Under government plans to remove restrictions on the number of children that can be cared for by a single childcare provider, families might save £40 per week.
The recommendations call for increasing the staff-to-child ratios for two-year-olds from 1:4 to 1:5.
Ministers claim that this will increase providers’ operational freedom while safeguarding patient safety and high standards of care.
The Government stated that if providers embrace the adjustments and pass along any savings to parents, it may “possibly eventually” cut the cost of this type of childcare by up to 15%, or up to £40 per week for a family paying £265 per week for care.
The biggest early childhood organization in England, however, has criticized the plan.
The Early Years Alliance’s CEO, Neil Leitch, declared: “The Government is wasting its time consulting on loosening ratios.”
Not only would it be ineffective in bringing down early childhood education costs, but it will also compound the industry’s already dire recruitment and retention problems.
“Childcare is a vital element of our economy, and these reforms illustrate once again that this Government is on the side of working families,” said Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi.