Plans for ratio reform hit opposition from Clegg

Nick Clegg’s spokesperson said that the Deputy PM is not convinced that parents will benefit from changes to allow staff in nurseries and childminders to care for more children and will challenge the Government on the proposals.

A spokesman for the Deputy Prime Minister said, 'The delivery of good quality, affordable childcare is one of Nick Clegg's biggest priorities in Government. He has looked very closely at proposals to increase the number of children each adult can look after - and at the very serious concerns raised by parents and childcare providers in the recent government consulation.   

'Nick remains to be persuaded that this is the right thing to do for very young children. Or, crucially, to be persuaded that this would actually help families with high childcare costs. This continues to be discussed in Government.'

Stephen Twigg MP, Labour’s shadow education secretary, said, ‘David Cameron's childcare plans have descended into chaos. Labour has warned for months that increasing the number of children that nursery staff look after would threaten child safety and the quality of care.

‘This is a Government with no real answers to the childcare crisis facing parents. After intense opposition, including from parents, childcare staff and experts, the Government appear to be u-turning on ratios.

‘Ministers need to come to Parliament to confirm that these proposals are being dropped. They need to now think again about their cuts to tax credits and other childcare support to families.’

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said, ‘We greatly welcome Nick Clegg's comment that he 'remains to be persuaded' about childcare ratio changes as we have been campaigning against these ridiculous changes ever since they were proposed by the Government back in January.

‘Thousands of parents and practitioners, as well as some of the country's leading early years academics, are against these changes, which will lower the overall quality of childcare in this country. We trust the Deputy Prime Minister will listen to what parents and the sector have to say about these proposals, which we believe are a huge mistake."

The Alliance has an online petition on the Government’s e-petition website against changes to childcare ratios. The petition, at www.rewindonratios.com, which calls on the Government to scrap its plans on childcare ratio changes and to undertake a proper consultation with early years practitioners and parents, has more than 11,400 signatures so far and has attracted the support of Mumsnet and Netmums.

A paper petition by the Alliance has also been signed by 16,000 parents.

Voice General Secretary Deborah Lawson said, ‘We call on Mr Clegg to stand firm and block these changes.

‘We understand that he ‘remains to be persuaded that this is the right thing to do for very young children’ or ‘that this would actually help families with high childcare costs’. He is right to have doubts on both counts. We would urge him to really listen to those who know – the early years and childcare workforce, providers, parents and the Government’s own advisers, including Professor Nutbrown – and not to treat this as a tactic for making political gains elsewhere.

‘While it is important to raise qualification standards and the status of childcare as a profession, the Government’s plans would not reduce the price parents pay for childcare while changing the ratios would cut corners and compromise children’s safety and the quality of provision.’

She added, ‘We do not believe that the savings providers would supposedly achieve by increasing ratios would be sufficient to enable them to buy high quality training, increase staff wages and make childcare more affordable for parents. The plans as they stand are trying to achieve the impossible.

‘While childcarers would welcome higher wages and status they do not want this to be at the expense of children’s safety and care. They will not be given an extra pair of eyes and an extra pair of hands.

‘We hope that ministers will now think again about how to balance cost, quality and affordability – the greatest challenge facing the childcare industry – and about the wider childcare industry, including the training and registration of nannies. Neither nannies or nanny agencies are even mentioned in More Great Childcare.’

• More soon.