Hello All,

As people throughout the world celebrate the start to a New Year, parents across this country face the reality of a Government-imposed tax on their children’s school fees.  Thousands have had to take their children out of their schools as a result, and thousands more will follow them in the year ahead.  

It’s hard to wish you all a “happy” New Year in the middle of all of this, but I do wish you a year of strength, courage and perseverance.  This fight is not over – not by a longshot.  We will hear more updates when legal action begins, likely in February when Labour’s Finance Bill should receive Royal Assent.  

It’s been a hard few days as Labour praised themselves for this tax.  We’ve seen Bridget Phillipson attempt to justify VAT to Telegraph readers and a poll by Private Education Policy Forum that claims 54% of British adults back this tax.  Even HM Treasury got in on the action by marking the end of “the 20% tax break for private school fees”.  

REMINDER AND ACTION:  There is one thing you can do during the holiday season.  Please encourage your children to write to the Children’s Commissioner to share their concerns about this tax and the hostile climate this Government has created.  Each country has a Children’s Commissioner, and it’s their job to look after ALL children.  

We urge them to share their concerns about this tax and the effect it's having on themselves, their friends and their schools--ask them to be polite and sincere.  Children's Commissioners are expected to answer letters (emails) from children, and we need Commissioners' views on this tax.  

Dame Rachel de Souza is the Children's Commissioner in England, and your children can write her though this form:

https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/about-us/contact/

Nicola Killean is the Children and Young People's Commissioner in Scotland, and your children can write her through this form:

https://www.cypcs.org.uk/get-help-children-and-young-people/

Rocio Cifuentes is the Children's Commissioner in Wales, and your children can write her by email commissioner@childcomwales.org.uk or through this form:

https://www.childcomwales.org.uk/contact-us/

Chris Quinn is the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Northern Ireland, and your children can reach him

https://www.niccy.org/niccy-formal-investigations/legal-and-investigations/referral-form/

Let us know how things go!  You can write us on the Education Not Taxation site here: https://educationnottaxation.org/contact-us/

Best regards,

Tony Perry
ENT