March 23, 2011
Funding Boost Eases Transition to Full-Day Kindergarten 

VANCOUVER – Sixty-eight licensed child-care providers in Vancouver will share $115,607.14 in bonus funding this Spring, thanks to a one-time boost for licensed group child-care (30 months to school-age) providers that receive funding under the Child Care Operating Funding program.

Why this matters:

• This funding is to help child-care providers during the transition period associated with the implementation of full-day kindergarten. It is anticipated that this license category may be impacted by a lower enrolment in their child-care facilities as a result of more five year olds attending full-day kindergarten in September 2011.
• Providers can use this funding to assist with the cost of providing quality child-care services to purchase items that enhance developmental opportunities for younger learners. This may include purchasing books, toys, arts and crafts supplies, and other educational items, as well as minor capital enhancements to improve the quality of the facility (e.g., equipment or furniture). The funds may also be used for professional development and training.

Quotes:

“This is what Premier Clark means by 'families first.' A million dollars is significant help for child care providers."
- Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Colin Hansen

"This is the right way to spend bonus funding – by investing it where it counts, with families and their priorities."
- Vancouver-FairviewMLA Margaret MacDiarmid

“Child care providers provide some of the most important services in our communities. This funding is a sound investment in the quality of Vancouver child care."
- Vancouver-False Creek MLA Mary McNeil

“As any parent can tell you, early child care is absolutely vital. More training and professional development will not only help the child care providers themselves, but ultimately all the families who rely on them."
- Vancouver-Langara MLA Moira Stilwell

Additional information:

The Ministry of Children and Family Development has allocated $1 million in one-time funding for approximately 900 licensed group child-care (30 months to school-age) providers that receive funding under the Child Care Operating Funding program.

Payments are based on the number of funded licensed group child-care spaces – at the rate of approximately $45 per licensed space. In this category, the number of licensed spaces per facility ranges from two spaces to 80 spaces. This funding is being applied to nearly 23,000 child-care spaces across B.C. with an average payment of more than $1,000 to each provider.

To be eligible to receive this payment, child-care providers must have an active 2010-11 funding agreement under the Child Care Operating Funding program as of December 2010. Eligible child-care providers will receive the one-time payment by the end of March 2011.

The B.C. government provides more than $65 million for providers annually in child-care operating funding. More facilities are eligible for funding than ever before – with over 4,800 licensed child-care facilities across the province receiving funding.

For more information on the Child Care Operating Funding program, please visit: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/operating.htm

Follow your Vancouver MLAs on Twitter:

Colin Hansen

Margaret MacDiarmid

Mary McNeil

Moira Stilwell 

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