WAGGA parents may have to pay higher childcare costs as the Federal Government plans to bring in more qualified staff at child-care centres to improve the ratio of carers to children.

The Government reforms are directed at improving the quality of care by requiring centres to employ one staff member for every four children aged under two years.

It is estimated some childcare fees will have to rise by between $16 and $27 per child per day to pay for the reforms.

Leonie Hinch is the co-ordinator of Shaw Street Children's Centre and said the recommended plans were a positive move for the care of the children, but would stretch the budgets of centres and parents.

"It is definitely a good thing because children under two are a lot more demanding and need more one-on-one time," she said.

"But a lot of centres will have problems when it comes to providing care with these lower ratios.

"The Government needs to provide more money. Funds are stretched to the limit as it is, so having to get more staff will ask for more money from parents or the Government needs to come across and give more."

The plan, to be finalised next month, would also require centres to employ university-trained teachers and requires all carers to have a qualification.

"The qualifications will affect us," Ms Hinch said. "We have a lot of occasional carers here and we deal with lots of babies. I understand preschools should have teachers but for us it is unaffordable."

Jenny Nechvatal is the director of Amy Hurd Child Care Centre and said her childcare fees wouldn't be affected by the staff changes.

"Our service won't need to bring in more staff while still meeting the ratios, our fees will go up like they do every year but not because of these new plans," she said.

"The ratio change is very positive � it will form better relationships between the children and carers, and will make the children more confident when they get to school.

"It develops a good basis for their life."