Day-Care Centre for School-Age Children

Every physical person or legal entity is eligible to register a Day-Care Centre for School-Age Children, provided that the Social Welfare Services is satisfied that the following criteria are met:

• The person in charge of the Centre possess the appropriate qualifications as may be specified by the Director;
• Sufficient and qualified staff is to be employed in order to ensure the best possible care of children;
• The suitability of the premises with the appropriate health conditions, location, fire safety, construction, 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 School-Age Children, can be submitted either through the PSC Cyprus or by contacting directly the competent authority:

Social Welfare Services
Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance
63 Prodromou,
1468 Nicosia
Tel.: +357 22406701, +357 22406712
Fax: +357 22667907
Email: central.sws@sws.mlsi.gov.cy, ipapatheodoulou@sws.mlsi.gov.cy
Website: http://www.mlsi.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;
   • Copy of Certificate of Eligibility by the Cyprus Fire Service;
   • Copy of Certificate of Eligibility by the Public Works Department;
   • Copy of Certificate of Eligibility by the Public Health Services;
   • Copy of Certificate of Eligibility by the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services;
   • Original Health Certificates for each staff member* (see clarification below);
   • Original Certificates of Clear Criminal Record for each staff member;
   • 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 staff member.

   *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.

   On-site inspection of the Day Care Centre’s premises is carried out by authorized persons of the Director of Social Welfare Services in order to ensure that all the prerequisites are met.

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 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 for. However, such 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 Day-Care Centres for School-Age Children Law 1996 (2 (Ι) / 1996)
• The Day-Care Centres for School-Age Children Regulations (in the “Applications & Documents”)

Registered Day-Care Centres for School-Age Children are obliged to comply with the provisions of the Day-Care Centres for School-Age 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;
• The Certificate of Registration is posted in a conspicuous place of the establishment.

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.