July 05, 2022

Plan to Reduce UK Nursery-to-Child Ratio: Angers Carers and Parents

I In order to ease cost of living expenses, measures to lower child care expenses for parents have been released by the UK government. UK government sources claim that a major change is the staff-to-child ratio, which would allow each adult to care for five two-year-olds instead of the present four. If providers implement the adjustments and pass on all the savings to the common man, the proposed shift may lower prices by up to 15%, or £40 per week, for a family paying £265 per week for care for a two-year-old.

While the government claims the reduction of nursery staff is a great plan, the proposed move has drawn flak from child-care organisations, parents, and caregivers who have called out the bad plan and claim it is a disaster.

…we’re furious that after months and months of talking to the government, showing them data that, for two-thirds of families, childcare costs the same or more than their rent or mortgage and is pushing parents into poverty, children into poverty, they’ve come up with a proposal to change ratios that won’t reduce costs for parents but will just reduce quality…

Charity Pregnant Then Screwed has called the plan to reduce nursery to child ratio as “nonsense”. Joeli Brearley, the founder of Pregnant Then Screwed exclaimed, “We’re furious that after months and months of talking to the government, showing them data that, for two-thirds of families, childcare costs the same or more than their rent or mortgage and is pushing parents into poverty, children into poverty, they’ve come up with a proposal to change ratios that won’t reduce costs for parents but will just reduce quality.”

Allaying the fears of Pregnant Then Screwed, Purnima Tanuku, the CEO of National Day Nurseries Association said, “From when this was first mooted, the sector has been saying that altering ratios for two-year-olds from 1:4 to 1:5 won’t make any meaningful difference to the cost of childcare for providers or parents. That can only come from the government paying the full rate for funded childcare places for children under five.”

Neil Leitch, the CEO of the Early Years Alliance is another who has called the move a disaster, he was quoted as saying, “It is beyond frustrating that the government is wasting its time consulting on relaxing ratios, rather than just admitting that if we want to have affordable, quality, sustainable care and early education in this country, we need to invest substantially more into the sector than we are doing at the moment.” While there is opposition to the move, the government is still convinced their proposed plan will be a success.

In justification of the proposed nursery-staff reduction plan, the UK government has cited that a similar plan to reduce nursery staff worked well in Scotland. But the opponents are not convinced, Mrs. Tanuku refuted the government’s claim by saying that the early years framework in Scotland was "quite different in terms of certification levels, staff training, and support from their authorities," therefore the proposed new ratio would not bring England into line with Scotland.

In some relief to parents and caregivers, the UK government has plans to increase the number of childminders by giving them more flexibility and reducing inspections. Additionally, it has launched a £1.2 million campaign to encourage increased use of the universal credit childcare benefit and the £2,000-per-year tax-free childcare programme.

Speaking on the proposal, education secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, said: “Every child deserves a great start in life and that means giving families the support they need. Childcare is an integral part of our economy, and these reforms prove again that this government is on the side of working families. I’m hugely grateful to the thousands of dedicated early years professionals who provide daily care and education to our youngest children, which is why I am determined to support them by giving them greater flexibility in how they run their services.”

With both sides making strong points, it remains to be seen if either relents, only time will tell.

Posted in News and tagged News, UK, UK Government, Nursery-to-Child Ratio, Parents, Childcare
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