ISC Daily News Summary

During the 14th debate on the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill in the House of Commons, ministers discussed new clause 25, which seeks to monitor the impact of the VAT on fees policy and would require the education secretary to publish a report on its effects. Introducing the clause, Conservative MP Neil O'Brien said: "Around my constituency, we have seen the closure of a couple of local independent schools, which have blamed the decision to introduce VAT. This will mean more people looking for places in local state schools that are already oversubscribed and, in turn, fewer people getting their first choice. New clause 25 is not about the principle of the tax, but about having a proper mechanism to monitor the impact on the state system, among other things." Urging ministers to address the effect on pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson said: "There is, however, something missing in the new clause, which I have urged ministers repeatedly to look at. I hope that even if they will not publicly talk about it, they are looking privately at the impact of this policy on the 100,000 children with special educational needs in private schools who do not have education, health and care plans, and may be displaced into the state sector. That will have an impact on the state sector and the demand for EHCPs, which is already in crisis."

Responding, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department for Education Stephen Morgan said new clause 25 requires the government to publish a report within two years of the bill's passage, detailing the impact of removing VAT exemption on independent school fees, including independent school closures, pupil transfers, state school place availability, first-choice school offers, and any changes to published admission numbers. Mr Morgan added that the government's VAT policy is based on a "thorough impact assessment", before stating: "Around 50 private schools, excluding independent special schools, close each year, and the government estimate that 100 schools in total may close over the next three years in addition to the normal levels of turnover, after which closures will return to historical norms." He concluded: "The Department for Education will be monitoring place demand and capacity using our normal processes and will be working with local authorities to meet any pressures. While I am grateful to Members for their interest in the issue of removing the VAT exemption on private schools, I hope that they are reassured that the government have already addressed the impact of this policy and continue to monitor it." Hansard.

Writing in Tes, Warren Carratt says the introduction of education, health, and care plans (EHCPs) in 2014 has led to a significant increase in the number of children classified as having special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), which is "usually cited as the driver for high-needs budget deficits". Mr Carratt argues that while EHCPs have become a tool to secure funding, a shift in focus towards a more efficient, less bureaucratic system could better meet pupils' needs without overburdening families or schools. Warren Carratt is the CEO of Nexus Multi-Academy Trust.

The mother of a schoolboy who was stabbed to death in a case of mistaken identity says she feels “sad and hopeless” about the rise in knife violence among young people. Speaking to The Independent, Pooja Kanda from Wolverhampton, who is part of the government's coalition to tackle knife crime, emphasised the need for early intervention: "The schools are the hot spots where this type of behaviour begins. I think prevention needs to start from primary school and the police also need to step up." According to NHS data published earlier this month, the percentage of hospital admissions resulting from knife attacks in the zero to 17 age group is at its highest in the past decade. By Lynn Rusk.

Nearly two thirds of young people in some parts of England have rotten teeth, according to official data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), while more than a quarter of all five-year-olds nationwide are suffering from enamel or tooth decay. In Manchester, the OHID data shows that 60.8 per cent of children are affected, but in Rochford, Essex, the rate is just 4.9 per cent, the lowest in the country. An NHS spokesperson warned: "This report highlights there’s still more to do to prevent poor oral health in children." By Emily Stearn, Daily Mail.

In the ISC's latest blog, Amanda Doliveux, deputy head of the junior department at King’s House School, explains how the school celebrated International Day of Women and Girls in Science, bringing pupils together for a series of inspiring STEM activities.