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Nick Clegg casts doubt on coalition's childcare reforms Nick Clegg casts doubt on coalition's childcare reforms
(about 2 hours later)
The coalition's flagship childcare reforms have been thrown into doubt after Nick Clegg signalled he does not support loosening ratios in nurseries. Nick Clegg has said he is concerned that plans to increase staff-to-children ratios may represent too great a challenge for childminders, and the issue is being reviewed in government.
A spokesman for the deputy prime minister said he "remained to be convinced" that staff and childminders should be allowed to look after more youngsters. The childcare minister Liz Truss had proposed increasing the number of under-ones each adult can look after from three to four and the number of two-year-olds from four to six. The number of three-year-olds would stay at eight or 13 children per adult, depending on whether a qualified graduate was present.
The policy, being championed by the Tory education minister Liz Truss, emerged after months of wrangling between the coalition parties. Truss believes many ratios are less restrictive in Europe, and the tight ratios imposed by the state in the UK are one reason for its higher childcare costs.
From September, the ratio for under-ones had been due to rise from three per adult to four. Each adult would be able to look after six two-year-olds instead of four. But the ratio for three-year-olds would stay at eight or 13 children per adult, depending on whether a qualified graduate was present. The proposal, which emerged after months of wrangling between the coalition parties, has been sharply criticised by the Pre-school Alliance and parent groups such as Mumsnet.
Truss has argued that the changes would lower childcare costs and allow professionals in the sector to be paid higher salaries. But the proposals have run into fierce opposition from experts and unions. The deputy prime minister, speaking on his weekly LBC radio phone-in programme, said the issue had been under discussion "for weeks and weeks", adding that he was as surprised as anyone else that the story had "appeared overnight".
Dropping them could have serious consequences for the wider childcare provision shake-up, which includes tax breaks worth £1,200 for families where both parents work. The task of one adult looking after six two-year-olds was a nightmare, he said, adding that he was passionate about better quality and more affordable childcare.
Clegg's spokesman said: "The delivery of good quality affordable childcare is one of Nick Clegg's biggest priorities in government. Clegg said: "It is not a great ideological thing, it is about getting it right for parents up and down the country. When the last government changed the so-called ratios for three- and four-year-olds, it had almost no effect in reducing the costs for parents whatsoever, so you do need to be led by the evidence and that is what I will continue to be in the debate."
"He has looked very closely at proposals to increase the number of children each adult can look after – and at the very serious concerns raised by parents and childcare providers in the recent government consultation. He added that a lot of the evidence in the consultation suggested there was a trade-off between quality and quantity. "I would challenge you to spend a morning look after six two-year-olds."
"Nick remains to be persuaded that this is the right thing to do for very young children, or, crucially, to be persuaded that this would actually help families with high childcare costs. This continues to be discussed in government." He said it was vital that the government got the decision right.
The shadow education secretary, Stephen Twigg, said: "David Cameron's childcare plans have descended into chaos. Labour has warned for months that increasing the number of children that nursery staff look after would threaten child safety and the quality of care. He stressed the proposals did not jeopardise plans to offer free childcare tax breaks worth £1,200 for two parents planned for 2015, saying the income stream for those plans came from elsewhere.
"After intense opposition, including from parents, childcare staff and experts, the government appear to be U-turning on ratios. Ministers need to come to parliament to confirm that these proposals are being dropped." The shadow education secretary, Stephen Twigg, said the government's childcare reforms had "descended into chaos", and called on ministers to appear before parliament.
"After intense opposition, including from parents, childcare staff and experts, the government appear to be U-turning on ratios," Twigg said. "This is a government with no real answers to the childcare crisis facing parents."
An education minister is scheduled to answer an urgent question in the Commons on the subject on Thursday.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "We are reforming the childcare system so that providers have more flexibility when they have highly qualified staff. Ratio changes, which are not compulsory, will allow providers to have the flexibility to increase pay for better qualified workers.A Downing Street spokesman said: "We are reforming the childcare system so that providers have more flexibility when they have highly qualified staff. Ratio changes, which are not compulsory, will allow providers to have the flexibility to increase pay for better qualified workers.
"We are clear that quality and safety are paramount – any changes to ratios will only be on the basis of increased qualification levels and will not be mandatory. The consultation was agreed government policy and we will respond to it in due course.""We are clear that quality and safety are paramount – any changes to ratios will only be on the basis of increased qualification levels and will not be mandatory. The consultation was agreed government policy and we will respond to it in due course."