Centres who have been selected to become an Early Years Centre (EYC) in the first round have all been notified and the transition process is now underway, says Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, Doug Currie.
“Staff at the Department have been meeting with the centres over the last two weeks to determine which centres are ready to transition to an EYC,” said Mr. Currie. “The calibre of commitment and the level of interest from the sector has made this choice a difficult one. I have every confidence that the centres who are going ahead in this first round are ready and will develop into wonderful models for the Preschool Excellence Initiative.”
The Preschool Excellence Initiative will implement 34 EYCs across the province in the first round this fall. Those centres are broken down into either community or school zones. The first round of centres that will transition to EYCs include two centres in Souris; one in the Morell, St. Peters, Mount Stewart zone; one in Cardigan-Montague area; two in Donagh-Glen Stewart; 14 centres in Charlottetown; one in Westwood - Cornwall zone; one centre in the Queen Elizabeth Kensington area; seven centres in Summerside; one in Bloomfield-Alberton; one centre in Tignish-St. Louis; and three French Language centres.
Another 15 centres are preparing to become Early Years Centres and are considered to be round two applicants. These centres will also be asked to come up with a plan by mid October, which will be reviewed by the department, detailing how they will be able to meet all requirements to become an EYC by January 2012.
Centres that have chosen to remain private have done so for a variety of reasons, which could include the inability to meet size requirements, lack of spaces for infants, or a preference to set their own rates and policies. Before choosing a child care centre, parents are being advised to refer to the Early Childhood Development Association’s Guide to Quality Child Care Handbook, which can be found at
www.gov.pe.ca/eecd/ecdahandbook.
Centres are being encouraged to let all families know what their plans are as soon as possible. The owners and staff from the centres who will be closing or converting to an EYC will also help families, as much as possible, with any transitions that need to be made. If you have any questions or for more information please call 902-438-4854 or 902-368-6518 or email earlylearning@edu.pe.ca.
BACKGROUNDER
First Round Early Years Centres
The Preschool Excellence Initiative will implement 34 EYCs across the province in the first round this fall. Those centres are broken down into either community or school zones.
The first round of centres that will transition to EYCs include:
Bloomfield, Alberton – one centre, Kinderstart Early Learning Centre Inc.
Cardigan, Montague – one centre, the Montessori Children’s Centre
Charlottetown – 14 centres:
• Child Development Centre
• Creative Child Care Centre
• CHANCES St. Jean
• First Friends Child Care Centre Inc.
• Just for You Children’s Centre
• Leaps and Bounds Childcare Centre Inc.
• Little Lambs Child Care Centre
• West Royalty Child Care Centre
• Sonshine Daycare Centre
• Tiny Tot Early Childhood Centre
• Tiny Tot Early Childhood Centre - Pope Road
• Parkdale Sherwood Headstart
• Bright Future Child Development Centre
• Little Wonders Early Learning Centre
Donagh - Glen Stewart – two centres:
• CHANCES Early Learning Centre - Mason Road
• Milestones Early Childhood Development Centre
French Language Centres – three centres :
• Les Services de Garde I’lle Enchantée in Charlottetown
• Les Couleurs de L’Arc-en-Ciel in Deblois
• Le Jardin des Étoiles in Summerside
Morell, St. Peters, Mount Stewart – one centre, the Morell Early Childhood Centre
Queen Elizabeth, Kensington area – one centre, Fun Times Early Education and Child Care Centre
Souris – two centres:
• Eastern Kings Early Learning Centre
• Down to Earth
Summerside – seven centres :
• Little Bear Day Care
• Precious Lambs Day Care Inc.
• Rainbow Early Childhood Centre
• Angel Keepers Early Learning
• Dreams Unlimited Childcare Centre
• YMCA of Summerside Creative Learning Centre
• Little Angels Daycare
Tignish, St. Louis – one centre, Magic Moments Child Care Centre
Westwood zone, Cornwall – one centre, CHANCES Early Childhood Development Centre