NORTH WEST DISTRICT COUNCIL (DAY-CARE CENTRE) BYE-LAWS
(section 33)
(6th August, 2010)
ARRANGEMENT OF BYE-LAWS
BYE-LAW
PART I
Preliminary
1. Citation
2. Interpretation
PART II
Licensing and registration of day-care centres
3. Licensing of day-care centres
4. Issue of day-care licence
5. Duration and renewal of day-care licence
6. Suspension and revocation of licence
7. Licence to be displayed
8. Transfer of licence
9. Closure of day-care centres
PART III
Premises
10. Type of premises used
11. Outdoor play areas
12. Toilets
13. Washing facilities
14. Kitchen
15. Furniture and classroom equipment
16. Fire extinguisher
17. First aid requirements
18. Cleanliness
19. Smoking
20. Pets
21. Transportation
22. Use of premises for other activities
PART IV
Operation and staff of the centre
23. Hours of operation
24. Resting period
25. Age of admission
26. Staff
27. Staff-child ratio
28. Curriculum
29. Register to be kept
PART V
Miscellaneous
30. Appeals
31. Powers of entry
32. Offences and penalties
Schedule
S.I. 71, 2010,
S.I. 68, 2011.
PART I
Preliminary (bye-laws 1-2)
These Bye-laws may be cited as the North West District Council (Day-Care Centre) Bye-laws*.
*Originally made under the Township Act now repealed, these regulations have been continued under s 94(2) of the Local Government Act, 2013.
In these Bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires
“authorised officer” means the Council Secretary or any employee of the Council duly authorised, in writing, by the Council to perform duties under these Bye-laws;
“care giver” means a person trained to the satisfaction of the Ministry of Education to teach, train, and care for children below the age of six years;
“Council” means the North West District Council;
“day-care centre” means a place for the care, education and supervision of children below the age of six;
“infectious diseases” include diphtheria, cerebrospinal meningitis, whooping cough, measles, mumps, German measles (rubella), chicken pox, scabies, ringworm of scalp or body, and typhoid fever;
“licence” means a licence issued under bye-law 3;
“qualified teacher” means a teacher qualified to the satisfaction of the Ministry of Education, to teach children below the age of six.
PART II
Licensing and registration of day-care centres (bye-laws 3-9)
3. Licensing of day-care centres
(1) A person shall not operate a day-care centre (in these Bye-laws referred to as “centre”) without a licence issued by the Council.
(2) A person under the age of 18 years may not operate a centre.
(3) Any person who wishes to operate a centre shall make an application for a licence to the Council, in Form 1 set out in the Schedule to these Bye-laws, giving details of
(a) the premises intended to be used for the centre;
(b) the names and qualifications of all the teachers and assistants to be employed at the centre; and
(c) any other information with regard to the proposed centre as the Council may require.
(4) Upon receipt of the application, the Council shall cause to be conducted such inspections as it may consider appropriate to ensure that the premises of the centre comply with the relevant health and building control standards.
(1) Where the Council is satisfied that the proposed centre meets all the requirements of these Bye-laws and any other relevant legislation, it may, on payment of a fee of P200, issue to the applicant a licence in Form 2 set out in the Schedule to these Bye-laws.
(2) A licence issued under this bye-law may be subject to such conditions as the Council considers necessary, which conditions shall be endorsed on the licence.
(3) Subject to this bye-law, the Council may impose further conditions on the licence where it considers it necessary to do so.
5. Duration and renewal of day-care licence
(1) A licence issued under bye-law 4 shall be valid for a period of 12 months from the date of issue.
(2) A licence shall be renewable from year to year, on payment of the annual fee of P100.
(3) An application for the renewal of a licence shall be made in Form 3 set out in the Schedule to these Bye-laws.
6. Suspension and revocation of licence
(1) The Council may revoke, suspend or impose further conditions on a licence issued under these Bye-laws where
(i) any conditions of the licence are not being adhered to;
(ii) a centre has failed to comply with these Bye-laws; or
(iii) an authorised officer, after conducting an inspection, has recommended a suspension of the licence due to a failure of the centre to comply with the relevant health standards.
(2) The revocation or suspension of a licence or imposition of further conditions on a licence done under this bye-law shall be published by notice in the Gazette.
The licence shall be conspicuously displayed in the premises of the centre.
A person, to whom a licence has been issued under these Bye-laws shall not cede, transfer or lease the licence to any person.
9. Closure of day-care centres
Where an officer of the Council who has inspected the centre reports in writing to the Council Secretary that the centre has contravened any provision of these Bye-laws, the Council may, subject to bye-law 6, order closure of the centre.
PART III
Premises (bye-laws 10-22)
(1) An occupied residential house shall not be used as a centre unless the portion to be used for the centre can be separated, to the satisfaction of the Council, from the portion used for residential purposes.
(2) A garage or verandah shall not be used as a classroom for a centre.
(3) Premises used for a centre shall be constructed in accordance with, and from material permitted by the appropriate building regulations, and the floors shall be smooth and tiled or carpeted, and every classroom or re- stroom shall be adequately lit and ventilated.
