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Government responds to petition against relaxation of childcare ratios

Within its response to a petition against changing ratios, the Government has explained its rationale behind proposals to raise the number of two-year-olds that one member of staff can care for in early years settings in England.
The Government has provided a response to a petition against the reduction of childcare ratios for two-year-olds, PHOTO Adobe Stock
The Government has provided a response to a petition against the reduction of childcare ratios for two-year-olds, PHOTO Adobe Stock

In its response to the petition on the Parliament website, created by Zoe and Lewis Steeper whose son Oliver died in September, days after he was believed to have choked at nursery, the Government says that while the proposed changes to ratios would amend existing statutory minimum requirements, providers would continue to be able to staff above this if they would prefer.

It states, ‘These changes would hand greater autonomy to settings to exercise professional judgement in the way in which they staff their settings, according to the needs of their children, and help as many families as possible benefit from affordable, flexible, quality childcare.’

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