Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of business rates on (a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) independent nurseries.

In April 2025, the Government removed eligibility of private schools in England for business rates charitable rate relief. Schools that satisfy the definition of a private school have lost entitlement to charitable rate relief entirely. This definition may include private schools with some nursery classes, which, despite the presence of some nursery provision will still be, by their nature, private schools.

Standalone nursery schools, where they have their own business rates assessments, were excluded from the legislation and, where applicable, have retained their charitable rate relief. This approach best ensures consistency with the underlying policy intent.

Analysis on the expected impact of this policy can be found online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/removal-of-eligibility-of-private-schools-for-business-rates-charitable-relief/removal-of-eligibility-of-private-schools-for-business-rates-charitable-relief