The Ministry of Health today announced the launch of a six‑week public consultation on proposed updates to Bermuda’s Child Care Standards. Beginning October 1, 2026, parents, child care providers, operators, and members of the public can review the draft standards and submit feedback through the Government of Bermuda’s online consultation portal: https://forum.gov.bm/en/projects/ccrp.
The consultation is being held to gather broad community input on modernising to meet Bermuda’s requirements for child care settings, with the protection, safety, health and wellbeing of Bermuda’s children as the highest priority.
The updated requirements will aim to reflect current best practices and establish strong, consistent standards that support safe, nurturing and high-quality child care environments while responding to the needs of Bermuda’s families.
All submissions will be collected digitally, allowing parents, child care providers and other stakeholders across the island to participate easily and directly in shaping standards that help keep our children safe and well cared for.
“Infants and toddlers are among the most vulnerable members of our community, and protecting their safety, health and wellbeing must remain a priority,” said the Minister of Health, Kim Wilson, JP, MP. “As Bermuda continues to navigate the realities of an ageing population, our children are the future of our island, and we have a responsibility to ensure they are cared for in environments that are safe, nurturing and supportive of their development. The Ministry’s review is focused on strengthening protections and ensuring that the standards governing child care reflect the level of care and safeguarding that Bermuda’s youngest children deserve.
“The first five years of life are critical to a child’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. That is why strong child care standards are so important. We want to ensure that child care settings provide safe, hygienic and nurturing environments where children are protected, supported and able to learn and grow in ways that are appropriate for their age and stage of development. At the same time, we recognise the important role child care plays in supporting Bermuda’s families and our wider community.”
Formal Child Care Standards were first introduced in 2018 for both home‑based providers and day care centres. These guidelines outline best practices across key areas of child day care, and many providers have maintained strong compliance while working closely with the Ministry’s Child Care Regulations Programme. However, the Standards have not been updated in nearly eight years, despite evolving child‑care methodologies and shifting family needs.
The refreshed Standards will strengthen several critical areas, including:
- Modernised learning environments — updated guidance on curriculum, developmental activities, equipment, and appropriate integration of digital and learning materials.
- Enhanced provider support — expanded professional development, continuous learning opportunities, and evidence‑based guidance to better equip childcare educators.
- Updated safety, health, and infrastructure benchmarks — including child‑to‑staff ratios, supervision protocols, child protection, bottle‑feeding and food safety, sanitation and hygiene, and modern facility standards.
These Standards are designed not only to protect children but also to guide professional day care providers and operators and support parents in identifying licensed environments that meet or exceed high‑quality care. As more providers and operators meet these updated benchmarks, the Ministry will explore quality‑driven strategies to safely expand day care capacity across the island—providing direct support to working parents who depend on accessible, high-quality, and reliable care.
The Ministry encourages all stakeholders to participate in the consultation and share their perspectives. Protecting Bermuda’s youngest and most vulnerable children is a shared responsibility, and public input will help ensure that child care standards are strong, current and centred on the safety, health, wellbeing and healthy development of every child. This consultation provides an important opportunity for parents, caregivers, child care providers and the wider community to help shape standards that uphold our collective responsibility to protect and support Bermuda’s children.
