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

MAPLE RIDGE – Six licensed child-care providers in Maple Ridge will share a bonus of $6,054.12 this Spring thanks to a one-time funding boost for licensed group child-care (30 months to school-age) providers that receive money 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 licence 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:

"Many Maple Ridge parents rely on child-care. This extra injection of funding is meant to assist providers with their service to our children," says Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Marc Dalton.

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 1, 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

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