Greater Victoria School District creates more than 300 Childcare Spaces

The Greater Victoria School District is creating 316 childcare spaces across the capital region to provide support for families with young children. The District has completed four childcare studios and is in the process of building a further five childcare studios that will be coming to School District properties in early 2021.

“Our Board recognizes the need for more childcare programs in the Greater Victoria region. We have heard clearly from our community that accessible childcare is a priority for families,” said Board Chair Jordan Watters. “We also know that childcare and early learning programs help youth develop cognitive and social skills that prepare them for success in the classroom and in life. In addition to helping children successfully transition into school, childcare on school sites assist working families with getting their children to and from school while managing busy schedules. When we extend childcare options in our schools, our schools become even more valuable community hubs.”

The childcare studios are being built in-house by District CUPE employees with funding from the Ministry of Children and Family Development. The District applied for funding in 2018 and secured support for the expansion of childcare spaces at school sites across five different municipalities: Esquimalt, Oak Bay, Saanich, Victoria and View Royal.

The District has already built four new childcare studios that are located at Frank Hobbs and Doncaster Elementary. Each school has two studios, which offer before and after school care, preschool or full-time care for children aged 30 months to school age.

New childcare spaces are coming to the following schools:

  • Macaulay (opening in early 2021)
  • Tillicum (opening in early 2021)
  • Victoria West (opening in early 2021)

All studios have an office space, full kitchen, three washrooms and include a wheelchair lift for accessibility. The additional childcare spaces are expected to be completed in January 2021.

For more information visit: www.sd61.bc.ca/news-events/community/childcare-studios/

 

 

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