The Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education recently issued a tentative guideline to regulate full-time or half-day childcare services for two and three-year-olds in the province's kindergartens.

It was the first government document of its kind in China.   

The guideline states that kindergartens have to obtain approval from local authorities before launching childcare programs, and that the children they are about to enroll in such programs should in principle be older than 24 months, inoculated with all mandatory vaccines, as well as pass health checks conducted by medical institutes.

The class size in childcare programs should not surpass a maximum of 20 children.

The ratio of children to childcare workers should not be higher than 7:1. All the teachers for the childcare services should have acquired corresponding qualifications and received relevant training.

The classrooms should be located on the first or second floor of their building, as well as possess the appropriate toiletry and bedding facilities.

Per capita space for children's outdoor activities in the kindergartens should be no less than three square meters. At least two hours of outdoor activities should be arranged for them every day.

The kindergartens are also required to ensure that they have an adequate amount of toys and books that meet national quality standards.

Children check out a water-saving gadget at a kindergarten in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province on March 22. [Photo/Asia News Photo]