Licensed Day Care centres to be displayed prominently

(EMU) –Twenty Nine Day Care Centres in St Kitts have qualified and been licensed by the Early Childhood Development Unit.

Director of the Unit Mrs. Jaquelyn Morris encouraged the day care administrators of the qualified Day Care Centres to prominently display their certification so parents can make an informed decision.

In a brief ceremony to officially hand over the licenses to qualified centres, Chief Education Officer Clarice Cotton said the ECDU’s Licensing procedure and adherence are in keeping with the Ministry’s determination to give the Federation’s children the best possible foundation in the formative years.

ECD Director, Morris explained that while the other Day Care Centres will not be closed down, parents are being encouraged to weigh their options. She encouraged those who are yet unlicensed to make qualifying a priority not only for the sake of the children but to maintain their own competitiveness in day care.

She emphasized that non licensed centres have time to bring their centres up to the required standard. She added that the issues with the remaining centres were wide and varied in seriousness from insufficient materials to lack of child friendly spaces.

According to the Director of the Early Childhood Development Unit, officers are available to revisit centres in order to conduct the appropriate assessment procedures with a view to licensing those that qualify. She added that several are eager to come on board and have minor adjustments to make.

Would be parents and other interested persons who are interested in registering their child with a licensed Day Care Centre can call 465-2369 for further information.

Licensed Day Care Centres For January 2014 To Date (Dec 3)

• Aunty May’s Nursery
• Baptist Academy Preschool
• Cayon Day Care Centre
• Challengers Day Care Centre
• Darkie’s Nursery
• Dieppe Bay Day Care Centre
• Half Way Tree Preschool
• Holy Spirit Catholic Preschool
• Industrial Site Day Care Centre
• Kuddles Nursery
• Love Centre Preschool
• Martin’s Preschool
• McKnight Day Care Centre
• Montessori Children’s School
• Newton Ground Day Care Centre
• Newtown Nursery
• Old Road Day Care Centre
• Pilgrim Preschool
• Precious Gems Preschool
• Royal Palm Preschool
• Salvation Army Preschool
• St Johnston Preparatory Preschool
• St Peter’s Day Care Centre
• Sandy Point Nursery
• Sandy Point Preschool
• Slack’s Preschool
• Tabernacle Day Care Centre
• Victoria Road Preschool
• Waterfalls Nursery