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Working as a daycare provider

By becoming a daycare provider, you can create a job and at the same time get the opportunity to spend more time with your own children.

Work permit

Permission is granted for 1 to 4 children in the first year and for 5 children thereafter. This includes your own children under school age.

Garðabær caters to those who want to become daycare parents with:

  • reimbursement of a course for daycare parents who come to work in daycare
  • Facility payments to improve conditions in daycare centers' homes for the safety of children

Daycare providers must confirm monthly which children are in their care, along with the parents' signature.

Apply to be a daycare provider

To become a daycare provider you need to: apply to the Welfare Quality and Supervision Agency.

Conditions:

  • You must complete a course for daycare parents or have education in the field of parenting. Courses are held regularly at MSS (Miðstöð símentunnar Suðurnesjum) and are advertised on MSS website.
  • A daycare provider must be at least 20 years old.
  • Daycare providers over the age of 65 are granted leave for one year at a time.
  • A medical and criminal record certificate must be submitted.
  • Fire protection in the home must be adequate (smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and fire blankets).
  • Have an emergency button.

Facility payments

Daycare providers in Garðabær can receive a payment from the town to improve the facilities in their homes. This is a one-off payment that is paid when the license is issued.

Conditions for receiving facility payments

  • work permit for daycare for children in a home
  • the daycare provider works for a minimum of 1 year after receiving the facility payment (otherwise the payment is refundable)
  • if 2 daycare providers work together, the payment goes to the facility they work in
  • Children living in Garðabær have priority for placement.
  • The payment is subject to an audit by the Prevention Center and the daycare representative.

Childcare benefits are not paid for children who are placed with relatives or au pairs.

Amount

  • A certain amount is paid for up to 4 children.
  • After one year of work, the fifth child is paid.

Play area

Daycare providers must have an indoor play area for children of at least 3.5 square meters per child. Adequate and safe facilities must be provided for outdoor play with a fenced area and adequate facilities for eating and resting.

See regulations on daycare in homes.