More than 200 trainee teachers, studying at the University of South Wales (USW), will be trained to teach ‘Junior Tax Facts’ to primary school children in English and Welsh-medium schools. This tax education programme for young people was developed by HMRC and is available for schools to use, free of charge.

HMRC will deliver the awareness sessions to the trainee teachers based at USW’s Newport campus, over the next academic year.

‘Junior Tax Facts’ offers a very simple introduction to tax for 8 to 11 year-olds. The programme consists of an engaging animation and lesson plans, to help young children understand where the money comes from that pays for all the things that are essential to them, their families and communities – like local transport, the police, doctors and their school.

It also gives children the opportunity to practice important skills for later life, including communication and listening, literacy and numeracy, and negotiating and debating.

Maureen Pamplin, head of sustainability at HMRC, said: ‘We are excited about this new initiative and keen that it will be replicated in other universities across the country.

‘We worked closely with teachers to develop this material and the University of South Wales is now leading the way in helping teachers to take it into the classroom, so that children understand what tax is, how the money is used and the link with vital public services.’

All the material is available for schools and charities to use.

The Tax Facts and Junior Tax Facts animations are available on HMRC’s YouTube channel here.

The teachers’ resources are published on the Times Educational Supplement (TES) website here and here.

Report by Pat Sweet