The Government wants to provide good-quality, affordable childcare. Yet how can anyone running a private nursery afford to pay their staff more and also keep fees low for parents? The answer is to scrap the business rates that nurseries have to pay.
Our nursery pays 12,000 a year in business rates. But if we didn't have to pay this we would be able to give all of our hard-working staff an extra 1,000 a year. The Government gives with one hand - nursery education grants for three- and four-year-olds - but takes away with the other, by making nurseries pay extremely high business rates.
I read in my local newspaper recently that a sports centre was having its rates reduced so that it could offer cheaper entrance fees in order to encourage more people to keep fit. Why can't the same help be given to nurseries? The Government must either reduce or scrap the rates.
Marcelle Cunningham Owner, Clifton Tots Day Nursery, Bristol
