SOWA TOWNSHIP (DAY-CARE CENTRE) BYE-LAWS
(section 6A)
(11th September, 2009)
ARRANGEMENT OF BYE-LAWS
BYE-LAW
PART I
Preliminary
1. Citation
2. Interpretation
3. Licensing of day-care centres
4. Duration and renewal of day-care licence
5. Suspension and revocation of licence
6. Licence to be displayed
7. Transfer of licence
8. Closure of day-care centres
PART II
Premises
9. Type of premises used
10. Outdoor play areas
11. Toilets
12. Washing facilities
13. Kitchen
14. Furniture and classroom equipment
15. Fire extinguisher
16. First aid requirements
17. Cleanliness
18. Smoking
19. Pets
20. Transportation
21. Use of premises for other activities
PART III
Operation and Staff of the Centre
22. Hours of operation
23. Resting period
24. Age of admission
25. Staff
26. Staff-child ratio
27. Curriculum
28. Register to be kept
PART IV
Powers of Entry, Offences and Penalties
29. Appeals
30. Powers of entry
31. Offences and penalties
Schedule
S.I. 78, 2009*
PART I
Preliminary (bye-laws 1- 8)
These Bye-Laws may be cited as the Sowa Township (Day-Care Centre) Bye-Laws.
*Originally made under the Township Act now repealed, these Regulations have been continued under s 94(2) of the Local Government Act, 2013.
In these Bye-Laws, unless the context otherwise requires
“authorised officer” means the Township Authority or any employee of the Council duly authorised, in writing, by the Council to perform duties under these Bye-Laws;
“care giver” means a person trained to teach, train, and care for babies and children below the age of six, and registered as such with the Sowa Township Authority;
“Authority” means the Sowa Township Authority;
“day-care centre” means a place for the care, education and supervision of children below the age of six;
“infectious disease” includes diphtheria, cerebrospinal meningitis, whooping cough, measles, mumps, German measles (rubella), chicken pox, scabies, ringworm of scalp or body, and typhoid fever;
“licence” means a licence issued under bye-law 3;
“qualified teacher” means a teacher qualified to the satisfaction of the Ministry of Education, to teach children below the age of six.
3. Licensing of day-care centres
(1) A person shall not operate a day-care centre (hereinafter referred to as a “centre”) without a licence issued by the Authority.
(2) A person under the age of 18 years shall not operate a centre.
(3) Any person who wishes to operate a centre shall make an application for a licence to the Authority, in Form 1 set out in the Schedule hereto, giving details of
(a) the premises intended to be used for the centre;
(b) the names and qualifications of all the teachers and assistants to be employed at the centre; and
(c) any other information with regard to the proposed centre as the Authority may require.
(4) Upon receipt of the application, the Authority shall cause to be conducted such inspections as it may consider appropriate to ensure that the premises of the centre comply with the relevant health and building control standards.
(5) If the Authority is satisfied that the proposed centre meets all the requirements of these Bye-Laws and any other relevant legislation, it may, on payment of a fee of P100, issue to the applicant a licence in Form 2 set out in the Schedule hereto.
(6) A licence issued under sub-bye-law (5) may be subject to such conditions as the Council considers necessary, which conditions shall be endorsed on the licence.
(7) A person who contravenes sub-bye-law (1) commits an offence and is liable to the penalties prescribed under bye-law 31.
4. Duration and renewal of day-care licence
(1) A licence issued under bye-law (3) shall be valid until the 31st December of the year of issue.
(2) A licence shall be renewable from year to year, on payment of an annual fee of P100.
(3) An application for the renewal of a licence shall be made in Form 3 set out in the Schedule hereto.
5. Suspension and revocation of licence
(1) The Authority may
(a) suspend a licence issued under bye-law 4 where
(i) any condition of the licence is not adhered to;
(ii) a centre has failed to comply with these Bye-Laws; or
(iii) an authorised officer, after conducting an inspection, has recommended a suspension of the licence due to a failure of the centre to comply with the relevant health standards.
