The Labour Party's plan to impose VAT on independent school fees from January is facing a High Court legal challenge over claims it breaches human rights law. Lawyers from Sinclairslaw, acting on behalf of the mother of a child with autism, have written to HM Treasury arguing the policy discriminates against children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), threatening court action if it is not scrapped. In what is the first official legal challenge to Labour's plans, the legal team explains that children with SEND risk being forced out of independent school if their parents can no longer afford higher fees, therefore any “hindrance must be justified as rational, necessary and proportionate and must be done in a way that does not discriminate”. The Telegraph understands that further legal claims in relation to military families and pupils attending faith schools may also be put forward. By Pieter Snepvangers. The article is followed by an item looking in more detail at the case of the single parent who is being represented by Sinclairslaw. Alexis Quinn, who fears her 12-year-old autistic daughter will be forced out of her independent school as a result of Labour’s tax plans, tells the paper: “There are thousands of children like my daughter who are traumatised by this decision.” The Sunday Times also features a lengthy interview with Ms Quinn, who explains why she has taken the decision to proceed with legal action. Paul Conrathe of Sinclairslaw is quoted, saying: “This punitive tax will have a devastating impact upon the education and welfare of children with special needs, at a time when special needs provision in the state sector is inadequate and a complete shambles. They are a violation of their human rights to education and freedom from discrimination.” By Sian Griffiths. The legal challenge has also been covered by Aditi Rane for The Express and Sanchez Manning for the Daily Mail.

In a letter to chancellor Rachel Reeves and education secretary Bridget Phillipson, chief executive of the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) Dominic Norrish has said there is no “compelling logic” for introducing the tax in January, beyond the misconception it would raise more money for the government. He added: "January feels like an arbitrary date, attractive merely due to its proximity to the present. Large numbers [of families] will be forced, now at very short notice, to move their children elsewhere." Mr Norrish continued: "Regardless of how long ago Labour’s intentions were announced, implementing VAT on fees, a school term after forming a government, does not give parents enough time to act in their child’s best interests and appears cruel and punitive." At the end of the article, readers are invited to vote in a live poll on whether they support VAT being imposed on independent school fees. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

Daniel Wyatt, rector at Kelvinside Academy, has urged Sir Keir Starmer to delay plans to add VAT to school fees, warning: "The UK government is trying to rush through a policy without due and proper consideration to the material impact it will have, not only on schools in the independent and state sector, but also on children." On the timing of the policy implementation, he added: "Many of these pupils will be in the middle of crucial exam years, or in the early stages of their development. Education is about kindness and fairness, and this policy will not deliver that for children in any part of the Scottish system." By Andrew Learmonth, The Herald.

Health secretary Wes Streeting has claimed independent schools and fee-paying parents "can't complain" about the government's VAT on fees policy. When asked about the legal challenge during an interview with The Camilla Tominey Show on GB News, Mr Streeting said his party had "forewarned" about the tax changes before and during the general election campaign. By Dominic Penna, The Telegraph.

Conservative-controlled Norfolk County Council has warned that ministers’ plans to impose VAT on school fees could push more children with SEND into mainstream schools. Members of the council said they have been struggling to meet the rising costs of SEND provision, predicting a £115 million budget deficit by March. By Oliver Sennitt, BBC News.

An email sent out by Buckinghamshire Council, seen by The Telegraph, suggests a mother was asked to provide evidence of her financial situation in order for her daughter to be considered for a state school place. The mother was told her daughter had been rejected by two local secondary schools because they were "full", with the email going on to say: "However, if you can provide evidence that you can no longer finance the independent school fees, please advise and we can make a local authority non-preference allocation." By Poppy Wood.

Several schools in membership of the Independent Schools Council's (ISC) constituent associations are mentioned across this weekend's coverage.

In a House of Commons written question, Labour MP for York Central Rachael Maskell asked secretary of state for education Bridget Phillipson what steps she is taking to ensure that the state school sector is able to accommodate children from independent schools who will need to transfer due to the introduction of VAT on school fees. Stephen Morgan, Labour MP for Portsmouth South and parliamentary under-secretary at the Department for Education, responded: "The government understands that moving school can be challenging for parents and pupils. However, the department expects very few pupils to need to move within the academic year. Local authorities and schools have processes in place to support pupils moving between schools, and children move between private sector and the state sector every year." Hansard.

The government's new teacher training policy risks becoming a “straitjacket” and driving talented people away from the profession, leading academy chief Reverend Steve Chalke has warned. Officials at the Department for Education are working on implementing a Labour manifesto pledge to introduce a requirement for all new teachers to either hold or be working towards qualified teacher status, but Reverend Chalke has said he fears this could deter potential candidates. By Camilla Turner, The Sunday Telegraph. 

Sir Michael Wilshaw, a former chief of Ofsted, has said teachers should not be afraid to tell parents who have failed to teach their children "the importance of respect and simple good manners" that they are setting "a bad example". His comments come amid new research findings which suggest many teachers deal with classroom disruption every few minutes, while others make sure no task takes longer than 10 minutes because children cannot concentrate. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

Vaping damages the lungs of young people as much as smoking, according to the findings of research by Manchester Metropolitan University. The study, which has prompted fresh debate over the health risks of e-cigarettes, compared vapers and smokers in a strenuous exercise test and found both groups emerged as being less fit and much more out of breath than people who have neither habit. By Denis Campbell, The Guardian.

The Guardian takes a look at some of the schools across Europe that have decided to ban mobile phones and what the impact has been for staff and students. By Ashifa Kassam.

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