Ratios petition reaches 100,000 signatures
By Caroline Wadham
An official government opposing the relaxation of staff-child ratios in early years settings in England has reached 100,000 signatures.
The petition, started by Zoe and Lewis Steeper, whose son Oliver tragically died after an incident at a nursery, reached 100,000 signatures on 28 September, the one-year anniversary of Oliver鈥檚 death.
By reaching 100,000 signatures it will now be considered for a debate in parliament.
The government is proposing to increase the maximum number of two-year-olds per adult in nurseries and pre-schools in England from 4 to 5. The plans are widely expected to form part of the 'childcare reforms' included in the government's Growth Plan.
The official government consultation on the proposals closed on Friday 16 September.
鈥楳indless policy鈥
Neil Leitch, CEO of the 无码天堂, commented: 鈥淭he fact that this petition has now reached 100,000 signatures clearly shows how worried both providers and parents are about the likely impact of proposed ratios changes on the early years sector in England.
鈥淟et's be clear: changing ratios is a mindless policy that will do more harm than good to a sector already on its knees. These changes have been falsely sold as a cost-saving measure when, as our own research shows, it will do little 鈥 if anything 鈥 to deliver savings to parents. Instead, all these proposals will do is put the quality of care and early education children receive at risk, and place even more pressure on an already-overburdened workforce in the middle of a staffing crisis.
鈥淕iven the complete lack of appetite for any changes demonstrated by the success of this petition, it鈥檚 clear that this issue must be now debated in parliament as a matter of urgency.
鈥淲e would like to thank Zoe and Lewis Steeper who, during a time of unimaginable personal tragedy, have campaigned tirelessly and selflessly to highlight this issue. We are very proud to join them in calling for the government to scrap this ridiculous policy before it has a disastrous and irreversible impact on our vital sector.鈥