Posted on Wednesday 11th Sep 2024
A mother from Kent is hoping to launch legal action against government plans to change tax on private school fees.
Alexis Quinn, whose daughter is autistic, said adding VAT at the standard rate of 20% to fees will force many children with special educational needs into "unsuitable placements" in the state sector.
Ms Quinn has so far raised more than £72,000 to foot the cost of a legal challenge in the High Court.
The government has said children whose education, health and care plan (EHCP) states that they needed a council-funded place in a private school for specialist support will not be impacted by VAT.
Ms Quinn, who works for a charity, said her 12-year-old daughter Addison struggled to cope in state primary school and she was worried about secondary provision.
"Her mental health was so bad... headaches, tummy aches, couldn’t eat, can’t sleep, crying a lot of the time," she told the BBC.
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