Day-Care Centre for Pre-School Children

Every physical person or legal entity is eligible to operate a Day-Care Centre for Pre-School Children, provided that the centre is registered under “The Children Law (Cap.352)”  and meets the provisions of the law and relevant regulations, among which:

• The person in charge of the Centre possess the appropriate qualifications as specified by the relevant regulations. Specifically, as provided in the pertinent regulations (Regulatory Administrative Acts 262/2011, article 5)”, the Centre’s Manager/Director must hold a certificate or diploma of higher education in one the following fields: Infant Care, Child Care, Social Work, Psychology or Pedagogy;
• Sufficient and qualified staff is to be employed in order to ensure the best possible care of children; Specifically, during the hours of operation a child day-carer must be employed for every: 28 children, aged 4 years or older; 24 children, aged 3 years or older; 16 children, aged 2 years or older; 6 infants, up to 2 years old;
• The suitability of the premises with the appropriate health conditions, location, construction, fire safety, architectural drawings/layout, maintenance, general conditions and equipment;
• The suitability of services and facilitations to be offered at the Centre.

The application form for the Registration of a Day-Care Centre for Pre-School Children can be submitted either through the PSC Cyprus or by contacting directly the competent authority, by district, according to the list below:

Nicosia District Social Welfare Office
Agiou Ilarionos 66,
1026 Kaimakli, Nicosia
Tel: +357 22804605, +357 22804607
Email. : nikosia.dwo@sws.dmsw.gov.cy

Limassol District Social Welfare Office
Franklin Roosevelt 80,
3012 Limassol
Tel: +357 25804523, +357 25804452
Email. : lemesos.dwo@sws.dmsw.gov.cy

Larnaca Provincial Social Welfare Office
Peliou 23-25, G. Matthaiou Court,
6301 Larnaca
Tel: +357 24800101, +357 24800260
Email. : larnaca.dwo@sws.dmsw.gov.cy

Pafos District Social Welfare Office
17 Nikou Nikolaidis,
8010 Paphos
Tel: +357 26821601, +357 26821600
Email. : pafos.dwo@sws.dmsw.gov.cy

Ammochostos District Social Welfare Office
1 April 170, 5280
Paralimni
Tel: +357 23811741
Email. : ammochostos.dwo@sws.dmsw.gov.cy

Social Welfare Services
Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare
63 Prodromou,
1468 Nicosia
Tel.: +357 22406701, +357 22406712
Fax: +357 22667907
Email: central.sws@sws.dmsw.gov.cy
Website: http://www.dmsw.gov.cy/sws

1. The application form should be accompanied by the following documents:

   • Copy of Manager’s qualification certificates;
   • Copy of staff members’ qualification certificates;
   • Copy of identity card for each staff member;
   • Copy of the architectural plans and the exact dimensions of the building;
   • Copy of the Building Permit or Town Planning Permit for the use of the premises as a Day-Care Centre for Children;
   • Copy of Certificate of Eligibility by the Cyprus Fire Service;
   • Copy of Certificate of Eligibility by the Public Health Service;
   • Copy of Certificate of Eligibility by the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services;
   • Copy of Certificate of Eligibility by the Public Works Department;
   • Original Health Certificates for each member of staff* (see clarification below);
   • Original Certificates of Clear Criminal Record for each member of staff;
   • Original Certificate by the Police in accordance with article 22 (6) of the “Prevention and Combating of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Exploitation of Children and Child Pornography Law, N. 91 (i)/2014” for each member of staff.

   *Original (Medical) Health Certificates: blood tests for infectious diseases (hepatitis B (HBsAg) and C (anti-HCV), AIDS HIV (HIV I&II antibodies), syphilis (VDRL) and dermoreaction MANTOUX], food handler certificate (stool-sample analysis) and chest X-ray reports.

There are no fees applicable.

Administrative Action Against a Competent Authority’s Decision

Any person may file an Administrative Action at the Administrative court against a decision, act or omission of any competent authority or body.

Pursuant to Article 146 of the Constitution, an Administrative Action may be lodged within 75 days from the date of the decision or act or omission or from the day when such decision or act or omission was notified to the applicant.

The Administrative Court acts as a cassation Court and not as a substantive Court. In other words, the Administrative Court may:
I. Dismiss the Administrative Action
II. Annul wholly or partially the contested decision or act
III. Compel the relevant authority or body to take a certain action

After a decision is annulled, the authority and/or public body must reverse things back to the state prior to when the concerned decision and/or act was executed and reexamine.

Appeal Information

An Appeal may be filed against the Administrative Court’s first-instance decision within a period of 42 days from the date such a decision was given.

At the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal Section) hearing, the contested issue of the appeal remains the legality of the decision or act already adjudicated. However, such a revision of the legality of the decision or act is solely examined on the matters and the extent that the two parties have limited the reasons in the relevant notice of appeal.

The decision adopted by the Supreme Court is considered final in relation to the matter that has been judged.

• The Children Law (Cap. 352)
• The Children (Day-Care Centres) Decree of 2011 (Regulatory Administrative Acts 262/2011)

Registered Day-Care Centres for Pre-School Children are obliged to comply with the provisions of the Children Law, and relevant Regulations, as periodically amended, and specifically, among others, to ensure that the requirements regarding the following are met:

• Staff Members’ Qualifications;
• Premises and equipment;
• Maintenance;
• Records that need to be kept;
• Child – staff ratio;
• Child – space ratio;
• Arrangements for feeding the children;
• Medical supervision for children.

Any person authorized by the Director of the Social Welfare Services may at all reasonable times enter any premises which are used for childcare and may inspect the premises, the children looked after, their welfare arrangements as well as any records relating to them.