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| Childcare reform proposals face fierce criticism | Childcare reform proposals face fierce criticism |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Parents and childcare bodies have come out strongly against government proposals to let carers look after more children. | |
| Elizabeth Truss, the early years minister, said the measure would bring limits in the UK in line with other European countries with good quality childcare, and would allow carers to earn more money and so encourage more into the profession. | Elizabeth Truss, the early years minister, said the measure would bring limits in the UK in line with other European countries with good quality childcare, and would allow carers to earn more money and so encourage more into the profession. |
| However, the announcement that a single nursery worker could look after up to four babies under one or up to six two-year-olds, and childminders could care for four under-fives including two babies, faced criticism from across the spectrum. | However, the announcement that a single nursery worker could look after up to four babies under one or up to six two-year-olds, and childminders could care for four under-fives including two babies, faced criticism from across the spectrum. |
| Neil Leitch, the chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, which describes itself as "the largest representative organisation of childcare and early years providers in England", said: "We are absolutely appalled by this fixation to alter ratios, despite the fact that those working in the sector are universally opposed to the proposal." | Neil Leitch, the chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, which describes itself as "the largest representative organisation of childcare and early years providers in England", said: "We are absolutely appalled by this fixation to alter ratios, despite the fact that those working in the sector are universally opposed to the proposal." |
| The National Childminding Association, which represents home-based childminders and nannies, said there was "some good news" – where the proposals had been adapted to take into account previous concerns about raising the limit for childminders from a total of six to eight young children – but it still had "significant concerns", particularly about increasing the number of under-fives without extra support, and allowing childminding agencies, which could dilute inspection of individual carers in their homes. | The National Childminding Association, which represents home-based childminders and nannies, said there was "some good news" – where the proposals had been adapted to take into account previous concerns about raising the limit for childminders from a total of six to eight young children – but it still had "significant concerns", particularly about increasing the number of under-fives without extra support, and allowing childminding agencies, which could dilute inspection of individual carers in their homes. |
| "Parents rely on Ofsted inspection of individual childminders to reassure them their child will be safe and receive a quality experience in that individual's care," said Liz Bayram, the association's joint chief executive. "Ultimately the business model for an agency is based on recruiting lots of childminders willing to pay them a fee and, potentially a commission, for placing parents with them." | "Parents rely on Ofsted inspection of individual childminders to reassure them their child will be safe and receive a quality experience in that individual's care," said Liz Bayram, the association's joint chief executive. "Ultimately the business model for an agency is based on recruiting lots of childminders willing to pay them a fee and, potentially a commission, for placing parents with them." |
| Purnima Tanuku, the chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, said many parents were worried the changes would have a negative impact on their children, adding: "We are particularly concerned about suggestions to increase the number of children under three that nursery staff can look after, due to the degree of personal attention needed by very young children. | Purnima Tanuku, the chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, said many parents were worried the changes would have a negative impact on their children, adding: "We are particularly concerned about suggestions to increase the number of children under three that nursery staff can look after, due to the degree of personal attention needed by very young children. |
| "Strong adult-child interactions are vital for good child development. Staff with higher qualifications will still find it difficult to give larger groups of under-threes the level of practical care they need." | "Strong adult-child interactions are vital for good child development. Staff with higher qualifications will still find it difficult to give larger groups of under-threes the level of practical care they need." |
| Tanuku's claim is backed by surveys by two of the country's most popular parent networking sites: a survey for Mumsnet found only 5% of parents wanted higher child-to-minder ratios, even if that reduced costs; and another for Netmums found 20% supported the idea, one quarter were not sure and 55% were opposed. | Tanuku's claim is backed by surveys by two of the country's most popular parent networking sites: a survey for Mumsnet found only 5% of parents wanted higher child-to-minder ratios, even if that reduced costs; and another for Netmums found 20% supported the idea, one quarter were not sure and 55% were opposed. |
| On Tuesday morning their websites were dominated by negative reaction, with members fearing the new system could be abused by nurseries to lower staff costs rather than fees, and that there would be lower standards of care and more accidents. | On Tuesday morning their websites were dominated by negative reaction, with members fearing the new system could be abused by nurseries to lower staff costs rather than fees, and that there would be lower standards of care and more accidents. |
| "I can see it widening the gap between rich and poor, with people paying more just to get a decent ratio and others just having to accept the changes and reduction in care," suggested one Mumsnet member. | "I can see it widening the gap between rich and poor, with people paying more just to get a decent ratio and others just having to accept the changes and reduction in care," suggested one Mumsnet member. |
| Stephen Twigg, the shadow education secretary, said: "The government isn't listening to parents and isn't listening to what the experts are saying about this. Under this proposal, we could have childminders looking after four one-year-old babies. At that age it is vitally important that children are getting proper care and attention. I don't think it's right to change this." | Stephen Twigg, the shadow education secretary, said: "The government isn't listening to parents and isn't listening to what the experts are saying about this. Under this proposal, we could have childminders looking after four one-year-old babies. At that age it is vitally important that children are getting proper care and attention. I don't think it's right to change this." |
| Truss used her speech at the Policy Exchange thinktank in London to address a challenge by the Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee about how the minister herself would cope with looking after so many children. | Truss used her speech at the Policy Exchange thinktank in London to address a challenge by the Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee about how the minister herself would cope with looking after so many children. |
| "I don't start from the premise that anyone can be an early educator," said Truss. "It's a very demanding job that requires great and specialist expertise. I'm not trained to do the job. I'm a politician, not an early educator, and I'm equally sure that I would not be able to walk into a class of 30 14-year-olds and teach them German." | "I don't start from the premise that anyone can be an early educator," said Truss. "It's a very demanding job that requires great and specialist expertise. I'm not trained to do the job. I'm a politician, not an early educator, and I'm equally sure that I would not be able to walk into a class of 30 14-year-olds and teach them German." |
| Other critics said the government had failed to address criticisms of the system. | Other critics said the government had failed to address criticisms of the system. |
| Chis Keates, the general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said: "The simple fact is that in many of the countries cited by the government, such as France, the costs of childcare are broadly comparable with those in England. The critical difference is that the level of state support for childcare is much higher, thereby reducing the price that parents are required to pay." | Chis Keates, the general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said: "The simple fact is that in many of the countries cited by the government, such as France, the costs of childcare are broadly comparable with those in England. The critical difference is that the level of state support for childcare is much higher, thereby reducing the price that parents are required to pay." |
| Frances O'Grady, the TUC general secretary, urged ministers to reconsider cuts that have made childcare even harder for parents to afford. "By cutting tax credits, freezing child benefit and withdrawing it for higher earners the government has made childcare even more unaffordable. The closure of hundreds of Sure Start centres, despite promising to protect them, has also made it harder to access affordable places. But deregulating childcare is not the solution." | |
| Truss sought 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. | Truss sought 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. |
| "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 (DfE) 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." |
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