The Government is set to review staff qualifications and adult:child ratios in the early years sector, amid reports that some providers are failing to meet their legal requirements because of the crisis in staff recruitment and retention.
Ministers committed themselves last year to undertaking a review of the key National Standards by April 2005, but no timetable has yet been set.
Leading practitioners, representatives and academics are arguing against any relaxation in ratios for the youngest children and say any changes in staff numbers for three- to five-year-olds must be balanced by an increase in staff qualifications.
Hard evidence is scarce about the incidence of settings breaking ratios.
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