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| Nick Clegg casts doubt on coalition's childcare reforms | Nick Clegg casts doubt on coalition's childcare reforms |
| (4 months later) | |
| Nick Clegg has said he is concerned that plans to reduce the ratio of childcare staff to children may represent too great a challenge for childminders and nursery workers, and the issue is being reviewed in government. | Nick Clegg has said he is concerned that plans to reduce the ratio of childcare staff to children may represent too great a challenge for childminders and nursery workers, and the issue is being reviewed in government. |
| 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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. | 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 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." | 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 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." | 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." |
| He said it was vital that the government got the decision right. | He said it was vital that the government got the decision right. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The shadow education secretary, Stephen Twigg, said the government's childcare reforms had "descended into chaos", and called on ministers to appear before parliament. | 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." | "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. | 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." |