Nursery World - Government keeps the early years sector guessing on childcare reforms

Early years organisations and campaigners have urged the new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to scrap plans to change staff-to-child ratios, and axe the deregulation agenda pursued by the previous PM Liz Truss.

Recent turmoil in the Conservative government has put childcare plans on hold PHOTO Adobe Stock

Uncertainty over the embattled Conservative Government’s proposed changes to regulations around ratios and plans for funding in recent weeks has left the sector reeling.

While the consultation on proposals to change staff-to-child ratios in childcare settings was carried out under Boris Johnson's government, it is well-known it was under previous PM Liz Truss, as early years minister nine years ago, that the plan to cut rules on the number of staff caring for children in early years settings was first put forward.

It has proved perennially unpopular, overwhelmingly opposed within the early years sector and among parents.

This time around is no different – with more than 100,000 signatures to the Parliamentary petition opposing changes, which would see the number of two-year-olds per staff cared for in settings increase from 1:4 to 1:5.

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