New childcare spaces on school grounds are coming to the Nanaimo region and the province says it’s part of a larger picture for all school districts.
The new spaces are currently being tested at elementary schools in Gabriola, Hammond Bay and Plesant Valley, and the province says 24 existing spaces at Fairview Elementary have already started operating under the program.
According to the province, Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district has already opened 96 licensed before-and-after-school childcare spaces with funding for the program totaling $720,000 from the Ministry of Education.
School District 68 superintendent Greg Keller says having additional spaces for students and families increases student health and provides an atmosphere of well-being and trust.
“We know that when our students have access to childcare in their school building, it increases their sense of belonging and helps them feel welcome and safe,” Keller says. “When students and families have the support they need, it increases students’ well-being and supports their success, which are two of our district’s primary goals.”
Parent Jordan Kennedy says programs like these have been limited for a long time, and the expansion is needed to make life easier.
“I know how critical it is for families, especially in this day and age, and for single-parent families to be able to go to work,” Kennedy says. “Having after-school care spaces available right at your child’s school is so important.”
The province says they intend to re-evaluate the goal with the intention of expanding the program into other school districts across the province.
According to the province, since 2018 ChildCare BC has created more than 39,000 childcare spaces across the province, with more than 20,000 open and providing care for children.
