So, what has changed? Is the sector now supportive? Has new evidence emerged it will reduce costs? Or is England increasingly out of step with other countries?
The shift to one staff member being able to look after five children, from the current one-to-four ratio, appears on the face of it to be a minor change – in its response to a consultation on the plans, the government describes it as a “sensible and proportionate step”. Yet, most respondents to a Department for Education consultation said they were against the move because of concerns it could undermine the quality of provision, increase safety risks and make the job harder than it is already – the same concerns raised a decade ago.
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