(b) revoke a licence issued under bye-law 3 where
(i) a centre has failed to comply with any of the conditions of the licence;
(ii) a centre has contravened or failed to comply with any of the provisions of these bye-laws; or
(iii) an authorised officer, after conducting an inspection, has recommended a revocation of the licence due to any reason.
(2) Any suspension or revocation of a licence under this bye-law shall be published by notice in the Gazette, and two newspapers in circulation in Botswana.
The licence shall be conspicuously displayed in the premises of the centre.
A person, to whom a licence has been issued under these Bye-Laws shall not cede, transfer or lease the licence to any person.
8. Closure of day-care centres
The Authority may cancel the licence of, and require the closure of, any centre which contravenes or does not comply with any of the provisions of these Bye-Laws.
PART II
Premises (bye-laws 9-21)
(1) An occupied residential house shall not be used as a centre unless the portion to be used for the centre can be separated, to the satisfaction of the Authority, from the portion used for residential purposes.
(2) A garage or verandah shall not be used as a classroom for a centre.
(3) Premises used for a centre shall be constructed in accordance with, and from material permitted by the appropriate building regulations, and the floors shall be smooth and tiled or carpeted, and every classroom or rest room shall be adequately lit and ventilated.
(4) The size of rooms to be used as classrooms shall directly relate to the number of children permitted to use them at any one time, so that for each child there shall be the equivalent of 1,5 square metres.
(5) In every centre there shall be a room, equipped with a bed with a mattress and clean linen, in which a sick child can rest and be isolated.
(6) Premises used for a centre shall be adequately and securely fenced in, and shall be adequately set back from busy roads or roads regularly used by heavy traffic.
(1) The outdoor play areas shall provide a minimum area of not less than 2 cubic metres for each child attending the centre, and shall have a flat, generally dry surface, with adequate shade.
(2) The outdoor play areas shall be provided, to the satisfaction of the Authority, with play equipment such as sand pits, swings, slides and climbing frames adequate for the number of children attending at the centre.
(3) The outdoor play areas shall be free from sharp objects or any discarded material, equipment, or any other objects which may pose a danger to children.
(1) Every centre shall be provided with separate toilets for members of staff and for children, which shall be well lit, well ventilated, and have adequate running water.
(2) Toilets for children shall be
(a) separated according to gender; and
(b) installed with standard junior toilets and hand wash basins, so that there shall be one toilet and one wash hand basin for every 15 children.
(3) The toilets and hand wash basins shall be kept clean, sterile and in a state of good repair.
(4) Storage facilities for towels, face cloths and personal belongings of the members of staff shall be separate from similar facilities for children.
At every centre there shall be maintained on the premises, a facility for washing clothes, towels, blankets and any other linen used at the centre.
(1) A centre which operates for more than five and a half hours shall have a kitchen with adequate hot and cold water.
(2) A centre which operates for more than five and a half hours shall provide each child with at least one cooked meal.
(3) Where food or formula is brought into a centre by the children there shall be provided adequate and hygienic facilities for the storage and refrigeration of the food or formula.
(4) There shall be available for inspection a detailed menu of the food provided, with a suitably balanced diet, stating
(a) the time for serving the meal; and
(b) the quantities to be served.
(5) Where a centre operates for less than five and a half hours, each child shall be provided with at least one snack.
(6) The utensils, cutlery and crockery used in the kitchen shall be of a shape and size suitable for the children admitted at the centre.
14. Furniture and classroom equipment
(1) At every centre there shall be provided, to the satisfaction of the Authority, an adequate supply of furniture and other equipment suitable for use in a centre, such as reading material, picture books, blackboards, toys, paints, crayons, moulding clay, puzzles and beads.
(2) The Authority may require or approve additional or alternative equipment to that referred to in sub-bye-law (1).
At every centre there shall be maintained, and made readily accessible at all times, a portable fire extinguisher.
