IECD Approves 105 Childminders to Increase Child Quota Under New Policy
VICTORIA, Seychelles — One hundred and five childminders out of 154 have been granted permission to increase the number of children they care for, in line with the newly revised staff-to-child ratio and quota. This is part of a significant change in the regulations surrounding home-based child care services and which took effect on April 1, 2025, the Institute of Early Childhood Development (IECD) has said.
This policy change aims to enhance the flexibility and capacity of home-based child care services. ‘The revised policy has several key objectives, including an increase in the maximum quota and staff-to-child ratio, which will allow home-based childminders to accommodate more children while maintaining quality care,’ IECD noted. The institute’s chief executive Shirley Choppy and her team addressed journalists’ questions on the matter.
The revised policy is expected to expand access to affordable child care across the country, particularly for working parents who have struggled to find placements. By raising the maximum quota, the IECD is responding to long-standing calls from the sector for more flexible arrangements that reflect the realities of small home-based operations. The change is also intended to support early childhood development professionals and ensure that more Seychellois children benefit from structured early learning environments during their formative years.
