Nursery World - Think tank backs relaxing childcare ratios to address the cost-of-living crisis

New research appears to support Government proposals to reduce staff to child ratios, as well as relaxing childcare regulations.

The Institute of Economic Affairs says that relaxing childcare ratios and removing some regulation of the sector would save parents money in childcare fees PHOTO Adobe Stock

The report from think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), which looks at ways to address the cost-of-living crisis, suggests that relaxing ratios in early years settings and removing some regulatory requirements would cut childcare costs by around 40 per cent or over £300 per child a month.

It states ‘Childcare costs in the UK have risen to one of the highest levels in the developed world. This is in large part due to stringent minimum staff-to-childcare (sic) ratios, the imposition of a “curriculum”, accreditation costs, and more generally, over-formalisation of the sector.'

It goes on to say, ‘Relaxing childcare sector regulatory requirements does not have to mean complete deregulation. It could merely mean bringing them into line with what is standard practice in many European neighbour countries. This could cut costs by around 40 per cent, or over £300 per child and per month.’

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