A petition against the government’s plans to change the ratios of the number of adults to children in early years settings such as nurseries and registered childminders has received more than 21,000 signatures in less than three weeks.
The petition (www.keepratiosdown.co.uk), started by the Childminding Forum
(www.childmindingforum.co.uk), the UK’s largest free online community for registered childminders, was written after forum members voiced their concerns about the potential effects of increased ratios and has since gained the support of other childcare professionals and parents.
When the announcement was first made by Elizabeth Truss, Minister for Education and Childcare in January 2013, we raised some concerns about this. Any parent who has young children at a busy nursery and has had unexplained scratches, trips and falls will know that managing the current three children to one adult is a task that’s risky enough for childcare providers.
Sarah Neville, an Ofsted Outstanding rated registered childminder for 19years, says the ‘More Great Childcare’ proposals are “likely to put the wellbeing, health, safety and education of our youngest and most vulnerable children under threat”.
Sarah, who claims that the proposals create more questions than answers, has produced a 34-page analysis of the plan and is urging the government to reconsider its plans on ratios and other changes such as the introduction of childminder agencies. Members of the Childminding Forum say they want to remain independent and do not want agencies in their local areas.
Sarah added: “We have listened to childminder concerns and our analysis of the ‘More Great Childcare’ plan challenges the government to answer urgent questions which childminders throughout the country are asking.”
If you agree and share these concerns, you can sign the petition: www.keepratiosdown.co.uk
