180+ new before/after school care spaces coming to Nanaimo

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She made the announcement at McGirr Elementary School, which will be home to one of the new programs through this funding.

in-school childcare

180+ new before/after school care spaces coming to Nanaimo

1h ago

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Additional funding, to the tune of $2.9 million, is also being made available to school districts for operating and start-up costs to get spaces open quickly.

The new programs are in response to a change in strategy by the province in childcare.

Beare noted they’ve paused enrollment in their $10 a day childcare initiative to deal with a backlog and are consulting with various groups in a bid to tackle availability for families across the province.

“It’s my goal as minister to make sure that we are building a sustainable program that’s available to everyone. Currently, the $10 day is a lottery-type system, we only have 10 per cent of families accessing that program, but we have 90 per cent accessing reduction fees for over $7,000 a year. That’s huge, that’s significant.”

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools board chair Leanne Lee said the District would go from five to 12 before- and after-school care programs, adding 183 spaces in the coming months.

She added reliable childcare allows families to balance work and family responsibilities and provides a stable environment for kids to learn and play.

“Childcare on school grounds also allows children to have continuity throughout their day by staying in the same location and being cared for by some of the same school staff they are with during school hours.”

A complete list of new spaces coming to the District is available here:

• Departure Bay Elementary (24 school-age spaces)
• Mountain View Elementary (24 school-age spaces)
• Quarterway Elementary (24 school-age spaces)
• Hammond Bay Elementary (15 school-age spaces)
• Frank J. Ney Elementary (24 school-age spaces)
• syuw̓én̓ct Elementary (24 school-age spaces)
• Forest Park Elementary (24 school-age spaces)
• McGirr Elementary (24 school-age spaces)

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