Victor Mecoamere

Victor Mecoamere

Early childhood development (ECD) practitioners and owners of ECD sites or creches are vital cogs in the campaign to nurture better future leaders.

With this in mind, the national and provincial social services departments have earmarked October to intensify the campaign to assist unregistered ECD sites or creches.

Anyone who cares for or intends caring for more than six children aged between nought and six should register with the provincial social services departments.

Social Services Minister Zola Skweyiya's department is leading the registration campaign, in line with his repeated call to accelerate the development registration and funding of qualifying ECD centres under the Child Care Act.

All owners or managers whose ECD centres, sites or creches meet the requirements or the criteria to operate legally will be trained, registered and granted approval within three months of applying, and assistance will be given to those who do not qualify.

Requirements for registration are:

lDaily academic, recreational, creative and social integration development programme;

lWeekly, balanced nutrition, menu plan;

lBuilding plan or hand-drawn plan or sketch of the building;

l Social worker's report detailing conditions at the creche and the qualifications of practitioners and-or caregivers.

Benefits for registered creches include training for practitioners and caregivers and a chance to be funded.