More Portable Child Care Spaces

Fifty more portable child care spaces are being made available for families across Nova Scotia.

The province’s first 100 portable spaces were announced last July.

Portable subsidized child care spaces are assigned to the child and not to the child care centre. The space and the subsidy will follow the child if the family has to move within the province.

"This continues the government’s commitment to provide more child care choices for families," said Peter Christie, Minister of Community Services. "Our first 100 portable spaces have also allowed more parents on social assistance to become self- sufficient through employment or training."

Parents can take portable subsidized spaces to any licensed full- day child care centre in Nova Scotia that has signed a funding agreement with Community Services, whether the child care centre is a commercial or non-profit operation.

Five of the 50 spaces announced today will be reserved for children with special needs. Providing inclusive child care is part of the government’s vision for early childhood development. The intent is to make sure quality child care will offer children both developmentally and individually appropriate daily programs in a natural setting, one in which they would participate if they did not have a disability. There are now 196 funded child care spaces in the province for children with special needs.

"Expanded and enhanced services for all children, including children with special needs, will ensure continued opportunities for learning and care within integrated child care settings," said Mr. Christie.

Community Services currently provides 2,604 subsidized child care spaces. There are 367 licensed child care centres in the province providing 11,514 spaces.

The portable spaces are distributed among the department’s four provincial regions. Parents who want more information should contact the nearest office of the Department of Community Services.