EXCERPTS:
nger and protest from the early years sector mounted over the weekend as
apparent leaks to national press saw more details of the proposals
expected in the Nutbrown response due out on Tuesday emerge.
Changes in staff: child ratios being reported were that it would be
one adult to four babies and one adult to six two-year-olds in
nurseries, while childminders would be able to care for two babies
rather than one and four under-fives rather than three.
Other rumoured proposals were for all childcarers to have GCSE
English and Maths, a new two-year qualification for Early Years
Educators, and the introduction of childminder agencies.
The sector’s ire was further fuelled by minister for education and
childcare Liz Truss’s comments about the need for young children to be
‘educated’ – interpreted by the Sunday Times in an interview with Ms
Truss as meaning that toddlers should be taught reading and maths at a
younger age ‘reassuring mothers that their children are receiving an
education and giving them the confidence to seek work’. The ST article
was headlined ‘Playtime is over in Britain’s nurseries’.
Kids Allowed chief executive Jennie Johnson, interviewed on the BBC,
said that the ratio plans would lead to ‘a two tier system’ where
children in poorer areas got poorer childcare. Her nursery group would
not cut ratios, she said, and already had many highly qualified staff.
Nursery World’s LinkedIn group discussion on the likely proposals was
united against cuts to ratios and the prospect of earlier formal
teaching. One nursery manager said, ‘This is so disappointing. All we
have worked so hard for, about to be undone. Is there anything we can do
to try to find more influential support? There is not one early years
organisation that I know of endorsing these decisions and much research
to show decisions and pressure of this kind on our youngest children
will not work. "Teaching" them earlier does not mean they are ready to
learn, in that formal way. I feel so sad about it all.’
Another said that Truss ‘has not even listened to the Europeans who
are reviewing the very policies she is advocating because they failed’.
Likewise, Twitter users weighed in against likely plans, with
nurseries pledging not to cut ratios. ‘As a nursery nurse I would not
want the responsibility of 4 tiny babies alone, what about the safety
aspect? Absolutely absurd,’ said one nursery. ‘Stop toddlers playing.
Tories march on,’ added poet and children’s author Michael Rosen.
Denise Burke, director of United for All Ages, added, ‘How will Liz
Truss square the circle of improving the quality of childcare, paying
staff more and making childcare more affordable to parents?
‘Her announcement is simply rearranging the deckchairs. Deregulating
nurseries and childminders so they can look after more children will
undermine quality and won’t make childcare more affordable. Evidence
from other countries like France and Holland shows that this is a move
in completely the wrong direction. When France reduced ratios in 2009,
there was a backlash from parents concerned about quality and higher
sickness levels among childcare workers. The French government is now
reviewing its policy. Similarly changes in Holland introduced in 2005
have not worked with many since reversed.
‘Surveys regularly show that parents’ biggest concern is the cost of
childcare. But Liz Truss’s announcement does nothing to tackle
affordability. Parents will have to wait until the Budget in March to
see what the government will do to help families on low and middle
incomes to pay for childcare.
‘The country is going through a baby boom so more families need
childcare. Better more affordable childcare requires substantial
investment by government as well as a review of how current funding is
used.’
-reprinted from Nursery World