More from this theme Recent articles Ministers will for the first time cap the fees independent special schools can charge councils for provision, with the education secretary vowing to “crack down on providers who put profit before children”. The institutions will be subject to “new national price bands” which will “end unjustified fee variation for the same provision, giving councils the confidence to challenge poor value placements”. And new “statutory SEND-specific standards” will “ensure every independent special school delivers consistent, high-quality support and clear outcomes for pupils”. It comes after reports suggested the government planned to set an upper limit of £60,000 on fees. This has not been officially announced, nor have the price bands being proposed been set out. The schools white paper, due to be published next week, will also ensure “full cost transparency will show exactly how public money is spent”. And ministers will give councils a “formal say” on new or expanding independent provision “so places are created where children actually need them”. Soaring spending exposed Schools Week has revealed the …