Nursery school owners said they are not surprised some of the Island's home day care providers are putting the children they care for at risk.

Several nursery owners said working parents with children under the age of two have few options when it comes to placing their children in day care, and many are leaving their children in places where an adult is supervising more than the legal ratio of three children to one adult.

Last week, The Royal Gazette reported that unhygienic conditions and stressed out caregivers were posing safety risks to toddlers and infants in small day care centres.

Chief Environmental Health Officer Estlyn Harvey said inspectors had made surprise visits to some of the home facilities and found distressing conditions and children playing in dirty, unsafe conditions.

Some have even received warning letters and many have been advised to reduce the number of children they care for or face closure.

The department is also conducting a widespread review of all home care providers and day care centres to ensure that all are properly licensed and regulated.

Home care providers with up to three children must be registered with the Health Department.

Although they are not formally licensed they are supervised and inspected. Larger home day care centres, and day care facilities run outside of private homes, must be licensed. They must also follow regulations under the 1998 Children's Act, which sets out safety standards.

Paulette Furbert, who runs Happy Moments Pre-School & Nursery in Hamilton Parish, said she knows of home care providers who do not follow the standards for safety and cleanliness.

“I've heard horror stories in terms of how clean people keep their places and the trashing methods they follow.

“I don't know if it is sheer laziness but my question is how can the children stay in a place like that,” she said.

“Some of the home places where the kids are staying are dark, there's no ventilation and the kids are just sitting down in front of the television.

“I've heard of at least three or four home centres and schools from parents who come in to look at our facility and make comments about the standards at other places,” she said.

While Mrs. Furbert emphasised that she knew many home care facilities with excellent and dedicated care-givers, many people offered child care services without having received proper training.

“Child care is not just about wiping noses and changing diapers, there is a definite need for home care givers to receive the proper training,” she said.

Mrs. Furbert said she runs a licensed facility with under 50 children, which is “on the honour roll” when it comes to cleanliness. She said her nursery is inspected by the Health Department every year.

“Even babysitters need training, training is important because it means you will go the extra mile, it's a constant process.”

Roselyn Minors, who runs the Adventureland Nursery and Pre-School in Warwick said a liaison between day care facilities and home care providers would allow them to share information and provide support for one another. She said she also knows of home care centres where one person is caring for one than three children as it is more financially viable.

“Ninety-five percent of women in Bermuda have to work, so what happens is that there is a demand for facilities which care for toddlers,” she said. “It means the health department has to be very vigilant, all children, no matter what age they are need careful attention, especially the younger ones who's needs are very different from other children.”

Mrs. Minors suggested the health department could regularly screen home care providers and provide references of qualifications to concerned parents.