New regulations for childcare centers: surveillance cameras and a grace period for compliance - Urgent
The ministry explained, through the regulations it presented via the survey platform, that the new regulation replaces the previous regulations issued in 1443 AH and cancels what contradicts them.
She explained that the new licenses will be valid for five years and renewable according to the requirements.
New legislation
The new legislation categorizes centers into three main types: independent, home-based, and those located at workplaces.
It specifies that independent centers operate from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM, while home-based centers operate until 10:00 PM, with the possibility of 24-hour operation under a special license.
surveillance cameras
The regulations stipulated the necessity of providing a minimum of two square meters of space per child in the care area and emphasized the importance of installing continuous-operation internal and external surveillance cameras with storage capacity to preserve recordings for at least 30 days.
Regarding staffing, the Ministry mandated that the center director and childcare providers be Saudi nationals.
The number of childcare providers was specified according to age groups, ranging from one provider for every five newborns to one provider for every 15 children aged six to ten.
Children with disabilities
The regulations allow for the admission of children with mild disabilities, provided they submit a medical report confirming their suitability for inclusion and that the center offers an accessible environment.
regulations also stipulate that the Ministry of Education's school curriculum is prohibited, emphasizing that activities should be limited to care, recreation, and skills development programs.
Furthermore, the regulations grant the center's owner the right to contract with licensed operators for management, while maintaining their primary responsibility to the Ministry for any violations.
Meeting the requirements
She added that the owner has the right to transfer ownership of the center to another person after fulfilling the regulatory requirements and obtaining the ministry's written approval.
The mechanism for addressing violations revealed a firm, graduated approach, beginning with an initial warning that grants the center a 30-day period to rectify the situation.
Final warning
She indicated that in case of non-compliance, a final warning will be issued with a 15-day grace period, followed by strict penalties that could include suspension of operations for a year or complete license revocation.
The ministry mandated that all existing centers rectify their operations to comply with the new requirements and regulations within 180 days of the regulations coming into effect.
It also affirmed the right of violators to appeal the penalties imposed on them before the administrative courts within 60 days of being officially notified of the decision.
