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By Rachel Lawler

 

Early years providers are being encouraged to response to a on the impact of business rates.

 

Nurseries based in Scotland have been exempt from paying business rates since April 2018 and settings in Wales will have a similar exemption from April 2019 onwards.

 

However, the government has not made the same change in England and some early years settings must still pay business rates. Local authorities can currently choose to offer local rate relief to early years settings, but there is no national guidance or funding for this.

 

Early years providers based in England are encouraged to respond to the inquiry. The deadline for written submissions is 2 April 2019.

 

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, said: 鈥淚t beggars belief that the government is still refusing to budge on this issue, despite the fact that providers in Wales and Scotland have now been granted exemption from business rates.

 

鈥淢any settings have seen a significant increase in business rates over recent years, putting even more pressure on their finances at an already incredibly challenging time.

 

鈥淚t鈥檚 vital, therefore, that as many providers as possible respond to this inquiry, and ensure that the government remembers that this is an issue affecting more than just shops, pubs and other retailers.鈥�

 

However, Neil emphasised that changes to the government鈥檚 approach to business rates would only go some way to addressing financial pressures on the sector.

 

He added: 鈥淲ith the vast majority of provider outgoings spent on salaries, and the national living and minimum wages set to rise in April, it鈥檚 vital that the fundamental and overarching issue of inadequate funding is tackled once and for all, and this is something that the Alliance will on behalf of all our members across the sector.鈥