Early childhood development (ECD) programme
About applying for an early childhood development (ECD) programme registration
certificate
Do you run an Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme which is providing stimulation
and learning appropriate to children’s developmental needs, including children with a disability,
chronic illness and other special needs?
You can apply for an ECD programme registration at your nearest Department of Social
Development.
Your application may be granted for a period not exceeding two years.
For your application to be considered:

The ECD programme must comply with the following prescribed norms and standards:

Provide appropriate development opportunities

Be aimed at helping children realise their full potential

Care for children in a constructive manner and providing support and security

Ensure the development of positive social behaviour

Respect and nurture the culture, spiritual, dignity, individuality and language of
each child, and

Meet the emotional, cognitive, sensory, spiritual, moral physical, social and
communication development needs of each child

You must:

Be fit and proper

possess an appropriate ECD qualification, skills, training and

have a minimum of three years of working in the early childhood development
field
Please note: The Department of Social Development is subsidising children who qualify in terms
of the applicable means test.
What you should do:




Apply for the registration or conditional registration of an ECD programme at your nearest
Department of Social Development office where you will be given Form 16 to complete.
Your application must contain the following:
 your name and identity number
 your physical and postal address
 the particulars of the ECD programme
 an implementation plan for the ECD programme
 the staff composition of people who will be responsible to provide the ECD
programme
 the financial statements of the ECD facility
 a clearance issued by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to
ensure that your name and staff members do not appear in Part B of the National
Child Protection Register or the National Register for Sex Offenders
 your qualifications, skills and experience
Once your application has been approved, you will be issued with a certificate of
registration or conditional registration or renewal of registration for a period not exceeding
two years.
Continuous assessment visits by officials from the Department of Social Development will
be made to your programme.
Legal framework
(Documents are provided in PDF format. To open PDF documents, you need to have Adobe
Acrobat Reader 4 or higher installed on your computer.)
http://www.services.gov.za/servicesforpeople/Socialbenefits/socialservices/Social
Assistance Act, 2004 %28Act 13 of 2004%29
Children's Act (No. 38 of 2005), as amended.
Timeframe

It may take up to six months for your Registration Certificate to be issued once you have
submitted all the relevant documents to the Department of Social Development.
Forms to complete
Form 16 is available at your nearest Department of Social Development.
How much does it cost?
The service is free.
Contact
Department of Social Development provincial offices contact list