Ministers reject childcare changes

Controversial childcare changes suggested by Tories at Westminster have been rejected by the Scottish Government.

Youth employment minister Angela Constance said maintaining the ratio of staff to children in nurseries was “very important”.

She spoke out after the issue exposed divisions in the coalition Government at Westminster.

Tory education minister Liz Truss announced proposals which could see the rules eased for childminders and nurseries, allowing each member of staff to be able to look after four children aged under one rather than three. It was also proposed the ratio for two-year-olds would rise from four to six per adult.

But Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he was not persuaded the changes were right.

Ms Constance stressed the importance of keeping the staffing ratios as they are. She said: “We don’t want to compromise the quality of childcare and maintaining the ratios is very important to us.”

Ms Constance spoke out on the issue when she was questioned by MSPs on Holyrood’s Equal Opportunities Committee as part of their inquiry into women and work.

She told the committee that the lack of affordable, accessible childcare has a “far greater impact on women’s participation in the labour market than men”.

Ministers have already put forward proposals which, if passed, will mean youngsters will be eligible for 600 hours of funded early learning and childcare a year – an increased from the current 475 hours.

Three and four-year-olds will benefit from the additional care, as well as two-year-olds who are in care and two-year-olds who are looked after by a relative under a new kinship care order.