Watch the PSLA video for Parents here
The Pre‑school Learning Alliance has launched the Rewind on Ratios campaign to give parents a united voice against planned changes to childcare ratios in England.
Existing practitioner petitions, which have already received tens of thousands of signatures after just a few weeks, appear to have been ignored by the Government. The Alliance’s official government petition will help ensure that the concerns of thousands of parents using professional childcare every day are not ignored in the same way.
The Alliance has been inundated with calls, letters and emails from parents who are rightly concerned about the impact of these changes on the quality and safety of their family’s childcare.
“I think the plans are shocking – how can we ensure our children are being properly supervised with fewer adults per child? Babies need as much attention as possible.” – B. Richardson, parent
“People who think this is a good idea should try looking after multiple toddlers. 4:1 ratio is only just viable. 6:1 would be dangerous.” – S. Withshire, parent
“I feel the Government should stop shirking its responsibility of providing affordable childcare through subsidies. Young children need more one-to-one time with carers, not less. This will only dilute the quality of childcare and attention young ones need.” – M. Cansick, parent
Since the announcement on the planned ratio changes, the Alliance has received a growing number of requests from parents asking for us to set‑up an online campaign for them, with many specifically interested in signing up to an official government petition.
The Government has made it clear that its priority is keeping parents happy. Its main argument in defence of these ratio plans is that the changes will give parents more choice and “allow them to give their children the best start in life”.
Once the petition receives 10,000 signatures, the Government must provide an official response and this target could be reached today with just 786 signatures required.
When it reaches 100,000 signatures the topic will be considered for discussion in the House of Commons
Get Involved:
You can download the campaign overview here and practitioners are being asked to help by:
- Signing the petition
- Sharing the petition link with at least FIVE other parents
- Asking each of those parents to do the same
2) Featuring a link to the petition on your setting website homepage or news section
3) Including information on the petition, with the link, in your regular parent newsletters
4) If your setting has a Facebook page, help promote the campaign by liking our page www.facebook.com/rewindonratios
You can also download a tear‑and‑share poster to help spread the word about the petition to your setting’s parents. Simply need to print out as many posters as you need, cut along the trim lines at the bottom, then pin them to your parent noticeboard or display in your reception areas. Parents can then take away the petition website address and sign up when it suits them later.
Will you encourage your parents to sign the e-petition? Let us know below.
I am very concerned by the government’s plans to cut childcare ratios further. No amount of professional qualifications will change the fact that young children need close supervision for their safety and plenty of adult attention for them to learn and develop.
I feel so sad that Truss in her ignorance is going to bring crashing down years of growth and development that makes childcare in the UK the envy of many other countries.
I have been involved in childcare for over 25 years and can’t believe that this government is going to destroy in one swoop all that I have seen nurtured and developed over the past years! If the changes proposed in the Greater Childcare document go ahead, this government will likely be long gone (in a few short years) when the cracks start to show and the impact of their stupidity becomes clear. Then it will take years to build the industry back up to where it is currently AND ALL TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR YOUNG CHILDREN.
My key concern is where safeguarding issues arise and the vulnerability of practitioners ….need I say more?
Having worked in this industry for over 33 years I have to say that I am absolutely appalled at this
minister’s obvious lack of knowledge in this area. She has continually talked about mirroring best practice in France and Belgium yet has her facts completely wrong and indeed colleagues from those countries are asking us to help them because they prefer our practice ! She clearly doesn’t understand child development, children’s learning or actually anything to do with young children. Many real experts who are well equipped to give her correct advice have been ignored and clearly her agenda is around saving money not improving young children’s lives.
If she continues on this path then people such as myself will start shouting loudly and joining a movement that is growing stronger by the minute. We will not let this woman destroy young children’s lives – and this is exactly what she will do if she continues in this vain. She is making statements and then contradicting herself at every turn – I hope that parents will challenge these proposals for the sake of their children and the future of our country.
No professional is qualified enough to look after so many young children , they cannot meet their personal hygiene needs, developmental needs, emotional needs or keep them safe. Very young children also need plenty of space which these proposals seem to be reducing –