Concern over nursery rules
Concerns have been raised about new rules which could see more children at Bath's nurseries.
Owner of Bath-based Snapdragons Nurseries, Rosemary Collard, said she supported the Government's drive for better qualified nursery employees but has questioned a relaxation in staff-child ratios.
Education and Childcare Minister Elizabeth Truss announced this week that nurseries would be able to offer more places with the same number of staff.
At the moment the ratio is three babies or four two-year-olds to every member of staff, and the new ratios would increase this to four babies or six two-year-olds to every staff member.
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Mrs Truss said the new ratios would only be available to providers who employed better qualified staff.
Former teacher Mrs Collard, who runs seven nurseries in the district, said: "The message nursery providers are getting from the Government is very confused. The drive for better qualified staff is commendable but is at odds with the Government's aim to lower the cost of childcare for parents.
"Graduates not surprisingly command higher salaries and this immediately accounts for the additional income generated by the ratio changes. Either the changes in ratios pay for better educated staff or a cut in costs for parents, but there is not enough margin in the costs to do both."
She added that an increase in child numbers might affect the level of childcare provided.
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