Amanda, the single parent of a child who has special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), has spoken to The Telegraph about how independent education is a necessity for her child. On her fears regarding Labour's tax policy, she told the paper: “I’m already struggling. I am by no means rich." The article explains that Education, Health and Care Plans (ECHPs) are exclusive to England; while Wales has a direct equivalent called an Individual Development Plan (IDP), Scotland does not. This means that as it stands, children in Scotland with SEND attending independent schools have no path to exemption from the tax Labour intends to impose on fees. Reiterating independent schools' concerns, Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), said: “We are particularly worried about how a tax on education might impact specialist provision in different regions and local areas. A full impact assessment needs to be undertaken to understand the unintended consequences that might play out in different areas, including Scotland.” Warning that VAT will likely disproportionately impact pupils in Scotland since income levels in Scotland are lower, chief executive of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS) Lorraine Davidson added: “There is no clarity about how the VAT policy would affect children in Scotland with additional support needs." By Josh Kirby.

Leader of the Scottish Labour Party Anas Sarwar has rejected claims Labour’s tax plans will lead to state schools becoming overrun with pupils whose parents can no longer afford to send their children to independent school. He has also accused campaigners against the policy of “game playing” after reports that some aggrieved parents in Edinburgh were signing up their children for local state schools, even if they did not intend to take up the place. Lorraine Davidson is quoted, warning: “Far from easing the pressure on state schools, the VAT on fees plan will lead to significant additional pressure on the state system." By Andrew Learmonth, The Herald. Mr Sarwar has promised a £150 million boost for state schools to spend on new teachers and breakfast clubs ahead of the launch of Scottish Labour’s manifesto later today. Speaking to the Daily Record, he said the funds, which would come from Labour's VAT on fees policy, would boost the number of teachers for children with additional support needs. In comments to the paper, Lorraine Davidson said: "Independent analysis has shown VAT on fees will cost the state money in Scotland. It will lead to greater pressure on state schools and disrupt the education of 6,000 children and young people who will be forced out of their schools. Those with additional support needs will be affected the most by disruption to their education." By Paul Hutcheon.

Independently-educated Labour frontbenchers have been accused of hypocrisy over the party’s tax plans, The Telegraph reports. Nearly 25 per cent of the shadow cabinet attended independent schools compared with seven per cent of children whose parents pay for their education. CEO of the Independent Schools Association (ISA) Rudolf Eliott Lockhart is quoted, saying: “Irrespective of where they went to school, you would have thought Labour would want those schools to be thriving. The VAT plan is a blunt policy that will damage those schools serving vulnerable or special needs pupils.” By Charles Hymas.

State school places across England are already running low amid concerns that Labour's VAT plans could intensify competition for the best secondaries, according to the Daily Mail. An interactive tool enables readers to see how many schools in their local area have been recorded as full. By Eleanor Harding.

The number of millionaires leaving the UK is expected to double this year amid Labour's tax plans for non-doms and independent schools, according to expat wealth manager Henley & Partners. In 2023, 4,200 millionaires left the country, while a record 9,500 people with assets, excluding property, of $1m (£790,000) or more are forecast to leave this year. Hannah White, of think tank the Institute for Government, said: “For those educating their children in the UK’s well-regarded private school sector, Labour’s commitment to remove their exemption from 20pc VAT is a further unwelcome development." By Charlotte Gifford, The Telegraph.

Retired tax director Mike Warburton offers advice on how to prepare for the tax policies Labour intends to introduce. He notes that it is not clear whether imposing VAT on independent school fees would raise significant amounts of money, adding "the changes may even result in a net cost to the new government". The Telegraph.

People who attend independent schools or Russell Group universities are healthier and slimmer in middle age, according to research from University College London. The study found that, in their mid-forties, those who had been educated independently were more likely to be a healthy weight, have lower blood pressure and perform better on a cognitive task than their peers who went to state schools. The research team said: "Our findings suggest that the type of education could contribute to understanding the links between education and health." By Poppy Koronka, The Times.

Doctors have warned that a “truly alarming” lack of access to outdoor space at schools is contributing to the problem of child obesity in Britain. Dr Kath McCullough, the Royal College of Physicians’ special adviser on obesity, said there is “no doubt” that a lack of access to green space – and the gap between state and independent schools – is compounding the crisis. By Andrew Gregory, The Guardian.

Schools are facing a knife crime “emergency” with four attacks on pupils or teachers each week, The Independent has revealed. According to Freedom of Information figures provided by 27 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales, police received 174 reports of attacks involving blades or sharp instruments during term time last year. By Alex Ross.

Writing in Tes, chief executive of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) Colin Bell says he hopes the next government will take into account policy changes proposed by sector heads in areas that include recruitment and safeguarding.

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