> So do you want to increase the child to minder ratio, cut benefits, or cut opening hours? All of the above, if the market will bear it (and I think in the ca

> So do you want to increase the child to minder ratio, cut benefits, or cut opening hours? All of the above, if the market will bear it (and I think in the case of reduced benefits, it will not - see my last paragraph). The point is that these decisions shouldn't be made by the government for the center and the parents who use it. Where I live the ratio is 4:1. Who's to say that 5:1 couldn't work, aside from the fact that the government doesn't allow it? What about something like 9:2, which would enable a single person to handle tasks that crop up (changing diapers, dealing with a fussy child, etc.) while the other handles the happy kids? what about 3 rooms at 6:1 with 2 floating caregivers who go where they're needed? Under a heavily regulated environment, none of these options can be explored. As far as benefits, as you said, I think at this point they are probably already getting above mandatory minimums, so regulation probably isn't having a huge effect there.