Parents Struggle to Afford Private School Fees for Special Needs Children Amid VAT Increase

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Parents Struggle to Afford Private School Fees for Special Needs Children Amid VAT Increase

 

Parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are being pushed to the brink as they fight to keep their children in private schools, where they receive the tailored support they need. With the introduction of a 20% VAT on private school fees by the Labour government, families across the country have been forced into extreme financial measures to cover the rising costs.

 

 

Leanne Gunns, a self-employed accountant from Norwich, is working nearly 19-hour days to afford her son Charlie’s education. “As you can imagine, I am absolutely exhausted,” said Gunns, 37, who starts work at 5 a.m. and finishes just before midnight. On top of this, she juggles driving Charlie to his medical appointments across the country.

 

Charlie, 12, attends Beeston Hall, a private school near Cromer, Norfolk. He has transverse myelitis, a rare neurological condition that affects his spinal cord, requiring him to use a wheelchair and causing additional sensory problems such as hearing loss. Despite his challenges, his Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) includes a caveat that requires the family to pay for all his educational costs, including VAT.

 

 

Parents of SEND children have been disproportionately impacted by the new tax policy. A study by the Education Not Taxation campaign found that one in five families has already remortgaged their home to keep up with school fees, while one in eight has sold their home and moved. The campaign is now taking legal action against the government, arguing that the policy discriminates against children with special needs.

 

The government estimates that removing private schools’ tax exemptions will generate £1.5 billion annually to improve state education. However, many families feel that their children are being left behind in the process. While children with EHCPs are technically exempt from the additional VAT, obtaining such a plan can be a long and challenging process. Even when granted, it does not always guarantee funding for private education, which often provides smaller class sizes and specialized support that public schools may lack.

 

Gunns is currently taking Norfolk County Council to a tribunal to challenge the decision, but with an 18-month wait, she has no choice but to keep working relentlessly. In January, Charlie’s school fees increased by 14% to £9,200, and they may rise again in the next academic year. “All I can do is work as hard as I can in the hope that I can grow my business fast enough to keep up with the fees,” she said. “Voters see this policy as a way of taxing the rich, but that’s not what’s going on. It’s ordinary people like us who get caught in the firing line.”

 

Sarah Uzeabega, a school receptionist from Worcestershire, is in a similar situation. Her son, Luca, has an EHCP that specifically recommends a calm environment and one-on-one teaching, yet it does not cover the additional VAT on his private school fees. To afford the extra £1,200 per year, her husband, who runs a pub, has taken a second job working night shifts at Tesco.

 

The family has also cut back drastically on expenses, even going without heating for much of the winter to reduce their energy bills. However, their cost-saving efforts backfired when a frozen pipe burst over Christmas, leading to expensive repairs. Uzeabega, 40, described how they have become “militant” about switching off lights and now spend more time at her parents’ home because it is warmer.

 

“I feel like we are being penalised for wanting the best for our children, who have been failed by the education sector,” she said. “It’s not the wealthy who will be affected by [VAT on private school fees], it’s aspirational families like ours.”

 

With the financial strain mounting and tribunals taking years to resolve, many parents are left wondering how long they can continue to afford the education their children desperately need.

 

Based on a report by The Times  2025-04-01

 

Related Topics:

Human rights Legal Challenge Could Force Labour to Rethink Private School VAT Plan

Private Schools Struggle as Labour’s VAT Policy Triggers Closures

Looming Crisis: Private Schools Face Closures Amid VAT Hike 

Top Oxfordshire Prep School to Close Amid Controversial VAT Policy on Private Education

England’s Special Educational Needs Crisis: A System in Desperate Need of Reform

Legal Challenge Against Private School VAT Policy Deems It Discriminatory

 

 

[JonnyF]

So it's not just disabled adults that Labour's misguided policies are negatively affecting, it's also disabled children.

 

Why am I not surprised?

[expat_4_life]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

So it's not just disabled adults that Labour's misguided policies are negatively affecting, it's also disabled children.

 

Why am I not surprised?

UK on the brink of insolvency ... billions to Ukraine and tax tax tax! 🙈 🙈🙈

[Purdey]

This is a terrible situation for special needs kids. Shouldn't their schools be exempt from VAT?