachers like maths teachers.

Politics of envy, nothing more nothing less.

Too right. And they will need more than just extra maths teachers in state schools.

OP, I would be asking the headteacher of your granddaughter’s school why it is necessary to pass on the VAT cost to parents. Why can’t the school manage their finances so that the cost can be absorbed for those children without an EHCP?

State school budgets have been consistently cut year on year for 14 years. Headteachers in these schools have had to manage those cuts … which they have done. Why can’t the head of a private school take a leaf of their books?

maddyone

The money is unlikely to be used to improve state schools.

I’ll be watching with interest. The sudden appearance of e.g. more maths teachers, together with more doctors and more dentists will be amazing.
Has improvement of school premises and the funding for that been mentioned yet?
My DD who left KS3 teaching because of pupil/parent behaviour says that’s one thing that needs improving in state schools.

Not only has Labour got a supply of magic money trees it appears to have been growing teachers, nurses and doctors ready to start work on the 5th July, amazing!

Well now, here's a thing:

*Number of private school pupils rises despite claims families priced out by Labour’s VAT plan

Independent schools in England had warned plan to charge VAT on fees was putting parents off and had shut schools*

However,

"The Independent Schools Council (ISC) said last month that pupil numbers had fallen – a sign, they said, that schools were already starting to see “the impact of VAT looming on the horizon”.

But official Department for Education (DfE) data published last week shows that as of this January, the number of pupils in independent schools in England was 593,486, up from 591,954 the year before and an increase of 24,150 on 2020-21

The ISC has also partly blamed two recent private school closures on Labour’s policy. However, the official school census data shows that 12 new independent schools opened in the last year, with the total rising from 2,409 to 2,421."

www.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/jun/15/number-of-private-school-pupils-rises-despite-claims-families-priced-out-by-labours-vat-plan

GrannyGravy13

Not only has Labour got a supply of magic money trees it appears to have been growing teachers, nurses and doctors ready to start work on the 5th July, amazing!

Oven ready, GG!

This will pass. The VAT will be absorbed, and in a years time it will be business as usual for the private sector.

I am not remotely worried about the 7% they will continue to thrive in their privileged existence and I have no issue with that.

I am however concerned for the 93% because these are the ones that will be our future. These are the future engineers, architects, teachers, artists, creatives, doctors, nurses etc. These are the ones that will oil the countries wheels and are precious to us.

They must be given every chance and opportunity. So, if at the moment the country is in such a mess that their schools are literally falling apart then imv every resource must be given to improve the future generations chances. If that means that the most wealthy pay a bit more towards these people who in turn will make their country a better place - then GOOD.

Hear hear WW 👏👏👏

Whitewavemark2

I understood the exact opposite.

That an exemption is in place for children with these plans.

I’ll get back on this

I thought Sarnia was saying pupils without an EHCP wouldn't be exempt from VAT, she says children with a plan will be exempt. The problem is getting an ECHP is not easy, nor speedy. My own grandson, who is completely state taught at a special school for children with complex special needs, took ages to get one. It took a lot of persistence by his mother to speed things up to even a snail's pace.

Whitewavemark2

I understood the exact opposite.

That an exemption is in place for children with these plans.

I’ll get back on this

The children on the EHCP plans will be exempt. It is the 103.000 SEND children in private education without an EHCP who will be affected.