Cyprus Nurseries Under Scrutiny: Parents To Check Certificates

Nurseries in Cyprus can only operate legally with a valid Certificate of Registration. Social Welfare Services is warning parents after receiving reports of facilities accepting children without a valid certificate.

Before enrolling a child, parents should check the facility's official directory and ask the management for documentation. A verbal assurance from an employee that the facility is licensed should not be considered sufficient.

How to check a nursery in Cyprus?

Lists of registered facilities are published by Social Welfare Services under the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare.

Parents should check whether their chosen nursery is on the current list and has a valid certificate. It's worth paying attention not only to the name of the facility but also to its exact address – especially if the same operator runs multiple branches.

The second step is to ask the facility manager for a current Certificate of Registration. The document should be specific to the specific nursery and location where the child will be staying.

What does the Certificate of Registration confirm?

A valid registration certificate is a basic requirement for the legal operation of a childcare facility.

Its issuance means that the nursery has passed the prescribed inspection procedure and demonstrated compliance with the requirements specified in applicable regulations.

Inspections may cover, among other things, the facility's facilities, care arrangements, child safety, and staffing requirements. Therefore, the certificate is more than just a formal entry in the register.

Parents should not assume that a facility is legitimate just because it has been operating for a long time, has a website, maintains social media profiles, or charges regular fees.

The reports concern establishments without valid documents.

Social Welfare Services has issued a warning after receiving complaints about nurseries allegedly operating without a current Certificate of Registration.

The announcement does not specify the number of such facilities or their names. At this stage, it also does not mean that every nursery not visible in the initial search results is operating illegally – if in doubt, please contact the office directly.

However, it is important to check before signing the contract, paying the fees and starting the child's stay at the facility, and not only after the problem occurs.

What to do if the facility is not on the list?

If the nursery cannot be found on the official list, the parent should ask its management to show the document and explain the situation.

If the facility refuses to provide a certificate, shows an outdated document or a document issued for a different address, the matter should be reported to Social Welfare Services.

It is worth preparing the following for the application:

• name of the facility,
• exact address,
• details of the person in charge, if known,
• a photo or copy of the document presented,
• information about the refusal to present it,
• materials confirming that the facility accepts children.

Social Welfare Services also declares its support to parents who have difficulty finding an available place in a legally operating facility.

The check should take place before starting care.

The warning applies to both the child's first enrolment and continuing care in the following year.

The certificate the facility previously held may have expired. Therefore, when signing a new contract, it's worth re-checking the nursery's current status.

The simplest rule is clear: Before leaving your child at a facility, you must find it on the official list and see a valid Certificate of Registration.

Sources: Social Welfare Services – Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, Philenews.