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Seven in ten nurseries would not change staff: child ratios for two-year-olds, Government consultation finds

Most respondents to the Department for Education's consultation on changes to staff: child ratios for two-year-olds are against the plans, which the Government says will start in September.
The Government is going ahead with plans to increase the number of two-year-olds nursery and pre-school staff can care for to 1 to 5
The Government is going ahead with plans to increase the number of two-year-olds nursery and pre-school staff can care for to 1 to 5

The Government’s response to the ratios consultation, which took place last summer, was published on Budget day, after the Chancellor confirmed the Government would press ahead with increasing the number of two-year-olds nursery staff in England could care for.

The response confirms that the change is expected to come into force by September 2023, ‘subject to parliamentary procedure.’ The wording in the EYFS will be amended to reflect the change.

In his Budget speech on Wednesday, Jeremy Hunt said the Government would press ahead with changes to staff: child ratios in England, to allow nurseries and pre-schools to operate at a ratio of one staff member to five two-year-olds, rather than the current one to four ratio.

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