Ministers accused of cutting corners on childcare staffing ratios

Government may allow one adult to look after five two-year-olds in England, in effort to reduce costs

Ministers have been accused of cutting corners and endangering children after the government confirmed it would consult on cutting childcare staffing ratios so that one adult can look after five two-year-olds.

The education minister Will Quince announced that the government would consult on what he called mirroring the Scottish model", which allows a maximum of five two-year-olds, instead of four in England, to be cared for by one adult.