How to start a preschool in Trinidad and Tobago

Aspiring preschool founders in Trinidad and Tobago should be aware that while the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago is the mandated body for licensing and monitoring community residences, specific legislation for nurseries, day-cares, and other early childhood care businesses is still in preparation. Currently, there are no set standards or required legislation regulating these operations. However, the Ministry of Education has developed proposed standards for Early Childhood Services, indicating the direction future regulations are likely to take. The Children's Authority is actively gathering information on existing establishments to prepare for the proclamation of this legislation and will be conducting sensitisation sessions for stakeholders once the laws are in place. This means that while formal licensing for nurseries and day-cares isn't yet in effect, founders should familiarise themselves with the proposed standards from the Ministry of Education and be prepared to comply with upcoming regulations from the Children's Authority. It is crucial to monitor updates from the Children's Authority for the latest information on the licensing process for early childhood care settings.

Regulations

Health safety: Although formal legislation for nurseries and day-cares is still being implemented, health and safety are paramount in early childhood care in Trinidad and Tobago. The Ministry of Education's 'Proposed Standards for Early Childhood Services' provides comprehensive guidelines. These include a clear health and safety policy, emergency protocols, and robust first aid provisions. Hygiene practices are critical, including proper sanitation and pet hygiene if animals are present. Policies for administering medicines and managing illness, including exclusion criteria for communicable diseases, are also outlined. Child protection guidelines are provided, and all reports of abuse must be directed to the Children's Authority at 996/800-2014 or the police at 999. Incident reporting, especially concerning accidents, is crucial. These proposed standards also cover confidentiality and outline record-keeping requirements for children's health, accidents, and incidents. Therefore, implementing these best practices is highly recommended in anticipation of future regulations.

Licensing overview: Currently, there is no enacted legislation specifically regulating the operation of nurseries, day-cares, or other early childhood care businesses in Trinidad and Tobago. The Children's Authority is mandated to establish a licensing system for 'Community Residences,' which include Children's Homes and Rehabilitation Centres, under the Children’s Community Residences, Foster Care and Nurseries Act, No. 65 of 2000. While this Act includes 'Nurseries' in its title, the Authority has clarified that specific legislation and standards for day-cares and nurseries providing services for children under five are still in preparation and have not yet been proclaimed. The Authority is actively collecting information on existing early childhood establishments to prepare for the upcoming legislation and will monitor and license these entities once the laws are in effect. An application process for Community Residences involves submitting a Letter of Intent, a completed application form, and supporting documentation. This is followed by an inspection by the Authority to assess suitability. Licences, once issued, are valid for one year and subject to renewal, with ongoing monitoring through scheduled and unscheduled visits. While the formal licensing process for nurseries is not yet active, aspiring operators should contact the Children's Authority for the latest updates.

Licensing authority: Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago

Staff qualifications: While specific, enacted regulations for staff qualifications in nurseries and day-cares are not yet proclaimed in Trinidad and Tobago, proposed standards indicate likely future requirements. These proposed standards, developed by the Ministry of Education, emphasise the personal suitability and qualifications of registered providers, educators, caregivers, and other staff members. The goal is to ensure that staff possess adequate skills and capacity to effectively care for children and that managers have the necessary training for effective residence management. Background checks are a general requirement in any child-centric setting. Ongoing training is vital for maintaining high standards of care, even in the absence of current official mandates. Aspiring operators should review the Ministry of Education's 'Proposed Standards for Early Childhood Services' to understand the expected qualifications and training frameworks that will likely be adopted once legislation is enacted. General best practice includes qualifications in early childhood education and continuous professional development.

