The Seamless Advantage
Expert opinion from numerous research perspectives have adroitly identified the importance of quality care for children from 0 to 5 years of age. As a society we acknowledge and endorse the importance of this foundational development as the underpinnings to lifelong learning and its direct impact on our continued success as a nation.
Today’s child care market is dominated by school boards and municipalities with non-profit programmes like Giles still operating in considerable numbers. The for-profit market has slowly dissipated over the last number of years as various provincial and federal legislation has promoted the growth of the non-profit services decreasing the viability of the for-profit sector. The medley of available programmes varies dramatically and includes preschool, nursery, full and part time, full time kindergarten, school age and those integrated into a school program. There are those that are driven by a specific philosophy.
Although a majority of centres in the public system are physically located in schools and give the appearance of being ‘connected’ - the reality is otherwise. Take for example the full day kindergarten, and I quote from the Ministry of Education for Ontario’s website, “Before- and after-school programs complement what happens during the regular school day in the full-day kindergarten program.”
Note the carefully chosen word ‘complement’. Succinctly different than integrated!
Furthermore if fewer than 20 families do not require the before/after school care the school is not required to offer this programme to parents. This ensures that full time kindergarten is a not an option for those families whose work schedule does not coincide with the school day. Certainly the full day kindergarten is a laudable initiative by the Provincial Government at improving the quality and number of options for parents but certainly not ‘universal’ for every child in Ontario! Additionally, if this scenario emerges for a parent they must choose between dividing the early childhood experience into 2 programmes in 2 locations or delay their child’s entry to school until Grade One. Not ideal!
“A child care centre located in a school, serving children age 4 and up, will be considered part of the school. This means the building and accommodation standards and requirements that apply to the school will also apply to the child care centre. Separate requirements such as zoning, building code, playground regulations and window glass will no longer be required for these centres.”
Translated this means they do not have to meet the same standards as the private ‘licensed’ centres! And that includes staff ratios an extremely important element in the full development of the child! Not ideal!
Child care and education should be inseparable and flow through to the end of elementary school. Its here that the care and full development of the child begins and continues from those crucial early years. In other words the educational career of your child is planned and implemented as a seamless development with each day becoming an integrated experience between learning and care.
This seamless advantage is a programme philosophy and approach to childhood development that sets the standard by which the Ministry of Education for Ontario should measure the efficacy of their policies and approaches to childhood education.
The seamless advantage is the ideal!
About Kemp Rickett Consulting: My business is founded on enabling clients to ignite the passion for learning in individuals and groups. I provide strategic planning services, curriculum development and professional development and training for school administrators and program co-ordinators.