(1) At every centre there shall be maintained, and made readily accessible at all times, a first aid box or cupboard containing an adequate supply of dressings, bandages, sterilised cotton wool, adhesive plasters, disinfectant, safety pins, and a tourniquet.
(2) A member of staff shall not administer any medication to a child without the consent of the child’s parent or guardian.
(1) At every centre there shall be, at all times, a high standard of maintenance and cleanliness in the centre.
(2) The owner of a centre shall ensure that any member of staff or child under the care of the centre, suffering from, or suspected to be suffering from, an infectious disease, is immediately isolated from contact with other children or members of staff.
A person shall not smoke anywhere within the premises of a centre, and a notice to this effect shall be displayed prominently at the entrance to the centre.
Animals, whether pets or otherwise, shall not be permitted within any area used as a centre, without the written permission of the Authority.
(1) Where a centre provides for the transportation of children the vehicle used shall be enclosed and with adequate and comfortable sitting space for each child carried in it.
(2) The owner of a centre shall ensure that a vehicle used to transport the children is insured at all times.
21. Use of premises for other activities
Except with the written permission of the Authority, the premises of the centre shall not be used for any activity which is not in the ordinary course of operating a centre.
PART III
Operation and Staff of the Centre (bye-laws 22-28)
A centre shall not, except with the approval of the Authority, operate
(a) on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays, or
(b) outside the hours between 7 am and 5 pm.
The owner of a centre shall ensure that all children at the centre shall have a common resting period of not less than one hour each afternoon.
No child shall be admitted to, or be allowed to remain at a centre, without written permission of the Authority, if the child is over the age of six years.
(1) Subject to the provisions of bye-law 26, a centre shall have a minimum of two qualified teachers, and at all times there shall be at least one such teacher on duty.
(2) A centre shall at all times have at least one teacher on duty for every 30 children.
(3) A centre may employ assistants to assist the qualified teachers to supervise and look after children at the centre.
(4) All members of staff employed at the centre shall undergo a medical exam, including an x-ray, before being employed, and thereafter at six monthly intervals.
(5) No person shall be employed, or continue to be employed at a centre if he or she
(a) is certified under the Mental Disorders Act (Cap. 63:02), to be suffering from a mental disorder;
(b) has been convicted of a sexual offence, or
(c) has been convicted of an offence under the Children’s Act (Cap. 28:04).
(6) All members of staff employed at a centre shall at all times wear clean uniforms or clothing.
(1) A centre shall have a maximum of
(a) 25 children aged between two and a half and four years old per class;
(b) 30 children aged between four and six years old per class room; and
(c) 10 babies aged between six weeks and two and a half years per room.
(2) A centre shall have a minimum of
(a) one qualified teacher per class; and
(b) one care assistant per 10 babies.
The curriculum followed at a centre shall adhere to the standards set by the Ministry of Education.
The owner of a centre shall open and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained a register in which shall be recorded
(a) in relation to each child admitted at a centre
(i) the name and date of birth, and
(ii) the names, addresses and telephone numbers of his or her parent or guardian; and
(b) the names and qualifications of all the members of staff employed at the centre.
PART IV
Miscellaneous (bye-laws 29-31)
A person who is aggrieved by a decision of the Authority may, within 30 days of notification of that decision, appeal to the Minister in writing.
An officer of the Authority so authorised in writing by the council may at any reasonable time enter at a centre for the purpose of inspection, and to ensure compliance with these bye-laws.
Any person who contravenes the provisions of these bye-laws commits an offence and is liable to
(a) a fine not exceeding P100, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding a month, or to both; and
(b) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding P200, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to both.
