Childcare Ratios Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Childcare Ratios

Lord Campbell-Savours Excerpts
Thursday 9th May 2013

(11 years ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Nash Portrait Lord Nash
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We have had more than 1,000 replies to the consultation and will examine them all closely.

Lord Campbell-Savours Portrait Lord Campbell-Savours
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My Lords, what evidence is there that the cost of childcare will drop? What assumptions are the Government making about the cost of childcare?

Lord Nash Portrait Lord Nash
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As I said earlier, we are driven by a desire for better quality. A third of our children enter primary school without adequate communication and language skills despite a 96% take-up of early-years provision. We are driven by a desire to improve quality, not to save money.

Lord Campbell-Savours Portrait Lord Campbell-Savours
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Will prices drop?

Lord Nash Portrait Lord Nash
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They will drop if nurseries are able to employ staff on ratios which enable them to operate more efficiently. There are providers in France who provide higher-quality childcare at more affordable rates because they are able to offer these flexible staffing ratios. More efficient providers may well be able to produce cheaper prices.