More spaces benefit Island children, families

Early learning and child care are becoming more accessible to Island families with the opening of 358 new child-care spaces over the past six months.

Katie Melville of Wee the West said the 50 spaces in her new centre will make a real difference for West Prince families.

“The location of our centre in Bloomfield Corner is much more convenient for families who were travelling longer distances, and the fact that we are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. is much appreciated by parents who do seasonal work,” she said.

“The family is a key part of our play-based program and we are very focused on keeping parents informed of their child’s development.”

Education Minister Jordan Brown outlined the progress in several areas on Sept. 19 during a visit to Wee the West. Early learning and childcare is the top priority for many families on P.E.I., Brown said.

The 358 new spaces include many infant spaces, rural spaces and extended hours that make life easier for parents who work seasonal or non-standard hours. Seasonal spaces and extended hours have been offered in Montague, Souris and Tryon.

Full and part-time spaces have been added in Belfast, Montague and Bloomfield, with more spaces expected to open soon in other rural communities.

In addition, there is an expansion of spaces in Charlottetown, Stratford and Cornwall where the population is increasing the

most.

The P.E.I. Action Plan for Children aims to expand access to early learning and child care, and support children who can benefit the most from high quality early childhood experiences.

The plan was launched in August 2017 and is supported by federal funding of $10.5 million over three years.