Children's Act, 2005 (Act No. 38 of 2005)Chapter 6 : Early Childhood Development93. Provision of early childhood development programmes |
| (1) | The MEC for social development may, from money appropriated by the relevant provincial legislature, provide and fund early childhood development programmes for that province. |
| (2) | An early childhood development programme must— |
| (a) | be provided in accordance with this Act; and |
| (b) | comply with the prescribed national norms and standards contemplated in section 94 and such other requirements as may be prescribed. |
| (3) | The provider of an early childhood development programme only qualifies for funding contemplated in subsection (1) if such provider complies with the prescribed national norms and standards contemplated in section 94 and such other requirements as may be prescribed. |
| (4) | The funding of early childhood development programmes must be prioritised— |
| (a) | in communities where families lack the means of providing proper shelter, food and other basic necessities of life to their children; and |
| (b) | to make early childhood development programmes available to children with disabilities. |
| (5) | An early childhood development programme must be provided by— |
| (a) | a partial care facility providing partial care services for any children up to school-going age; and |
| (b) | a child and youth care centre which has in its care any children up to school-going age. |
| (6) | Any other person or organisation not disqualified in terms of section 97(3) may provide early childhood development programmes, provided that those programmes comply with the prescribed national norms and standards contemplated in section 94 and such other requirements as may be prescribed. |