WATCH: Springs hosts Early Childhood Development Summit

Pauline Ngakane, manager at the Department of Social Development, says the goal of the summit is to create a platform for government departments and ECD practitioners to engage.

“We want to provide practitioners with the necessary resources to improve the services they offer to children on a day-to-day basis,” Ngakane says.

ECD refers to a comprehensive approach to policies and programmes for children from birth to nine years to ensure they develop their full cognitive, emotional, social and physical potential.

During her presentation, director of the Department of Social Development, Phumla Nkosi, encouraged all crèches to register to become compliant.

“All of you have read or seen negative stories about crèches but as government we are still committed to assist and provide all the necessary support that you need as an ECD,” says Nkosi.

In the current financial year the department will contribute R54-million to the 249 ECD centres they fund.

Read: Rotary Anns’ Early learning course

“People might think that R15 per child per day is too little, but for a child who is in need and who doesn’t get a meal during the weekend, it is enough and it does make a difference,” Nkosi says.

Metro estimates that there are approximately 300 000 children between the ages of zero and five years in Ekurhuleni, of which 65 000 are accommodated at the 2 200 ECD registered centres.

There is a grant available to help non-compliant ECDs become compliant such as assisting with renovations, zoning and acquiring certificates that cost money.

Read: Watch for developmental delays

Crèches can contact the Department of Social Development as they facilitate and monitor the registration process.

Watch Rex Molefe address the summit before a panel discussion on compliance and conditional registration: