Nursery bosses say increasing child numbers will put pressure on system already struggling for staff
Ministers are considering increasing the ratio from four children for every member of staff to five
Childcare bosses in Merseyside say plans to increase the number of children nursery nurses can look after will put huge pressure on a system already struggling for staff.
Ministers are considering increasing the ratio from 4 children for every member of staff to five, believing it will save families money and give nurseries greater flexibility.
Nursery managers here say they're already having trouble recruiting new staff and this could make it even more difficult in the future.
Joan Jobe is the manager at Kings Park day nursery in Knowsley :
"You advertise jobs, you get a limited number of people who apply for them and half of them don't turn up for interviews.
"We already have a national shortage as the wage is minimum wage and people are using it to come into when they first leave school and they're using it as a stepping stone onto things like nursing".
Hear all the latest news from across Merseyside on the hour, every hour, on 96.7FM, DAB, at radiocity.co.uk, and on the Radio City app.