Day-care providers
Daycare providers in Hafnarfjörður are self-employed but receive a licence to operate from the town, which oversees their activities.
Home-based day care
Duties of childminders
A maximum of five children may be cared for by each childminder at any one time. The hours of care may be up to nine per day, on all weekdays.
A childminder is responsible for a child during their care and must ensure the child's safety and look after their mental and physical well-being. This applies to food choices, play, toys, exercise, outdoor activities, emotional life and social well-being. The childminder should inform parents about how the day is going and what the child is getting up to.
Parental duties
The decision to place a child with a childminder is always the parents' responsibility.
It is best for parents to familiarise themselves with the carer's circumstances and how the childcare will be arranged. Parents should inform the carer of the child's daily routines, and likewise, the carer should inform them of the daily schedule, such as mealtimes, nap times, and the play and sleeping arrangements. It is important that parents respect the agreed pick-up time and let the childminder know if someone else is collecting the child.
Parents must inform the childminder of any sudden illness in their child. It is not permitted to bring a sick child. Parents should also inform the childminder of any changes in their child's circumstances that could affect their well-being.
Adaptation
It is important to give a child sufficient time to settle in and to ensure this process is handled properly. The amount of time a child needs to settle in varies from one individual to another. Parents and the childminder need to agree on an arrangement and decide together what is best for the child.
Advice
A Daycare Officer oversees and supervises the activities of day parents and is based at the office of the Education and Leisure Services Department of the City of Hafnarfjörður. Their role is to process job and subsidy applications and provide day parents with day-to-day professional advice. Advice is also provided during visits to the childminders twice a year. In addition, meetings with childminders are held annually, and refresher courses on accident and fire safety are also regularly organised.
Supervision
Each year, three unannounced visits are made to each childminder to review safety, conditions and the number of children. A regular survey is also conducted among parents to gather feedback on the childcare.
Parents are in the best position to monitor the activities of day-care providers. If there is anything about the day-care that is troubling you, it is best to discuss it with the day-care provider first and try to find solutions together. However, if you have concerns about your child's health or welfare, you can contact the day care coordinator. Parents can turn to them with any complaints and discuss the day care arrangements in complete confidence.