The outcry against the government’s plans to allow nurseries and childminders to relax staff-to-child ratios is scaremongering, driven somewhat by showboating rather than evidence. The government is proposing that nurseries should be able to relax staff-to-child ratios if they employ higher-quality staff. Ratios will be relaxed for childminders too: but this should also be dependent on these professionals having higher qualifications.
From all the outrage anyone would think Elizabeth Truss was forcing providers to cut staff ratios. But all she is proposing is that they have the flexibility to do so. If they really believe laxer ratios will undermine children’s safety and outcomes, they need not sign a petition; rather, just keep their ratios the same. And if parents do not like relaxed ratios, their demand will switch to providers with stricter ratios; the market gives parents choice.
Crucially though, the available evidence does not suggest there is a perfect staff-to-child ratio for nurseries or childminders.
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