With much of the focus on “big school” as the 2022 academic year gets underway, the City of Cape Town issued a reminder that the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector must not to be overlooked.
The City’s Social Development and ECD Department advised parents and ECD centre operators that help is at hand in ensuring that children receive the best care in their formative years. The municipality owns 36 ECD centres, which are leased to private operators and works closely with the provincial Department of Social Development in ensuring that ECDs are registered, and complies with all relevant legislation.
“ECD operators have a responsibility to ensure that they meet all the requirements and have qualified supervisors and caregivers looking after the children in their care,” said Patricia van der Ross, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.
“It’s also important for parents to ensure the service provider they choose is not only providing a safe space, but is also equipped to provide quality learning experiences for their children.
“We are aware of the difficulties that some ECDs face in obtaining registration, and that is why in recent years we have developed a number of elements to simplify some of these processes to unlock access to the opportunities that registration affords these centres.”
The services offered by the City include: the ECD modernisation tool; ECDs can apply to waive development charges; ECD capacity building in the form of educational tools, facility management, educational equipment and facilitator development; and making educational toys and resources available on loan through City libraries.
The City’s Social Development and ECD Department started to streamline services to centres with the introduction of a modernisation tool in 2020, creating easy online access to compliance and registration.
This service assists applicants with registration and building regulations, health compliance and fire safety inspections and keeps them informed via SMS and email of the status of their applications.
The department also provides assistance on applications for funding and administrative support, regular surveys are conducted at both registered and unregistered centres, and officials offer training and capacity building with ECD practitioners, caregivers and parents.
“I call on communities to help protect these valuable spaces from vandalism and theft,” added Van der Ross. “Many ECDs are not operating for profit, and so every bit of damage or loss to their infrastructure or resources is a massive blow and compromises on their ability to provide quality care. It is in everyone’s best interests to protect our community facilities, many of whom are a lifeline to parents who rely on their services while they’re at work.”
. To report incidents at your local ECD, phone the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline. For additional information or to confirm the requirements for an ECD to be registered, send an email to ECD.SocialDevelopment@capetown.gov.za.
