The Telegraph reports independent schools would be blocked from claiming back past VAT receipts under the Labour Party's plans to tax the sector for the first time. The policy would mean independent schools would have harsher VAT conditions than any other body that starts paying the tax, and renews concerns that more of the cost of Labour's proposal could be passed on to parents. 

Speaking to The Telegraph, a senior source within the independent schools sector said: "This is further evidence that Labour’s policy is ideological and designed to be punitive rather than fiscally sensible. Parents and ultimately children are the ones that will lose out." Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), added: "Labour is yet to release solid detail on how they plan to implement their tax on children’s education. A full impact assessment of their plans is needed to understand all the implications for families and schools across state and independent education.” By Ben Riley-Smith. 

Gillian Keegan is writing a letter to schools directing them to share their sex education materials with parents. The education secretary has said: "No ifs, no buts and no more excuses. This government is acting to guarantee parents’ fundamental right to know what their children are being taught in sex and relationship education." By Steven Swinford, The Times. 

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), has said that while the union agrees there should be transparency in terms of the materials used in relationships, sex and health education (RSHE), he is concerned the letter "creates an expectation that schools will publish every piece of planning and resource used across the RSHE curriculum. This is a huge additional workload requirement at a time when they are already significantly overburdened.” By Matilda Martin, Tes. 

According to The Times, a report into the deaths and serious injury of children in care uncovered evidence of stabbings, sexual exploitation and a lack of suitable placements. The government refused to make the report public until the children's rights charity Article 39 won a legal challenge for access to it last month. By James Beal. 

Nick Brook, chief executive officer of Speakers for Schools and chair of the DfE Strategic Tutoring Advisory Group, has warned that catch-up tutoring is facing an "existential threat", with the National Tutoring Programme set to end after this academic year. By Jasmine Norden, Tes. 

Ofqual's interim chief regulator will be in post for a year, after Dr Jo Saxton leaves in December for the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). The education secretary has said she plans to appoint someone to take on the role on an "exceptional basis" for 12 months from January. By Samantha Booth, Schools Week. 

Mark Lehain, a former headteacher who founded one of the first secondary free schools in the country, has returned as special adviser to the education secretary - just over a year after leaving the post. By Jack Dyson, Schools Week. 

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