Twenty-three childcare facilities signed
contracts amounting to Lm 130,000 for grants to improve their premises on
Tuesday during a ceremony held at the Ministry for the Family and Social
Solidarity.
Provisional certificates were awarded to 26
facilities from around
Malta
of which 23 also applied for the financial aid. The Department of Social
Welfare Standards, within the Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity, was
responsible for the assessment of these facilities which is the first step
towards formal licensing.
The improvement grant was launched by
Government together with the National Standards for Child Day Care Facilities
in July 2006. These National Standards ensure that good quality child care
services are in place for the first few years of children’s lives, years which
are crucial to their proper development. The grants given ensure that the facilities
are working towards bettering themselves and coming in line with the National
Standards.
“This is the ideal way in which to ensure
that our children receive the best services possible, while allowing facilities
to best adapt to the emerging exigencies of society,”
Minister
Cristina commented.
The process of registration is an on-going
one. Facilities that are already in compliance with the National Standards will
be granted provisional registration as will those in a position to become
compliant. All those who register provisionally will need to renew their
registration after one year and this will depend on improvements carried out, should
areas necessitating improvement have been identified.
Further information can be obtained by contacting the Department for Social Welfare Standards on
21-483116 or 21-446007 or by emailing welfare.standards@gov.mt.
The facilities which received a certificate
of provisional registration are: Barney’s Playschool & Daycare Centre,
Child Jesus Edu-Care Centre, Chiswick House School, Fleurette School of
Montessori, Flutterby, Happy Kidz, Il-Passju (ETC), Jack and Jills Day Care,
Kid’s Haven, Little Tots, Maria Guzeppina Curmi Day Care Centre, Mickey’s
Childcare Day Centre, Minnie’s Childcare Day Centre, Neverland, San Andrea
School, San Anton Day Care Centre, Sharon’s Nursery, St. Cecilia’s Kindergarten
in Attard, St. Cecilia’s Kindergarten in Tarxien, St. Joseph Day Care Centre,
St. Paula Childcare/Playcentre, Tender Loving Care Childcare Centre, The
Daycare centre and Nursery School, Tinkerbell Nursery, Victoria Nursery
School, and Westin Kids Club.
