The Department of Social Development wants to ensure that children are given the best start in life by being well cared for , protected, supported and provided with early learning development. We have committed ourselves to the development of the children in the Northern Cape , by ensuring that the children are placed in Early Childhood Development Centres that are in line with all the requirements as prescribed in the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 and with all Departmental Policies and Norms and Standards which are required to register an Early Childhood Development Centre.

One of the key elements that need to be adhered to by Early Childhood Development Centres is the health and safety of the children. Before any Early Childhood Development Centre is approved by the Department of Social Development form 11 (obtainable by the District Office) must be completed and submitted with the following documents:

• A business plan- containing the business hours of the centre, the fee structure, the day care plan, the staff composition and the disciplinary policy
• The Constitution of the centre- containing: the name of the centre, the type of services to be provided, the composition, powers and duties of management and the powers, obligations and undertaking of management to delegate all authority regarding the care, behaviour management and development of children to the principal  / supervisor of the centre. Commitment of the management to ensure the centre meets the national norms and standards for partial care facilities.
• A copy of the approved building plans or copy of submitted for approval if the plans have not yet been approved.
• An emergency plan
• Clearance certificates certifying that the names of the applicant and all staff members do not appear in the National Register for Sex Offenders or part B of the NCPR. The National Child Protection Register records all the persons found unsuitable to work with children. It also lists all persons found by the Children’s Court and criminal courts to be suitable to work with children. In terms of this law, child care facilities must  verify that prospective employees names do not appear on the register. The register is not open to the public and therefore all requests for information must be directed to the department of Social Development.
• An Environmental Health certificate issued by the local municipality where the centre will be located, confirming the centre meets the health requirements of that municipality.
• A description of the skills of the principal / supervisor of the ECD centre with supporting documents and copies of qualifications.
• In rural areas a letter from the tribal authority to confirm the tribal authority agrees to use the specific piece of land for the establishment of an ECD centre.
• An overview of the ECD Programme and copies of the staff members ID documents and skills.
• The Financial Statements of the Centre.
• Any relevant registration certificate(NPO,Business Licence)

If all the requirements for registration  are met the Early Childhood Development will be registered by the Department of Social Development. The above-mentioned requirements are for both private and state subsidized Early Childhood Development Centres. Parents are therefore urged to enroll their children in ECD Centres who are registered with the Department of Social Development. The registration certificate must be displayed at the ECD centre and if not parents must request the registration certificate.

We are however in the process of re-registering all ECD Centres in the Northern Cape. This registration process is not a once-off requirement. ECD centres are required to re-register as partial care every facilities 5 years. The grace period for all existing Fully registered ECD facilities will end in April 2015. All Provisional registered and funded centres need to graduate to full registration within the 13/14 financial year, if they do not meet the norms and standards when the re-registration process is conducted, they will not qualify for funding in the 14/15 financial year, because they have exceeded their grace period of 2 years.

Conditional / Provisional registration

This type of registration indicate that your application can be approved on condition that you correct certain aspects which are not fully compliant with the registration requirements within the grace period as indicated on your provisional registration certificate. If you cannot or did not within the Conditional or Provisional registration period not longer than 2 years, correct or submit the outstanding documents, your certificate will automatically expire, be terminated or cancelled.

We therefore request all ECD Centres to register and comply and appeal to parents that they do not register their children in ECD Centres who are non compliant and not registered . We understand that parents register their children in ECD Centres that are either in close proximity to their homes or in centres that they can afford to pay. However we cannot put a price tag on the health and safety of our children by enrolling our children in centres that are non compliant .

For any further media enquiries please contact Conrad Fortune at 0798730679

Issued By

Conrad Fortune
Manager : Communications
0798730679