From September, nursery staff can now be called on to look after five two-year-olds single-handedly, following changes to staff:child ratios. Many in the sector have argued this change will place unfair demands on staff and make settings less safe and enriching for children.
We are Grow Your Own – an oral history project that is uncovering the often little-known history of childcare and early years activism across London.
Almost 40 years ago, in 1984, nursery workers in Islington went on strike to lower the ratio of staff to children. As Julia Manning-Morton, one of those who went on strike, explains: ‘In 1982, Islington Council came to power after specifically identifying improvements for nursery staffand ratios in their manifesto.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
