What to Expect from Your Child Care Centre

For many working parents, it’s part of the daily routine: drop the child off at the local child-care centre. In Nova Scotia over 12,000 children attend some 367 full-day and part-day licensed child-care facilities.

"A quality child-care program is one that promotes all aspects of a child’s development by providing a nurturing and safe environment," says Virginia O’Connell, Director of Early Childhood Development Services with the Department of Community Services.

Community Services licenses child-care centres under the Day Care Act and regulations. Licensing ensures that these facilities meet requirements regarding staff/child ratios, staff training, nutrition, safety, health, programming and equipment.

Staffing is the most important consideration when choosing a centre says O’Connell. Two-thirds of staff must hold a certificate or diploma from an approved training program or have equivalent training as outlined in the Day Care Act. There are several institutions in Nova Scotia offering early childhood education training programs.

O’Connell says the ratio of staff to children is also critical. The required number of child-care staff enables appropriate group supervision and increased opportunities for meeting children’s individual needs. Full-day programs are required to have the following staff/child ratios:

• 1 to 4 for infants aged three months to 18 months;
• 1 to 6 for toddlers aged 18 months to 35 months;
• 1 to 8 for children aged three to five; and
• 1 to 15 for school-aged children.

The program is the heart of the centre says O’Connell. It determines the activities in which the child will participate during the day. A child-centred program includes: a schedule of daily activities planned in advance and available to the parents; a selection of age-appropriate activities, some facilitated by the teacher and others chosen by the child; nutritious snacks and lunches; a regular supervised rest period; and a variety of materials and equipment.

"Once you have placed your child in a centre, it is important to remember that your involvement doesn’t stop at the curb," says Lee Anne Marchand, manager of the Isle Madame Day Care in D’Escousse. "We like to say that we accept a family into the program, not just the child."

Isle Madame Day Care Centre has been in operation since 1984 and there are about 70 children enrolled. Marchand says communicating with parents is important. In addition to daily contact, parents are kept informed through a parent handbook, a monthly calendar that outlines themes for each week and a newsletter. Parents are also requested to complete an annual questionnaire and evaluation form.

Each centre is required to have regular parent meetings. Half-day programs are to have one meeting every six months, full-day programs one meeting every three months. The centre’s parent bulletin board is another way to share information with parents. They often offer such information as: the centre’s licence, menu, daily schedule, behaviour management policy, minutes of the last parents’ meeting, evacuation plans and the most recent licensing inspection report.

June is Child Care Awareness Days, sponsored by Child Care Connection Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Round Table on Child Care and the Department of Community Services, as well as a number of community sponsors. For more information or a complete list of Child Care Awareness Days activities, please call 902-423-8199 or toll-free at 1-800-565-8199.