Child-care Ratios Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Child-care Ratios

Philip Davies Excerpts
Thursday 9th May 2013

(11 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Elizabeth Truss Portrait Elizabeth Truss
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As I said, we have outlined our policy in “More great childcare”, and we are currently consulting on the level of qualifications required to put those ratios in place.

Philip Davies Portrait Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con)
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Many parents sending their child to a childminder simply want somewhere that is safe and where their child will be happy while they go out to work. Is it really necessary for childminders to be turned into mini schools for very young children, where those children will be judged on educational attainment rather than on how happy and safe they are?

Elizabeth Truss Portrait Elizabeth Truss
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I thank my hon. Friend for his question. Our policies are all about giving parents more choice over the type of child care they receive. I, like him, am very supportive of childminders. Their number halved under the previous Government because of the additional rules and regulations that were put in place and how they were managed.