CYP Now - Concern over Kwarteng's pledge to ‘move forward’ with controversial childcare reforms

Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng has announced plans to “bring forward reforms to improve access to affordable, flexible childcare”, in his first mini budget, sparking concern among the early years sector.

Kwasi Kwarteng said reforms will improve access to affordable childcare. Picture: Parliament UK

The budget, which includes cuts to income tax and changes to Universal Credit thresholds for those in part-time work as well as a reiteration of plans to cap energy rates for businesses, gives no further details on which reforms are set to be pushed forward, how or when the changes will be implemented.

The announcement has prompted concern among early years leaders that it relates to proposed changes to childcare regulation including relaxing child: staff ratios for two-year-olds in line with the system used in Scotland.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said it is “incredibly concerning that the government is already suggesting that it will go ahead with its relaxation plans” just weeks after a consultation on them closed.

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