(4) The size of rooms to be used as classrooms shall directly relate to the number of children permitted to use them at any one time, so that for each child there shall be the equivalent of 1.5 square metres.
(5) In every centre there shall be a room, equipped with a bed with mattress and clean linen, in which a sick child can rest and be isolated.
(6) Premises used for a centre shall be adequately and securely fenced in, and shall be adequately set back at 25 metres from busy roads or roads regularly used by heavy traffic.
(1) The outdoor play areas shall provide a minimum area of not less than 2 cubic metres for each child attending the centre, and shall have a flat, generally dry surface, with adequate shade.
(2) The outdoor play areas shall be provided, to the satisfaction of the Council, with play equipment such as sand pits, swings, slides and climbing frames adequate for the number of children attending at the centre.
(3) The outdoor play areas shall be free from sharp objects or any discarded material, equipment, or any other objects which may pose a danger to children.
(4) The equipment shall be age appropriate and safe for use by children.
(1) Every centre shall be provided with separate toilets for members of staff and for children, which shall be well lit, well ventilated, and have adequate running water.
(2) Toilets for children shall be
(a) separated according to gender; and
(b) installed with standard junior toilets and hand wash basins, so that there shall be one toilet and one hand wash basin for every 15 children.
(3) The toilets and handwash basins shall be kept clean, sterile and in a state of good repair.
(4) Storage facilities for towels, face cloths and personal belongings of the members of staff shall be separate from similar facilities for children.
There shall be maintained at every centre, a facility for washing clothes, towels, blankets and any other linen used at the centre.
(1) A centre which operates for less than five and a half hours shall have a kitchen with adequate hot and cold water.
(2) A centre which operates for more than five and a halfhours shall provide each child with at least one cooked meal.
(3) Where food or formula is brought into a centre by the children there shall be provided adequate and hygienic facilities for the storage and refrigeration of the food or formula.
(4) There shall be available for inspection a detailed menu of the food provided, with a suitably balanced diet, stating
(a) the time for serving the meal; and
(b) the quantities to be served.
(5) Where a centre operates for less than five and a halfhours, each child shall be provided with at least one snack.
(6) The utensils, cutlery and crockery used in the kitchen shall be of a shape and size suitable for the children admitted at the centre.
15. Furniture and classroom equipment
(1) At every centre there shall be provided, to the satisfaction of the Council, an adequate supply of furniture and other equipment suitable for use in a centre, such as reading material, picture books, blackboards, toys, paints, crayons, moulding clay, puzzles and beads at every centre.
(2) The Council may require or approve additional or alternative equipment to that referred to in sub-bye-law (1).
There shall be maintained, and made readily accessible at all times, a portable fire extinguisher at every centre.
(1) There shall be maintained at every centre, and made readily accessible at all times, a first aid box or cupboard containing an adequate supply of dressings, bandages, sterilised cotton wool, adhesive plasters, disinfectant, safety pins, and a tourniquet.
(2) A member of staff shall not administer any medication to a child without the consent of the child’s parent or guardian.
(1) There shall be, at every centre, at all times, a high standard of maintenance and cleanliness in the centre.
(2) The owner of a centre shall ensure that any member of staff or child under the care of the centre, suffering from, or suspected to be suffering from an infectious disease, is immediately isolated from contact with other children or members of staff.
A person shall not smoke anywhere within the premises of a centre, and a notice to this effect shall be displayed prominently at the entrance to the centre.
Animals, whether pets or otherwise, shall not be permitted within any area used as a centre, without the written permission of the Council.
(1) Where a centre provides for the transportation of children, the vehicle used shall be enclosed and with adequate and comfortable sitting space for each child carried in it.
(2) The owner of a centre shall ensure that a vehicle used to transport the children is insured at all times.
22. Use of premises for other activities
Except with the written permission of the Council, the premises of the centre shall not be used for any activity which is not in the ordinary course of operating a centre.
PART IV
Operation and staff of the centre (bye-laws 23-29)
A centre shall not, except with the approval of the Council, operate
(a) on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays, or
(b) outside the hours between 7.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m..
The owner of a centre shall ensure that all children at the centre shall have a common resting period of not less than one hour each afternoon.
A child shall not be admitted to, or be allowed to remain at a centre, without written permission of the Council, if the child is over the age of six years.
(1) Subject to the provisions of bye-law 27, a centre shall have a minimum of two qualified teachers, and at all times there shall be at least one such teacher on duty.
(2) A centre may employ care givers to assist the qualified teachers to supervise and look after children at the centre.
(3) All members of staff employed at the centre shall undergo a medical exam, including an X-ray, before being employed, and thereafter at six monthly intervals.
(4) A person shall not be employed, or continue to be employed at a centre if he or she
(a) is certified under the Mental Disorders Act (Cap. 63:02), to be suffering from a mental disorder;
(b) has been convicted of a sexual offence; or
(c) has been convicted of an offence under the Children’s Act (Cap. 28:04).
(5) All members of staff employed at a centre shall at all times wear clean uniforms or clothing.
