A new set of standards for childcare was today unveiled in the House of Assembly.

Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, said that Bermuda had lacked formal standards for daycare providers and daycare centres, although regulations governing daycare have been in place since 1999.

She added: “This gap is significant and is now being addressed in a holistic way intended to benefit all providers, parents and, of course, children.

“Significantly, these standards will also help to harmonise the various agencies in government and non-governmental organisations that are dedicated to serving children.”

Ms Wilson was speaking as she updated MPs on the development of new standards for childcare.

She said: “The standards ... are an essential step towards placing our commitment to the future of our children front and centre.”

Ms Wilson added it was important that MPs and the public were kept up to date on the completion of standards and “the ongoing work to ensure the safe and healthy development of our infants and toddlers.”

The standards are designed to provide support for parents, daycare providers — those who care for up to three children in their homes — and daycare centres.

They were developed through a committee of experts including Child and Family Services, anti-child abuse charity Scars and the Bermuda Private Nursery Association.

Ms Wilson added: “Our work is never done when it comes to the children of Bermuda.

“The standards will be reviewed periodically for further development and to ensure they continue to be a working document that maintains best practices in the field of early childhood care.”

She stressed: “The standards do not replace legislation that is already in place for daycare centres and daycare providers to be licensed.”

The standards are available at gov.bm/child-care-information-parents.

• To read Ms Wilson’s statement in full, click on the PDF under “Related Media”