NURSERY school workers have welcomed the government’s U-turn on the decision to increase pupil to staff ratios.

The changes, which were due to come into force this autumn, were criticised by East Lancashire nursery bosses, who said the quality of care and education would have been put at risk.

Kerry Martin, manager at Oscar Bears nursery, in Blackburn, said the idea to have more qualified staff was encouraging, but would not have made up for increased ratios.

She said: “One person to four under twos would have been ridiculous. Children would not have got the care and continuity they need.

“Parents spoke to me and said they did not think it was a good idea and that they would not have been happy.

“If we had had to take on more children, we would have struggled.

“So it is brilliant that the idea has been scrapped.”

Under the proposed scheme, nurseries would have been allowed to have four under ones per member of staff compared to the current limit of three.

The rules would have meant one member of staff could take care of six under twos as opposed to just four under current laws.

The government had said the changes would increase quality and cut costs.

But Heather Langridge, director at York Nurseries, in Todmorden Road, Burnley, said staff there were ‘thrilled’ the plans had been scrapped.

She said: “It was absolute fantasy. This is absolutely the right decision.

“We would not have changed our ratios anyway, but we think the idea was stupid.

“And it would not have reduced costs for parents.”

Andrew Clifford, owner and managing director of First Class Childcare, which has nurseries across East Lancashire, said although he was ‘delighted’ that ratios were to stay the same, he had concerns about the future of early years provision.

He said: “It was simply inconceivable to us that toddlers could be cared for on a one-to-six basis.

“While delighted these controversial plans have been scrapped the concern remains that those responsible for the policy and development of early years provision in government have demonstrated a startling lack of understanding of the needs of the very youngest children.”