Education

The Department of Education oversees the Child Care Act and regulations that govern the early learning and child care sector.

In July 2021, the Provincial and Federal Governments announced a five-year Action Plan that will result in the creation of approximately 5,800 new regulated child care spaces by 2025-26.

Pre-Kindergarten Pilot Program

In 2022-23, more than 30 Pre-Kindergarten early learning services will open as part of a Pre-Kindergarten pilot program. This pilot will result in approximately 600 new regulated child care spaces in communities throughout the province.

The first locations will open in either Fall 2022 or Winter 2023 for any child who is eligible to start Kindergarten in September 2023, subject to availability. Pre-Kindergarten spots will be available to any child in this age range, whether they have existing child care or not, as any child transferring from an existing child care location will open up a spot in their previous service for new children.

The Pre-Kindergarten program will be run by not-for-profit organization(s), and registration dates for families will be announced by these operator(s) once opening dates are finalized for each site.

A full list of pilot sites and more information can be found here.

Growing the Workforce

• Development of a wage grid for ECEs by January 1, 2023, incorporating the current ELCC Supplement as part of the wages paid to ECEs under the Operating Grant Program. Most ECEs will receive a wage increase that reflects the important work they do and will help with recruitment and retention.
  
• Adding approximately 700 additional seats in post-secondary early learning and child care programs at College of the North Atlantic, Keyin College and Academy Canada.
  

Expanding the Sector

To support the goals of the Early Learning Action Plan, the department is undertaking several actions including providing funding to support family home-based child care operators, not-for-profit groups and municipalities looking to set up new regulated child care services.

• Expanding existing funding under the Family Child Care Capacity Grant from the current limit of $7,500 to up to $15,000 with an escalating service commitment;
  
• Increasing funding under the existing Child Care Capacity Grant from the previous $5,000 to $8,000 per created space for not-for-profit groups and municipalities;
  
• Providing additional funding to Family and Child Care Connections to increase the number of family child care homes in Avalon and Western and expand their family child care agency into Labrador and Central Newfoundland; and,
  
• Hiring additional staff in the Department of Education focused solely on expanding the sector.
  

• Family Home-Based Child Care
  
• Not-For-Profit Child Care
  
• Municipalities and Child Care