Facility requirements: Specific, enacted facility requirements for nurseries and day-care centres in Trinidad and Tobago are currently awaiting legislation. However, the Ministry of Education's 'Proposed Standards for Early Childhood Services' outlines comprehensive guidelines that are indicative of future requirements. These include detailed specifications for premises, adequate space guidelines, ventilation, lighting, and specific ratios for bathroom, kitchen, and laundry facilities. Fire and safety codes, general safety precautions, and emergency protocols are essential components that will undoubtedly be part of any official regulations. Operators should consider these proposed standards for optimal preparation, ensuring a suitable and safe environment for children. The Children's Authority's licensing process for Community Residences currently requires statutory approvals such as a Fire Certificate of Approval and a Public Health Certificate of Approval, which are general requirements likely to extend to early childhood care facilities once legislation is proclaimed.

Curriculum requirements: While specific mandated curriculum frameworks for nurseries and day-cares are not yet legally binding in Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of Education's 'Proposed Standards for Early Childhood Services' offers a comprehensive framework for early childhood development. This includes guidelines for children from birth to three years old, focusing on interaction, organization, physical resources, and learning opportunities. For children aged three to five, the document outlines standards across various developmental areas: Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Life Skills, Language and Literacy, Mathematical Concepts, Knowledge and Understanding of the World, Physical Development, Creative Development, and Spiritual/Moral Development. The importance of planning a balanced curriculum, assessing children’s attainment and progress, and promoting learning is highlighted. Therefore, any curriculum such as the International Preschool Curriculum (IPC) would need to align with these proposed developmental domains and pedagogical approaches to meet anticipated national standards.

Startup costs

Startup costs can vary significantly in Trinidad and Tobago depending on the scale and nature of the early childhood setting. A small, home-based day-care or playschool might incur lower costs primarily for renovations, essential educational materials, and initial licensing-related administrative fees if and when they are introduced. A purpose-built centre for 60-100 children would involve substantial investment in land acquisition or significant leasehold improvements, extensive safety installations, diverse educational resources, and fitting out multiple specialized spaces. Monthly operating costs are driven by staff salaries, utilities, rent (if applicable), food, ongoing supplies, and continuous professional development for educators adhering to proposed standards.

Timeline

1. Initial Enquiry and Information Submission (1-2 weeks): Currently, as legislation for nurseries and day-cares is in preparation, the Children's Authority is gathering information on existing establishments. Aspiring operators should contact the Licensing & Monitoring Unit at 627-8597 ext 40546, 40368 or 40552, or fill out the form at www.ttchildren.org/nurseries to submit details about their proposed establishment. This step is crucial for the Authority to determine the number of child care businesses prior to the proclamation of legislation. This is not a formal application but an information-gathering exercise.

2. Review of Proposed Standards and Preparation (2-4 months): While awaiting formal legislation, aspiring founders should thoroughly review the Ministry of Education's 'Proposed Standards for Early Childhood Services'. This document provides comprehensive guidelines on staffing, facility requirements, health and safety protocols, and curriculum. Founders should begin to align their proposed operations with these standards, including facility layout, curriculum development, and ensuring potential staff meet anticipated qualification criteria. This preparatory phase is crucial for a smooth transition once official regulations are proclaimed.

3. Sensitisation Sessions and Legislation Proclamation (To be announced): The Children's Authority has stated its intention to host sensitisation sessions for all stakeholders once the legislation for nurseries and day-cares has been proclaimed. These sessions will inform operators about the changes and new standards to be met. The duration for this step is dependent on the governmental process for enacting legislation. Operators who have submitted their information to the Authority will likely receive direct communication regarding these sessions and the official proclamation date.

4. Formal Application and Inspection Process (30-90 days (post-legislation)): Once legislation is proclaimed and the Children's Authority establishes the formal licensing process for nurseries, it is anticipated to be similar to the current process for Community Residences. This would involve submitting a formal application package, including a completed application form and supporting documentation. The Authority will then review the application, verify documents, and schedule an on-site inspection of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Centre to ascertain if it satisfies the licensing requirements. Communication regarding the application generally occurs within 30 days of submission.

