Local
23 childcare facilities granted Lm130,000
By MaltaMedia News
Mar 6, 2007 - 6:17:17 PM

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.