There has been speculation for weeks that ministers will lower the number of staff settings will need to employ in an attempt to keep childcare costs down for parents.
However, many nursery owners and childminders say the plans simply will not make any difference to childcare fees, partly because so many early years settings are struggling to remain sustainable in the face of under-funding for free early education places.
There are also grave concerns that increasing the number of children that early years staff can care for will inevitably compromise the quality of children’s learning and experiences, as well as their safety.
Childminder Penny Webb has launched a petition against the plans, which has so far been signed by more than 400 people.
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