7.3.2 A focus on early childhood care and education 363. The GoSL recognizes that it has a duty to provide temporary care for children in the daily absence of their parents whilst at work and elsewhere. The Child Rights Act devolves responsibility for the establishment and regulation of safe and nurturing day care centres to Local Councils. It further requires and mandates local councils to develop by-laws for the operation of day-care centres within their jurisdiction. The operation of an unregistered day-care centre is a criminal offence subject to a fine or imprisonment. 364. In Sierra Leone a significant number of children do not receive adequate temporary care in their parent’s absence. A recent study of parental behavior in relation to the care and development of young children aged 0- 6 years indicates that 5.5 percent of children under 15 months are left without an adult and 3.8 percent of children in this age group are completely left on their own in the house. These proportions are higher at 10.5 percent and 8.5 percent respectively among children aged 15 months and above (Seurat, 2013). 365. At present there is little information available as to the number of registered daycare facilities or the state of progress on the development of by-laws at a local council level. It is expected that these provisions of the act will be more vigorously implemented once a national Early Childhood Development Policy has been adopted. 366. The process for the development of a national Early Childhood Care and Education policy has already commenced. The GoSL, with the support of UNICEF is laying the foundations for the development of a pubic ECD system and programme to address the survival, development and well-being of young children aged 0- 6 years (until they enter formal schooling). The programme will focus on two elements: that is parenting support at a community level as well as formalized and structured preschool. In terms of the national White Paper on Education and the Education Sector Strategic Plan, pre-school for children from the age of three years is prioritized and considered as part of basic education. The national policy will secure the public provision of this essential developmental service to ensure a massive increase in the rate at which, especially vulnerable children living in poverty and in rural areas, access early childhood education services. At present, only 14 percent of children aged 3-5 years access pre-primary education. The majority of children currently access the service through private unregulated providers. 92  Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone Initial Report on the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child 2002-2014