SCHEDULE
FORMS
FORM 1
APPLICATION TO OPERATE A DAY-CARE CENTRE
(bye-law 3(3))
SOWA TOWNSHIP (DAY CARE CENTRE) BYE-LAWS
Applicant’s Particulars
1. Name …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. Postal address …………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Residential address of applicant ……………………………………………………………………………
4. Location of the premises of the day care centre ………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Staff of the centre (attach extra pages if necessary)
5. Person to be employed at the centre:
(a) Name …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Position to be held ……………………………………………………………………………………
Qualification(s) …………………………………………………………………………………………
(b) Name …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Position to be held ……………………………………………………………………………………
Qualification(s) …………………………………………………………………………………………
(c) Name …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Position to be held ……………………………………………………………………………………
Qualification(s) …………………………………………………………………………………………
(d) Name
Position to be held ……………………………………………………………………………………
Qualification(s) …………………………………………………………………………………………
(e) Name …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Position to be held ……………………………………………………………………………………
Qualification(s) …………………………………………………………………………………………
(f) Name …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Position to be held ……………………………………………………………………………………
Qualification(s) …………………………………………………………………………………………
(g) Name …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Position to be held ……………………………………………………………………………………
Qualification(s) …………………………………………………………………………………………
*Please attach certified copies of the certificates of the persons to be employed by the centre.
Premises and structure
6. What is the material used for building the premises? (e.g. wood, brick or any other material)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
7. Room types and sizes:
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8. Toilets and washing facilities:
Number children’s toilets …………………………………………………………………………………….
Number of toilets for staff ……………………………………………………………………………………
Number of baths ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
General washing facilities ……………………………………………………………………………………
Is there a laundry room? Yes/No
9. Kitchen:
Does the Kitchen have washable walls? ………………………………………………………………….
Is there any storage space? …………………………………………………………………………………
Type of storage shelves, pantry, cold room/refrigeration, cupboard)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
10. Outdoor area:
Size in square metres …………………………………………………………………………………………
Type of fencing ………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Is there a secure gate? Yes ……………………….. No …………………………………
Is there any shade? Yes ……………………….. No …………………………………
11. Numbers of children to be admitted at the centre
(a) 6 weeks – 2½ years ………………………………………………………………………………….
(b) 2½ – 4 years …………………………………………………………………………………………..
(c) 4 – 6 years ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
I …………………………………… (name of applicant) declare that the above information is true and correct.
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Signature of applicant |
Date |
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Date of receipt of application ………………………………………………………………………………………
Receipt by ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Signature ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
FORM 2
LICENCE TO OPERATE A DAY-CARE CENTRE
(bye-law 3(5))
SOWA TOWNSHIP (DAY-CARE CENTRE) BYE-LAWS
NOT TRANSFERABLE
Licence No. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
To ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Having considered your application to operate a Day-Care Centre, the Sowa Township Authority is satisfied that you have fulfilled the necessary requirements of the Sowa Township Day-Care Centre Bye-Laws, you are hereby granted a licence to operate a day care centre in the following area:
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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This licence is subject to the following conditions:
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This licence is valid until …………………………………………………………………. , 20……………….
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Chief Executive Officer
Date of issue ………………………………………………………………………………………
FORM 3
RENEWAL APPLICATION
(bye-law 4(3))
SOWA TOWNSHIP (DAY-CARE CENTRE) BYE-LAWS
Particulars of the Applicant:
1. Name of the Applicant ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. Address of the Applicant …………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. Nationality of the Applicant ………………………………………………………………………………………….
4. Where the Applicant is a non-citizen, residence permit number and date of expiry of the resident
permit of the Applicant ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
5. Where the Applicant is a company, the registration number of the company ……………………………..
I, the undersigned state that the information given in this application is to the best of my knowledge true and accurate.
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Applicant’s signature: ……………………………………. |
Date: ………………………………………. |
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Having considered the application for the renewal of a daycare/nursery/baby care centre
licence of …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
dated …………………………….. licence No. ………………………………………………… is hereby renewed in
accordance with bye-law 4(3) of these Bye-Laws.
Conditions (if any) applicable ……………………………………………………………………………………………
This permit expires on the ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Date of renewal ………………………………. Fee paid ……………………………………………………………….
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Licensing officer