Overview

• Labour MP Rachael Maskell has called for a delay in implementing the VAT hike on private schools, citing potential harm to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
• The proposed VAT increase aims to exempt only 8,000 children with formal EHC plans, leaving approximately 99,000 SEND children in private schools vulnerable to disruption.
• A National Audit Office report highlights that 40% of councils could face bankruptcy by 2026 due to escalating SEND costs, with state schools already overburdened.
• The number of children requiring education, health, and care plans (EHCPs) has doubled in the past decade, stressing the need for systemic reform and increased funding.
• Critics argue that the SEND crisis stems from years of underfunding and mismanagement, urging the government to prioritize investment in both mainstream and specialist education.