Alliance slams reported government plans to relax childcare ratios

The Early Years Alliance has commented on 

In 2013, Coalition government plans to relax ratios in the early years sector were , following the Alliance's Rewind on Ratios campaign.

Commenting, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said: 

"We are dismayed by reports that the government plans to relax childcare ratios, and will fully oppose any attempts to do so.

"Let’s be clear: if the government does attempt to relax ratios, it won’t because they want to help providers or parents. It will because ministers see doing so as a shortcut to fixing the childcare crisis that they created without having to actually invest in the early years sector.

"Existing adult-child ratios in early years settings are there for a reason: they safeguard young children’s safety and wellbeing, and ensure that they get the best possible care and education. For the government to even consider making such a change would speak volumes about how little they value quality early care and education.

"When ministers tried to make this change eight years ago, parents and providers united to oppose it. We hope the government isn’t planning to make the same mistake twice."