Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will support the independent sector to maintain places for (a) vulnerable and (b) disadvantaged children who have difficulties settling in large state schools.

State education is accessible to all children, regardless of their financial status. All children of compulsory school age are entitled to a state-funded school place. The department works to support local authorities to ensure that every local area has sufficient places for every child that needs one. This includes those pupils who have special educational needs.

Where pupils’ places in private schools are being funded by local authorities because their needs can only be met in private school, for example in England, where attendance at a named private school is required by a child’s education, health and care plan, local authorities will be able to reclaim the VAT.