Strengthen parenting support network – improvement in nursery services

The Social Welfare Bureau will improve nursery services as stated in the “Development Plan of Nursery Services for 2026-2030”. In response to the demand for nursery services for children under 2 years old across the community, the Bureau will work in coordination with subsidized nurseries which are able to adjust the age for nursery admission, with an expected increase of about 150 places in nursery for children under 2 years of age. Moreover, it will incorporate a systematic emotional development curriculum for young children into nursery services in a progressive manner, work out an activity plan, supplementary guidelines and a parent’s handbook pertaining to emotional development of young children, and provide relevant training for nursery workers and parents. In the future, the Bureau will look into the feasibility of mandating childcare workers to complete job-related training and acquire certification within a specified time frame after employment, and create an assessment system for the nursery services in Macao on a gradual basis.