A matter of choice? The implications of relaxed ratios in Early years provision

This position piece discusses the implications of the current UK proposals regarding the relaxing of adult to child ratios in early years settings, for children aged two years old. It is taken from the position of a private day nursery owner who also advocates for inclusive education. An exploration of the current context in terms of the ‘cost of living crisis’ and the potential impact on early years settings is introduced. Then a brief historical overview of Early Education development, including key policies is discussed. Finally I highlight the conflict between being a business owner, struggling with the increased costs of staffing and the ethical dilemma of still providing high quality childcare during the cost-of-living crisis.