Have your say on child care in Ontario! The Ontario government is undertaking a review of the Child Care and Early Years Act, the legislation that governs child care in Ontario. As part of their consultation, the government has posted online surveys. Share your feedback to help improve the rules under Ontario’s Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014.

There are two surveys, one for families and one for people working and volunteering in the child care sector.

Complete the survey for families.

Complete the survey for child care providers (people working and volunteering in the child care sector).

When you are completing the survey, please consider including the 3 Big Ideas for a Universal Child Care System:

1. Low fees or no fees for families
2. Decent work and pay for early childhood educators
3. Enough spaces for all

The surveys will be open until July 21, 2020.

On June 9, Cook’s informed you that we will remain closed until at least June 19.

Since the Province announced on June 9 that licensed child care may re-open on Friday, June 12, Cook’s has been carefully taking the time required to plan and develop the policies, plans and training required by the Province to re-open safely.  This step to re-opening continues to be a sizeable task requiring the input of the entire Cook’s team followed by approval from HKPR District Health Unit and the Ministry of Education Licensing division.

Cook’s is still attempting to secure adequate health and safety supplies to ensure that we are confident in the safety measures we are putting in place to protect the children and educators.

CHALLENGING RE-OPENING RESTRICTIONS

The Province has significantly restricted the number of children we may accept back to the centre during phase 2.  The current guidelines allow us to accept less than half of our licensed capacity but increase the number of staff for additional screening and health and safety measures.

The capacity for our home child care settings remains the same, but the level of attention to heightened screening and safety measures is significant.

As a not-for-profit charitable organization, it is concerning that our financial health will be significantly pressured because of decreased revenue from parent fees and increased staff and safety expenses.  The Province has indicated there will be funding to assist with expenses; however, there is not clear direction yet.  The County of Northumberland is working hard to get answers and support the early learning and child care programs in our County.

The Cook’s board of directors is meeting on June 22 to discuss our re-opening and consider next steps.  There is also a County meeting scheduled for next week that will hopefully provide details regarding funding support.  Without funding support, our re-opening is challenged.

RE-OPENING DATE TO BE CONFIRMED

Until Cook’s is able to determine that we can maintain financial stability to ensure our service can continue for many years, the re-opening date and the impacts of the new requirements must be given careful consideration.

Special note:  When we are permitted to open at full capacity, your space will be there for your child.  During the time when the Province is limiting the spaces we can offer, we will follow the Province’s priority guidelines.

WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?

Some children’s personal belongings remain in their home child care setting and cubbies at the centre.  Centre families are asked to please connect with Sharon at vic.park@cooksdaycare.ca or 905-372-2143 to make arrangements to pick up your child’s items. Home child care families can connect with your home child care provider if you have not already done so.  It is likely the sizes are no longer appropriate, or perhaps your child no longer requires diapers.

When the time comes to re-open, we must be able to distance the belongings of those children who are able to return in Phase 2.

YOUR PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING ARE APPRECIATED!  THIS SITUATION HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR ALL OF US!

WE MISS EVERYONE VERY MUCH & HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!  PLEASE STAY TUNED.

The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care staff, Board and Council members have been getting the message out in the media. Here are just a few highlights:

• Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care Policy Coordinator, Carolyn, reacted to the government’s announcement on CP24
• Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care Policy Coordinator Board President, Sheila, spoke with CBC’s As It Happens (interview starts at 27:00)
• Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care Policy Coordinator Council Member, Amy O’Neil, appeared on CTV News Ottawa
• The AECEO’s Alana Powell, was interviewed by QP Briefing

A call to action from the Association of Early Childhood Educators, Ontario, and the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care

Ontario deserves better! ECEs, early years staff, and operators have been long ignored by the Province. During the closure period we asked for communication, transparency, and consultation in developing a reopening plan. We didn’t get it – despite the OCBCC and AECEO Report and Recommendations, From Reopening to Recovery.

Children, families, and educators deserve safe, quality programs when they reopen – and this takes funding and time. The Province’s ‘reopening plan’ missed the mark. We demand and deserve better.

Join the Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario, the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, the Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development, and your colleagues from across Ontario on Friday, June 12 at 11 am for a Virtual Rally for Child Care – we will raise our collective voice and take collective action together. Registration is to participate in the Virtual Rally via Zoom, however space is limited on Zoom and once registration is full you can still participate as the Virtual Rally will be broadcasting live through AECEO Facebook page.

