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Wales Scraps Childcare Business Rates

Wales scraps business rates for childcare providers, offering financial relief and aiming to improve accessibility. However, calls remain for further investment and a more comprehensive childcare plan.

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English

United Kingdom

EconomyLabour MarketPolicyFundingWalesChildcare

Welsh GovernmentDaisy Day NurseryOxfam Cymru

Dawn BowdenMark DrakefordHelen SherrinSarah Rees

What are the calls for further action regarding childcare in Wales?: While the business rates relief is a positive step, advocates like Sarah Rees of Oxfam Cymru call for a more comprehensive plan for the future of funded childcare in Wales. This includes increased investment and a clear plan for extending funded childcare to all two-year-olds.
What are the financial challenges faced by childcare providers in Wales?: Childcare providers in Wales face significant financial pressures due to rising costs. The permanent business rates relief will help alleviate these pressures, allowing providers to focus on providing quality care rather than solely focusing on financial stability.
What are the differences in access to funded childcare between Wales and England?: Currently, families in Wales can access funded childcare after their child turns three. In contrast, families in England can access it for children as young as nine months old. This difference highlights the disparities in childcare access across the UK.
What is the Welsh government's recent decision regarding business rates for childcare providers?: The Welsh government has made the 100% rates relief for childcare providers permanent, saving them an estimated \u00a33.4 million annually. This move aims to improve the financial stability of childcare settings and enable them to reinvest savings in their businesses.
How does the business rates decision fit into the Welsh government's broader investment in childcare?: The Welsh government's decision to permanently scrap business rates for registered childcare providers is part of a larger \u00a3100 million annual investment in childcare. This investment aims to improve the affordability and accessibility of childcare in Wales.

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