Childcare Saba

Together with the public entities of Bonaire and Saba, the Public Entity of St Eustatius (OLS) has drawn up a draft island ordinance for childcare. The Executive Council of Saba has presented the Island Ordinance Childcare to the Island Council and the island ordinance has been approved by the Island Council.

The island ordinance is the base for current as well as new daycare and after-school care organizations. As of June 1st 2020, the island ordinance has been enforced for all childcare organizations.

Since the island ordinance came into effect, all children’s centers and registered host parents must have an operating license to provide childcare. All new childcare organizations must first apply for this operating license.

The Central government, together with the public entities of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, has drafted a concept island regulation for childcare. The Executive Council of Saba presented the draft Island Ordinance Childcare to the Island Council, and it was approved in May 2020.

The island regulation forms the basis for both current and new daycare and out-of-school care organizations. Since June 1, 2020, the island regulation applies to all childcare organizations.

Since the regulation came into effect, all childcare centers and registered host parents are required to have an operating license in order to provide childcare. All new childcare organizations must first apply for this operating license.

Download Island Ordinance Childcare Saba

Download brochure Childcare Quality Requirements

As stated in the island ordinance, a license must be applied for with the OLS to open a daycare or out-of-school care center.

The application must be addressed to the Executive Council and includes at least:

• Copy of the business license
• If a sole proprietorship: name, address, phone number, proof of Chamber of Commerce registration not older than 3 months
• If a legal entity: names, addresses, dates of birth of board/executive members, copy of articles of incorporation, proof of Chamber of Commerce registration not older than three months, and if applicable, a copy of the share register
• Proof of registration in the population register of the applicant and employees and a copy of the residence permit and/or visa
• A Certificate of Good Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag, VOG), not older than two months, for the applicant and professionals
• Maximum number of children and age per day part
• Maximum number of professionals per day part
• Opening and closing times
• The (proposed) address
• Pedagogical policy plan for the children’s center
• Domestic violence and child abuse action plan for the children’s center
• Safety and health policy for the children’s center
• A floor plan
• Proof of payment of fees

The Executive Council will seek advice from the Quality Care Committee. The Executive Council has 6 to 8 weeks to respond to the request. If more time is needed to assess the application, the applicant will be informed.

As of January 1^st, 2021, daycare and out-of-school care organizations on Saba can qualify for a cost-price reducing subsidy. A childcare organization can use the subsidy to reduce the parental contribution for parents and to take measures to improve the quality of childcare.

Childcare organizations can submit a subsidy application to Implementation and Policy (in Dutch: Uitvoering van Beleid (UVB)). They are supported in this process by the front office which has been established at the Public Entity Saba for this purpose. The front office is located at the Community Development Department.

Amount of cost-price reducing subsidy (per January 1st 2025)
The cost-price reducing subsidy on Saba for daycare is a maximum of $ 1.076,- per child per month and for out-of-school care it is a maximum of $ 608,80,- per child per month.

Amount of parental contribution 
The amount of the parental contribution on Saba is $ 75,- per child per month for daycare. The amount for out-of-school care is $ 40,- per child per month.

Parents who cannot afford the parental contribution, can apply for a supplementary child place subsidy at the Public Entity Saba.

More information?

• Click here for the temporary subsidy scheme: temporary subsidy scheme (Dutch)
• Changes temporary subsidy scheme per January 1st 2025: changes temporary subsidy scheme (Dutch)

Supervision of childcare and its quality is the responsibility of the Inspectorate of Education. The Inspectorate can delegate part of the tasks to a local organization when exercising supervision.

The department of Public Health visits the daycare on a regular basis to ensure that children are in a safe and hygienic environment. The public health nurses are available for questions related to health such as illness, contagious diseases and the general well-being of children. Please contact the Public Health Department of OLS for further information.

Since the implementation of the island ordinance supervision of child care and child activity centers will be done yearly. Inspections and supervision will also be implemented on a yearly base to uphold quality standards.

Supervision and inspection are imperative to childcare organizations to ensure that quality is upheld at high standards and that children are receiving proper care in a safe environment.

The supervision of childcare and its quality is the responsibility of the Inspectorate of Education. The inspectorate may delegate parts of the supervision to a local organization.

The Public Health Department regularly visits childcare centers to ensure that children are in a safe and hygienic environment. Nurses are available for questions regarding the health and general well-being of children. For more information, contact the Public Health Department of the OLS.

Since the implementation of the island ordinance, annual supervision of daycare and out-of-school care organizations has been taking place. Supervision and enforcement are necessary to ensure that children receive proper care in a safe environment. Inspections also occur annually to check whether quality requirements are being met.