Early years providers in Wales given permanent business rates relief from Welsh government
By Shannon Pite
Registered early years providers in Wales will no longer have to pay business rates, the Welsh government has confirmed.
While registered early years premises in Wales have had 100% business rates relief since 2019 on a temporary basis, the full 100% rates relief has now been made permanent by the Welsh Government.
The move is estimated to save the Welsh early years sector £3.4 million a year.
Commenting, Dawn Bowden, Welsh minister for Children and Social Care said:
“Childcare settings provide an essential service in Wales, offering nurturing environments for our children and helping parents to access employment, education or training.
“But we know that the sector is under significant pressure and in need of ongoing support to meet their costs.
“Making business rates relief for registered childcare premises permanent will be a huge boost to the sector, providing stability and helping providers reinvest savings back into their business to continue delivering high quality and affordable childcare.
“It is the right thing to do for our children, parents and providers now and for the future.”
The Early Years Alliance continues to call on the government to exempt early years settings based in England from business rates, arguing in its 2024 manifesto for government that “rising business rates now present a significant – and growing – financial burden on many settings around the country” though noting that “given many providers are not subject to business rates, this alone would not be sufficient to ensure the overall long-term sustainability of the sector as a whole”.