5. Licence Issuance and Ongoing Monitoring (Ongoing (annual renewal)): Upon successful completion of the application review and inspection, a licence will be issued. It is expected that licences for nurseries will be valid for one year and require annual renewal, similar to Community Residences. The Children's Authority will continuously monitor compliance through regular inspections, which may include both scheduled and unscheduled visits. Operators must consistently maintain the required standards to ensure their licence remains valid and to avoid potential revocation.

6. Statutory Approvals (General) (Variable): Regardless of specific early childhood legislation, all establishments in Trinidad and Tobago are generally required to obtain statutory approvals. This includes a Fire Certificate of Approval and a Public Health Certificate of Approval. These are fundamental for the safety and well-being of occupants and are typically prerequisites for any operational licence concerning a public facility. The timelines for obtaining these can vary depending on inspections and any necessary remedial actions.

Next steps: explore the IPC curriculum, read about preschool enrollment, or browse all start-a-preschool guides.

Frequently asked questions

Is a licence currently required to operate a day-care or nursery in Trinidad and Tobago?

Currently, specific legislation for regulating the operation of nurseries, day-cares, and child care businesses for children under the age of five has not yet been proclaimed in Trinidad and Tobago. The Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago is in the process of preparing this legislation and is actively gathering information on existing establishments. While there isn't a formal licensing requirement at present for these specific types of facilities, the Children's Authority's role will be to provide standards of operations, and to monitor and license all day-cares, nurseries, and child care businesses once the legislation has been made law. Operators should submit their information to the Children's Authority and stay informed about upcoming changes.

What entity will be responsible for licensing nurseries and day-cares in Trinidad and Tobago?

Once the legislation regulating nurseries and day-cares has been proclaimed, the Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago will be the mandated body responsible for providing standards of operations, monitoring, and licensing all day-cares, nurseries, and child care businesses. The Authority currently oversees the licensing of 'Community Residences' under the Children’s Community Residences, Foster Care and Nurseries Act, No. 65 of 2000. Aspiring operators should maintain contact with the Children's Authority's Licensing & Monitoring Unit for the latest updates on the upcoming process.

Are there any fees for initial registration or information submission to the Children's Authority for day-cares/nurseries?

No, at present, there are no fees attached to the initial registration or submission of information for day-cares and nurseries to the Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago. This initial phase is primarily for the Authority to determine the number of these establishments operating within the country, in preparation for the upcoming legislation. This allows the Authority to gather crucial data without imposing a financial burden on operators at this preliminary stage. Any fees related to formal licensing will be communicated once the legislation is in effect.

How long will a nursery or day-care licence be valid once legislation is in place?

While specific details for nursery or day-care licences are pending legislation, the Children's Authority's current practice for 'Residence Licences' issued to Community Residences is that they are valid for one year and must be renewed annually upon application. It is highly probable that a similar annual renewal system will be adopted for nurseries and day-cares once their specific legislation is proclaimed. This ensures continuous adherence to standards and ongoing monitoring by the Authority to maintain high-quality care and protection for children.

What are the proposed standards for early childhood services in Trinidad and Tobago?

The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with UNICEF Caribbean Office and various stakeholders, developed 'Proposed Standards for Early Childhood Services' for children under the age of six years. These comprehensive standards cover areas such as registration and licensing of ECCE centres, staffing qualifications and levels, quality early childhood development practices (including child protection, discipline, and inclusion of children with special needs), health and safety, and physical environment requirements (including space guidelines). While not yet enacted into law, these proposed standards provide a strong indication of the requirements that will likely be adopted once the Children's Authority's legislation for nurseries and day-cares is proclaimed.

What are the current adult-child ratio and space guidelines for daycares in Trinidad and Tobago?

While formal legislation is still pending, the Daycare Association of Trinidad and Tobago advises that operators 'must follow the adult-child ratio and recommended space guide' provided by the Ministry of Education. This indicates that while not legally mandated currently, there are established guidelines from the Ministry of Education that should be followed as best practice. Aspiring operators are encouraged to consult the Ministry of Education's guidelines for these specific ratios and space requirements to ensure they are meeting recommended standards in anticipation of future legislation.