Jeremy Hunt told the House of Commons on Wednesday (15 March) that staff to child ratios for two-year-olds in England will change from 1:4 to 1:5, to align with Scotland.
The relaxation will be "optional", he added, and will be introduced in September 2023, subject to parliamentary procedure.
Hunt told MPs, as part of his Budget for 2023, that the relaxation of ratios is designed to lower costs for working parents.
A public consultation on the issue closed in September last year, with the government publishing its response today (15 March), following the Chancellor's announcement.
Plans to relax ratios have been widely criticised by the sector amid fears it could reduce the quality of care available to children. According to the government’s consultation response, most respondents opposed the change.
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