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Original poster

To think change in childcare ratios will lower childcare standards

4 replies

moogy1a · 29/01/2013 08:17

Proposed change in ratios for nurseries and childminders means that some nurseries will almost double the number of children with the same number of staff.
How can this possibly improve childcare standards? Common sense says more children, less attention per child no matter how qualified the staff.
The proposal also seems to think this will lower costs. it won't. Costs per child will be the same but nursery profits will increase.
For CM's the ratios are also to increase. The whole point of CM's is that you can get out and about to parks / playgroups etc. How will that happen with 4 one year ols to transport?

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MNHQ

JaneGMumsnet · 29/01/2013 09:39

Morning all,

Elizabeth Truss MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (education and childcare) has written a Mumsnet Bloggers' Network guest blog, outlining her proposed changes for early years childcare, so do take a look here.

The Minister will also be joining us for a webchat next Thursday, 7 February, 1pm-2pm so do watch this space so you can pose some questions.

Here's a summary of today's proposed changes:

The government plan to do this by relaxing the ratios of child to care worker with more highly educated carers.

The ratios will change as follows:

Children aged under 1 will change from 1 adult:3 babies to 1:4
Children aged 1 will change from 1:3 to 1:4
Children aged 2 will change from 1:4 to 1:6
Chidren aged 3+ will not changed - it's currently 1:8 (or 1:13 if led by a qualified teacher) and will remain the same

Currently in England childminders can have a maximum of 6 children under the age of 8, a maximum of 3 young children (until Sept 1 following their 5th bday) and a maximum of one child under one.

Proposed for England - childminders can have a maximum of 6 children under the age of 8, a maximum of 4 young children (until Sept 1 following their 5th bday) and a maximum of two children under one.

Local authority inspections will be dropped and quality will be assessed solely by Ofsted - not both Ofsted and local authority.

More early years teachers will work in childcare each with a degree.
All early years educators will be required to have at least a C grade in GCSE English and maths.

And finally, when we surveyed MNers in June 2012, we found that only 5% of you were in favour of relaxed ratios if it meant costs would be cut - do take a look here.

Thanks
MNHQ

MNHQ

JessMumsnet · 30/01/2013 17:05

Following Liz Truss MP's guest blog yesterday, Stephen Twigg (Chair of Labour's Childcare Commission) has written a response, explaining why his party won't be supporting the changes to childcare announced this week.

Do have a read of his guest blog here.

MNHQ

JessMumsnet · 01/02/2013 10:38

Hello all
We've got another guest blog response to these proposals - this time from childcare expert Penelope Leach. Do pop over and have a look, it's a very interesting read.

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 28/04/2013 19:49

Hello

Mumsnetters gave Education & Childcare Minister Liz Truss quite a grilling when she came in for a webchat to discuss the Government?s changes to childcare ratios. Of the 407 posts, the Minister?s voice in support of the plans was singular ? parents, voters and childcare workers spoke out in force and unanimously against increases to childcare ratios. The message we received was clear: there is precious little support on Mumsnet for this policy.

Because of this, numerous threads on Mumsnet, and knowing that just 5% of surveyed Mumsnetters said they?d be happy to see the number of childcare staff reduced (even if that meant the cost of childcare was to fall), we've been in touch with the Pre-school Learning Alliance's and are happy to be backing its campaign ?Rewind on Ratios?.

The ?Rewind on Ratios? campaign calls on the Government to scrap its plans on childcare ratios changes, and to undertake a full consultation with practitioners and parents on future proposals. They highlight concerns for both child safety and child support, if childcare ratios are to be relaxed (you can read more about this here) They're asking parents to sign their official Government e-petition and the Alliance's paper petition; currently around 22,000 parents have backed the campaign.

JustineMumsnet announced Mumsnet's backing of "Rewind on Ratios", saying: 'There's a lot of concern amongst Mumsnet users about the Government's plans to relax childcare ratios. Four babies under the age of one seems like a lot for even the most experienced childcare worker to manage. When we surveyed our members about the cost of childcare, only 5% of parents supported ratio relaxation even if it meant lower costs. We really do think the Government needs to rethink its plans.'

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