Plan to lower nursery staff-to-child ratio in England angers parents and providers

The government also wants to reduce inspections of childminders and grant them greater flexibility. Photograph: Alex Hinds/Alamy

Plans to ease childcare staffing ratios in nurseries in England have drawn an angry response from providers and parents who say their concerns have been ignored.

The government has announced it is launching a consultation on ways to reduce childcare costs for parents, most notably by changing staff-to-child ratios so that each adult can look after five two-year-olds instead of four as currently permitted.