(1) A centre shall have a maximum of
(a) 25 children aged between two and a half and four years old per class;
(b) 30 children aged between four and six years old per classroom; and
(c) 10 babies aged between six weeks and two and a half years per room.
(2) A centre shall have a minimum of
(a) one qualified teacher and one assistant teacher per class; and
(b) two care givers per 10 babies.
The curriculum followed at a centre shall adhere to the standards set by the Ministry of Education.
The owner of a centre shall open and maintain, or cause to be kepi and maintained a register in which shall be recorded
(a) in relation to each child admitted at a centre
(i) the name and date of birth, and
(ii) the names, addresses and telephone numbers of his or her parent or guardian; and
(b) the names and qualifications of all the members of staff employed a1 the centre.
PART V
Miscellaneous (bye-laws 30-32)
A person who is aggrieved by a decision of the Council may, within 30 days of notification of that decision, appeal to the Minister in writing.
An officer of the Council, authorised in writing by the Council, may at any reasonable time enter at a centre for the purpose of inspection, and to ensure compliance with these Bye-laws.
Any person who contravenes the provisions of these Bye-laws commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding P500, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month, or to both, and upon conviction, for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding P1 000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to both.
SCHEDULE
FORM 1
APPLICATION TO OPERATE A DAY-CARE CENTRE
(bye-law 3(3))
NORTH WEST DISTRICT (DAY-CARE CENTRE) BYE-LAWS
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Applicant’s Particulars |
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1. Name ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… |
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2. Postal address …………………………………………………………………………………………….. |
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. |
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3. Residential address of the applicant …………………………………………………………………… |
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4. Location of the premises of the day-care centre …………………………………………………….. |
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. |
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5. Nationality of the applicant ……………………………………………………………………………….. |
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6 Where the applicant is a non-citizen, resident permit number and date of expiry of the resident permit of the applicant ……………………………………………………………………………………. |
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7. Where the applicant is a company, the registration number of the company …………………. |
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Staff of the centre (attach extra pages if necessary) …………………………………………………… |
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8. Persons to be employed at the centre: |
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(a) Name …………………………………………………………………………………………………. |
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Position to be held ………………………………………………………………………………… |
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Qualification(s) …………………………………………………………………………………….. |
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(b) Name …………………………………………………………………………………………………. |
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Position to be held ………………………………………………………………………………… |
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Qualification(s)………………………………………………………………………………………. |
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(c) Name …………………………………………………………………………………………………. |
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Position to be held ………………………………………………………………………………… |
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Qualification(s) ……………………………………………………………………………………… |
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(d) Name …………………………………………………………………………………………………. |
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Position to be held ………………………………………………………………………………… |
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Qualification(s) ……………………………………………………………………………………… |
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(e) Name …………………………………………………………………………………………………. |
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Position to be held ………………………………………………………………………………… |
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Qualification(s) ……………………………………………………………………………………… |
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(f) Name …………………………………………………………………………………………………. |
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Position to be held ………………………………………………………………………………… |
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Qualification(s) ……………………………………………………………………………………… |
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(g) Name …………………………………………………………………………………………………. |
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Position to be held ………………………………………………………………………………… |
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Qualification(s) ……………………………………………………………………………………… |
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* Please attach certified copies of the following persons employed by the centre- |
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(a) educational certificates; |
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(b) national identity card or a residence permit in the case of non-citizens; and |
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(c) permission to teach issued by the Ministry of Education and Skills Development. |
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Premises and structure |
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9. What is the material used for building the premises? (e.g. wood, brick, or any other material) |
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… |
FORM 2
LICENCE TO OPERATE A DAY-CARE CENTRE
(bye-law 4(1))
NORTHWEST DISTRICT (DAY-CARE CENTRE) BYE-LAWS
NOT TRANSFERABLE
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Licence No. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. To ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Having considered your application to operate a day-care centre, the North West District Council is satisfied that you have fulfilled the necessary requirements of the NorthWest District (Day-Care Centre) Bye-laws, you are hereby granted a licence to operate a day-care centre in the following area ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. This licence is subject to the following conditions: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. This licence is valid until ……………………………………………………………… , 20 ……………………. ………………………………………………………… Date of issue ……………………………………………… |
FORM 3
RENEWAL APPLICATION
(bye-law 5(3))
NORTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL (DAY-CARE CENTRE) BYE-LAWS
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(A) Particulars of the applicant: 1. Name of the applicant ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 2. Address of the applicant ……………………………………………………………………………………. 3. Nationality of the applicant …………………………………………………………………………………. 4. Where the applicant is a non-citizen, resident permit number and date of expiry of the resident permit of the applicant …………………………………………………………………………………………. 5. Where the applicant is a company, the registration number of the company ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6. Location of the premises of the day-care centre ………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. I, the undersigned state that the information given in this application is to the best of my knowledge true and accurate. Applicant’s signature: …………………………………………………………………………………………… Date: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Having considered the application for the renewal of a day-care/nursery/ baby care centre licence of ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Conditions (if any) applicable …………………………………………………………………………………. This permit expires on the …………………………………………………………………………………….. Date of renewal ……………………………………….. Fee paid ……………………………………………. ……………………………………………… |