One in eight families with SEND children in private schools have been ‘forced to move home’ due to Labour’s tax raid, campaigners say.
Education Not Taxation (ENT), a parent group, surveyed 1,600 fee-paying families who have children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Of these respondents, 12 per cent said they had moved home or downsized to pay for Labour’s 20 per cent VAT on private school fees, which came into force in January.
Meanwhile, 21 per cent of respondents said they remortgaged their home to meet the higher cost.
The results also revealed 57 per cent restricted heating, 71 per cent reduced food spending, and 72 per cent cut back on travel to pay for the VAT.
It comes as families prepare to challenge the VAT policy in the High Court tomorrow [Tues], on the basis it discriminates against SEND children.
Around 100,000 children in private school have SEND, with many of their parents opting out of the state system because there is not suitable provision for them.
Conditions range from autism, ADHD and dyspraxia to serious hearing, vision and mobility issues.
ENT said the VAT is adding an average of average of £300 per child per month to family bills.
Loveena Tandon, spokesman for ENT, said: ‘Families should not be forced to sell their homes or stop heating and eating simply to protect their children and give them the best possible start in life, against all the odds.
‘The only ones who are refusing to see what is happening are ministers, so shame on them for making little children suffer.’
ENT conducted its online survey last week, reaching fee-paying parents of SEND children via its campaign Facebook group of 25,000 members.
Of those that took part, 98 per cent said they believe their child’s needs cannot be properly met in the state sector.
However, 46 per cent said they still would be likely to move their child to a state school because of the increased costs.
Shadow Education Minister Neil O’Brien said: ‘Labour’s education tax will be disastrous for parents, pupils and teachers.
‘Thousands of SEND pupils’ schooling is being put at risk, with the prospect of being forced out of the independent sector and into a state sector that does not have the capacity to absorb them leaving parents having to make terrible choices like this.
‘Labour is more interested in pursuing their own misguided ideology than doing what is right.’
Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrat education spokesman, said: ‘Children with special needs are having their education put at risk as a result of this policy.
‘With the state special needs system in crisis, this tax on education is heaping yet more pressure on a broken system.’
Only a small proportion of children with SEND are able to get an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), which provides them with a higher level of state-backed support.
A Government spokesman said: ‘Fewer than 0.1 per cent of pupils are expected to move schools this year as a result of ending tax breaks for private schools, set against over one million spare places in schools across the country.
‘Ending tax breaks for private schools will increase investment in state education – raising £1.8 billion a year by 2030.
‘As part of our Plan for Change we are thinking differently about what the SEND system should look like, to spread opportunity, restore the confidence of families up and down the country and deliver the improvement they are crying out for.’
