If elected, the Labour Party will not impose VAT on independent school fees before 2025 at the earliest, Rachel Reeves told delegates at The Times CEO Summit yesterday. Promising that the tax would not be levied on parents retrospectively, the shadow chancellor said it “wouldn’t be the right thing to do” to force parents into higher fees from September. Chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) Julie Robinson told the paper the ISC “welcomed” Ms Reeves’ comments “ruling out retrospective taxes on independent schools”. She added: "This is only one part of the picture: families and schools still do not have the clarity they need to properly plan. In particular we are concerned about the prospect of in-year tax rises and the acute negative effect that would have on parents’ budgets and children’s education. We hope that any policy would take into account the school year and admissions cycles." By Oliver Wright. Further details are included in a separate article in The Times, which includes a video of Ms Reeves addressing the summit. By Kieran Gair, Max Kendix, Ed Halford, James Hurley, Aubrey Allegretti, Lara Spirit and Seren Hughes.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson ruled out making any fresh exemptions for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools but acknowledged the need to "speed up" the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process. Reference is made to head of Moon Hall School, Reigate Michelle Catterson, who warned Sir Keir Starmer on LBC earlier this week that many of her pupils without EHCPs would be forced into the state sector. By Jason Groves and Harriet Line.

The Telegraph reports that GCSE pupils in Rachel Reeves’ constituency face being left without a school place if their parents can no longer afford independent school fees under a Labour government. Council figures show all 46 state schools in the city of Leeds are at full capacity for Year 11 students, with just one school accepting pupils in Year 10 for the next academic year. By Pieter Snepvangers.

CEO of the Independent Schools Association (ISA) Rudolf Eliott Lockhart was interviewed by Mike Graham on Talk TV yesterday in relation to Labour's tax proposals and their potential impact on independent schools. Mr Eliott Lockhart  expressed particular concern for the children of military and diplomat families, those with SEND, and those attending independent faith schools, and called for exemptions to protect pupils "who are at schools that are already financially fragile and [whose] parents can't afford the rise". Urging the party to "rethink" its plans, Mr Eliott Lockhart also warned that Labour's VAT policy would force a number of pupils into the state sector, putting it under "additional pressure". Watch from 1:45:00.

Sir Anthony Seldon, head of Epsom College, spoke to Sky News about Labour’s tax policy. He warned “there’s a strong possibility that quite a few independent schools will close” as a result of VAT on fees, particularly those in rural and less affluent areas, specialist schools and special needs schools. Sir Anthony called on Labour to “work with the private sector” and suggested the policy, if enacted, should be introduced in a “graduated way” with “special provision for those that are operating very close to the margins who are losing pupils”. 

Two readers have letters published in The Times on the subject of Labour's plans to impose VAT on independent school fees. His Honour Gareth Cowling discourages the practice of parents applying for state school places with no intention of taking them up. He warns "this will block places for children whose parents do not have the financial luxury of choice and is likely to cause chaos when children fail to appear at the start of term". In a separate letter, John Urquhart asks "what is to stop any government imposing VAT on university tuition fees for overseas students? This could provide free university tuition for British students and encourage more applications from poorer families." Both letters appear just before half-way.

In a letter to The Telegraph on Labour's tax policy, Alan Lloyd argues that "overall... this issue will affect a small proportion of pupils". Mr Lloyd lists teacher shortages and crumbling buildings as "problems of far greater concern" for the next government. The letter appears below half-way.

More teachers will be recruited for state schools in Wales if Labour wins the UK General Election, Vaughan Gething has promised. The first minister said the move will be funded by Sir Keir Starmer's plans to impose VAT on independent school fees if he becomes prime minister. By Mark Palmer and Adrian Browne, BBC News.

The number of children receiving disability benefits has doubled in the last 10 years amid a rise in learning difficulties, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism, according to a report from the Resolution Foundation think tank. In total, there are now 328,000 more children receiving financial support for disability than there were in 2013, taking this year’s figure to 658,000. Louise Murphy, one of the report’s authors, said it was “striking” how many of the claims for young people related to “learning disabilities, autism and ADHD”. By Eir Nolsøe, The Telegraph.

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