1. The
Legally Responsible Person (at least18 years of age and of good conduct) would
first need to identify a site / premises that he considers to have potential to
be developed into s a Child Day Care Facility.
In so doing, reference should also be made to Standard 2 of the National
Standards for Child Day Care Facilities (2006).
2. The Legally
Responsible Person (LRP) would then need to commission an Architect and Civil
Engineer (Perit) to plan, design and submit the necessary documentation and a
Planning Application to the Planning Authority with respect to the identified
premises.
3. The
Planning Authority would then consult various parties regarding the Planning
Application, including the Department for Quality and Standards in Education
within the Ministry for Education and Employment.
4. The
Department for Quality and Standards in Education will communicate its position
to the Planning Authority accordingly and may find it necessary to conduct one
or more site visits at the premises in question.
5. Once the
planning application is approved, the LRP would need to submit the
signed original Application Form (complete with all
necessary supporting documentation including the valid PA permit for use of
premises as a Child Day Care Facility) to the Directorate for Quality and
Standards in Education (DQSE) in order to request to register a potential Child
Day Care Facility with the Ministry for Education and Employment (MEDE). Further details regarding the registration of
a Child Day Care Facility are available on the website.
Disclaimer: The DQSE has been informed by the Free Childcare Scheme that until a significant increase in demand is noted, no further Public-Private Partnership agreements shall be entered into with new childcare centres as Free Childcare Scheme providers. Should you have any queries in this regard, kindly contact the Free Childcare Scheme by phone on 22201137/8 or via e-mail on freechildcare@gov.mt
Update 15/03/2021: it has been established that once the current COVID-19 operating restrictions on childcare centres are lifted, the Free Childcare Scheme office will be in a position to receive and review applications for new childcare centres to become Free Childcare Scheme Providers, provided that the established eligibility criteria are met.