Please Register HERE

If registration is full please go to the AECEO facebook page at 11 am on June 12th to watch live.

And you can tell Premier Ford and Minister Lecce that the Ontario government is setting child care up to fail in reopening by signing on to the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care’s open letter HERE.

The Province announced that licensed child care may re-open on Friday, June 12.

AS THE PREVIOUS EMAIL BLAST INDICATED, COOK’S WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL AT LEAST JUNE 19.

Prior to reopening, Cook’s is taking the necessary time and steps to ensure that we are confident in the safety measures we are putting in place to protect the children and educators.

It is critical that Cook’s secures adequate health and safety supplies and coordinate our re-opening plans with the HKPR District Health Unit to ensure compliance with current public health directives.

It is our hope to provide more concrete information to families about our re-opening date and the safety measures in place very soon.  Please stay tuned!

Do you require care when Cook’s reopens?

IMPORTANT!  Please send a quick email, if you have not already done so to indicate your intentions.

• Centre families can email Sharon at vic.park@cooksdaycare.ca
• Home child care families can email Heather at cooks.home@cooksdaycare.ca

Because of the strict limitation on spaces we can offer, we cannot guarantee if space will be available for what you request.

YOUR PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING ARE NEEDED AS WE NAVIGATE THE RE-OPENING PROCESS!  WE WILL SEE YOU SOON.

The Ontario government, after consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, has extended all emergency orders currently in force under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until June 19, 2020.

Cook’s continues to follow the direction of government officials during this pandemic and will remain closed until at least June 19.

REMINDER:  Your Help is Needed

As previously indicated, the Province has indicated child care will re-open in phase two. We do not have a definite re-opening date but are trying to determine how many families will require our service when the OK is given.  Please send a quick email if you have not already done so to indicate your intentions.

• Centre families can email Sharon at vic.park@cooksdaycare.ca
• Home child care families can email Heather at cooks.home@cooksdaycare.ca.

Reminder:  We do not know how many children the Province will allow us to provide care for when we re-open; therefore, we cannot guarantee yet if space will be available for what you request.  There are still many unknowns at this point, and we will share details as they become available.

Important:  Fees for care will not be assessed and billed until your placement is guaranteed.

It is our plan to provide guidelines recommended by authorities to families as soon as possible.  We will work together to support a re-opening that is as safe as possible for our Cook’s family.

We thank you again for your patience and understanding and hope to see you soon!

PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY ORDER EXTENDED TO JUNE 9.

COOK’S REMAINS CLOSED UNTIL AT LEAST THAT DATE.

Cook’s continues to follow the direction of government officials during this pandemic.

It is our plan to provide guidelines recommended by authorities to families as soon as possible.  We will work together to support a re-opening that is as safe as possible for our Cook’s family.

REMINDER:  Your Help is Needed

As previously indicated, the Province has indicated child care will re-open in phase two. We do not have a definite re-opening date but are trying to determine how many families will require our service when the OK is given.  Please send a quick email if you have not already done so to indicate your intentions.

• Centre families can email Sharon at vic.park@cooksdaycare.ca
• Home child care families can email Heather at cooks.home@cooksdaycare.ca.

IMPORTANT:  We do not know how many children the Province will allow us to provide care for when we re-open; therefore, we cannot guarantee yet if space will be available for what you request.  There are still many unknowns at this point, and we will share details as they become available.

NOTE:  Fees for care will not be assessed and billed until your placement is guaranteed.

We thank you again for your patience and understanding and hope to see you soon!

ALL programs of Cook’s School Day Care Inc, centre and home-based will remain closed until at least May 19.

Cook’s will continue to follow the direction of government officials during this pandemic and give as much notice as possible when we are able to resume operations.  Guidelines recommended by authorities will be shared when available to support a re-opening that is as safe as possible for the children, families, and educators.

We, too, are finding it difficult to be distanced from our friends and loved ones.  We miss seeing the Cook’s children and families who have brought so much happiness to our lives!  We thank you again for your patience and understanding and hope to see you soon!

Extension closure memo to child care sector for May 19

Cook’s remains closed until at least May 6.

We understand and share that the measures in place continue to be challenging. We thank you for your patience and understanding!

Please join our Facebook group, Victoria Park Child Care Centre – Staying Connected, to share with the educators and other families. We miss you and hope to see you soon.

https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/04/ontario-extends-emergency-orders-to-help-stop-the-spread-of-covid-19.html