Private schools have means to help special needs pupils hit by VAT, minister says

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Private schools “have the means” to help children with special educational needs at risk of being priced out by plans to apply VAT to fees, the Health Secretary has said.

From January, the Government plans to remove the VAT exemption and business rates relief for private schools to enable funding for 6,500 new teachers in state schools.

Currently, independent schools do not have to charge 20% VAT on their fees because there is an exemption for the supply of education.

Wes Streeting told LBC: “Children with statements of special educational needs and disabilities will be exempt.” Pushed on how this will work for children who do not have that statement, Mr Streeting said independent schools have the means to deal with those situations. “Firstly, I’d say the statement is available to children and young people and their parents in that situation. “I’d also say to independent schools, they have the means.