This morning, I took part in a Westminster Hall debate where I urged the Government to reconsider its plans to end the VAT exemption for independent schools.
South Devon is home to several small independent schools, which all offer an alternative education to state schools and are a lifeline for children who struggle to fit in with the demands of the mainstream curriculum.
I’ve heard from many constituents with children living with autism and other mental health challenges who for years struggled in mainstream schools and are now thriving in these alternative settings.
The fees for these schools are often as low as they can make them, and yet many face closure as a result of this policy.
I urged the Minister to consider a low fee threshold and think about the impact this policy will have on the children who cannot cope with the rigours of mainstream education, and who may drop out of school completely, with all the implications this may have not just on them and their future but their parents too
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