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Childcare restrictions to be relaxed, minister announces Childcare restrictions to be relaxed, minister announces
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A relaxation in the number of pre-school children that nurseries and registered childminders can oversee has been announced as part of a move to professionalise the pre-school workforce and cut the cost of childcare in England.A relaxation in the number of pre-school children that nurseries and registered childminders can oversee has been announced as part of a move to professionalise the pre-school workforce and cut the cost of childcare in England.
Elizabeth Truss, the early years minister, has proposed that childminders, currently restricted to looking after three children per staff member from the ages of one to five inclusive, should in future be permitted to look after four children. They would also be allowed to look after two children under one year of age, instead of the current one.Elizabeth Truss, the early years minister, has proposed that childminders, currently restricted to looking after three children per staff member from the ages of one to five inclusive, should in future be permitted to look after four children. They would also be allowed to look after two children under one year of age, instead of the current one.
Truss will seek to allay parents' fears of their children being neglected by overpressed staff, pointing out that the relaxation she proposes still leaves more restrictive ratios than Denmark, France and Germany – three countries often seen as providing high-quality care for pre-school children. The minister will quote experts claiming that in Britain more qualifications are needed to look after animals than toddlers. Truss will seek to allay parents' fears of their children being neglected by overpressed staff, pointing out that the relaxation she proposes still leaves more restrictive ratios than Denmark, France and Germany – three countries often cited as providing high-quality care for pre-school children. The minister will quote experts claiming that in Britain more qualifications are needed to look after animals than toddlers.
She is also proposing that nurseries be allowed to relax their ratios when qualified staff are present, increasing from four to six two-year-old children per staff member.She is also proposing that nurseries be allowed to relax their ratios when qualified staff are present, increasing from four to six two-year-old children per staff member.
In the case of one-year-olds, the permitted staff-to-child ratios would rise from the current one-to-three to one-to-four. The ratios would rise further if a fully-qualified teacher is present. She will also relax how these rules are interpreted.In the case of one-year-olds, the permitted staff-to-child ratios would rise from the current one-to-three to one-to-four. The ratios would rise further if a fully-qualified teacher is present. She will also relax how these rules are interpreted.
"One of the problems that parents have is not just the exorbitant cost, it is the availability [of childcare]. I personally have struggled to find a nursery place for love or money, and many parents say that," Truss said on Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday morning."One of the problems that parents have is not just the exorbitant cost, it is the availability [of childcare]. I personally have struggled to find a nursery place for love or money, and many parents say that," Truss said on Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday morning.
By raising care ratios, Truss said, popular operations would be able to expand by economies of scale, which would make childcare more widely available. Reforms, she said, would also mean better paid and better qualified staff.By raising care ratios, Truss said, popular operations would be able to expand by economies of scale, which would make childcare more widely available. Reforms, she said, would also mean better paid and better qualified staff.
"The pay level of staff at the moment – nursery workers are getting £6.60 an hour – it's barely more than the minimum wage. I do not think that is an acceptable wage rate for what should be a professional job."The pay level of staff at the moment – nursery workers are getting £6.60 an hour – it's barely more than the minimum wage. I do not think that is an acceptable wage rate for what should be a professional job.
"What I want to see [in nursery care] is something that is much more a continuum of the education system.""What I want to see [in nursery care] is something that is much more a continuum of the education system."
The Department for Education said the proposals were dependent on staff possessing higher qualifications, including C-grade GCSE maths and English. The Department for Education (DfE) said the proposals were dependent on staff possessing higher qualifications, including C-grade GCSE maths and English.
The DfE said: "England's relatively tight ratios have two main effects: higher costs for parents and lower pay for staff. In turn, low pay drags down the quality of the workforce. In other countries providers can use the extra income they get from taking on more children to reduce fees for parents and pay staff more, but this is not possible in England."The DfE said: "England's relatively tight ratios have two main effects: higher costs for parents and lower pay for staff. In turn, low pay drags down the quality of the workforce. In other countries providers can use the extra income they get from taking on more children to reduce fees for parents and pay staff more, but this is not possible in England."
The proposed flexibility has been labelled "unacceptable and a recipe for disaster" by the Pre-School Learning Alliance, the largest representative organisation of early years providers.The proposed flexibility has been labelled "unacceptable and a recipe for disaster" by the Pre-School Learning Alliance, the largest representative organisation of early years providers.
Labour has also attacked the proposals. The shadow education secretary, Stephen Twigg, said: "Experts are warning this could threaten child safety and won't reduce costs. Parents will be worried."Labour has also attacked the proposals. The shadow education secretary, Stephen Twigg, said: "Experts are warning this could threaten child safety and won't reduce costs. Parents will be worried."
Truss is also to propose that "one-stop shop" child agencies be given more freedom to help home-based childminders.Truss is also to propose that "one-stop shop" child agencies be given more freedom to help home-based childminders.
Truss will tell the Policy Exchange thinktank: "We have seen a decrease in the number of childminders over recent years. This is, in part, because childminders have to be business owners. Some people want a simpler way to enter the profession and parents want to be assured of quality. So we are setting up 'one-stop shops' called childminder agencies to do the practicalities and to give parents some reassurance over quality."Truss will tell the Policy Exchange thinktank: "We have seen a decrease in the number of childminders over recent years. This is, in part, because childminders have to be business owners. Some people want a simpler way to enter the profession and parents want to be assured of quality. So we are setting up 'one-stop shops' called childminder agencies to do the practicalities and to give parents some reassurance over quality."
She added she would introduce graduate-level early years teachers specifically trained to teach young children. Only 23% of nursery staff, and 10% of home-based childminders, are qualified to A-level standard or equivalent. She added she would introduce graduate-level early years teachers trained specifically to teach young children. Only 23% of nursery staff, and 10% of home-based childminders, are qualified to A-level standard or equivalent.
Her announcement is a precursor to a wider set of proposals to help families with the cost of childcare, now bogged down in coalition politics, which are unlikely to emerge until late February.Her announcement is a precursor to a wider set of proposals to help families with the cost of childcare, now bogged down in coalition politics, which are unlikely to emerge until late February.