Child Care Spaces Continue to Increase

There are now approximately 10,900 early learning and child care spaces in the province operating on the $10-a-day or less plan.

An additional 2,100 spaces are in development to further increase access early learning and child care in the province.

Thousands of parents throughout the province are using the Early Learning Gateway, where new features are added regularly.

Further actions to support the early learning workforce and increase access to early learning and child care throughout the province include:

• Implementation of a medical benefits program for early childhood educators;

• Provision of a rural and remote allowance for child care centres in eligible regions;

• Wage grid bonuses for early childhood educators and administrators in Labrador, Francophone early childhood educators, and a further bonus solely for administrators;

• Streamlined paid closure days and statutory holidays for child care services on the Operating Grant Program;

• Creation of an Infant Incentive to provide $91 per day, per infant-aged space for child care providers on the Operating Grant Program; and,

• Continued expansion of pre-kindergarten programming, which is currently available at 34 sites throughout the province with a further 24 sites in development.