Parents were reminded to help enforce standards at childcare centres as Bermuda marks World Children’s Day today.

Kim Wilson, the health minister, said the Department of Health had enhanced its oversight of daycare and increased the number of visits to “all childcare settings”.

She added: “As a ministry, we take a zero-tolerance approach when it comes to the safety of our children. However, we also need parents’ help.”

She was speaking on Monday as Bermuda prepared to mark the 30th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child.

The convention included “the state’s obligation to ensure the safety and development of children”.

Ms Wilson asked parents or guardians to make sure that a daycare service was licensed or registered with the department.

She told parents: “If you have concerns with your centre or provider, always address it with them directly in the first instance.

“The vast majority of concerns are best dealt with directly.”

Ms Wilson said problems that were not resolved could be raised with the department’s childcare team at 278-4900 or childcare@gov.bm.

She added: “The number of children to the number of staff in a centre or daycare provider is critical.

“If a home-based daycare provider has more than three children, they are breaking the law.

“Daycare centres have ratios based on children’s ages.”

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