The Department of Education is holding public consultation sessions throughout the province to seek input and recommendations on the development of an Early Learning Action Plan, including a legislative review of the Child Care Act and regulations.

The province has been strengthening its efforts to create an affordable, accessible, and quality early learning system in Newfoundland and Labrador. Additional information can be found in backgrounder below.

Public consultations on the Early Learning Action Plan offers an opportunity for those in the early learning and child care sector, stakeholders and the public, to provide input and feedback on programs and legislation, and how they can be improved to meet the needs of children and families in Newfoundland and Labrador.

In-person consultation sessions are scheduled to take place across the province, starting June 12 until June 27. A full schedule is available in the backgrounder below.

To reserve a seat at any of the in-person sessions, or if there are accommodations required please email ELCCLegreview@gov.nl.ca. All feedback received will be evaluated and considered by the department during the review.

Written submissions are accepted during that time frame and may be sent to either of the following:

Mail:   Department of Education
3rd Floor, West Block
Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL   A1B 4J6

Email: ELCCLegreview@gov.nl.ca

Fax:    709-729-1400

As part of the consultation process, a survey on early learning is also being conducted. It can be found here.

Quote
“It is important that those closest to the early learning sector have their thoughts and ideas known as we build the child care landscape in the province. Parents and members of the public also have valid concerns and ideas that are welcome during this time of review. I encourage everyone to attend an in-person session and share what improvements you would like to see to help children and families.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Education

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BACKGROUNDER

Early Learning Action Plan Consultation Schedule

Date:	Location:	Venue:	Time:
June 12	Gander	College of the North Atlantic	6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
June 13	Marystown	Keyin College	6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
June 14	Bay Roberts	Keyin College	6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
June 15	St. John’s	College of the North Atlantic, Prince Philip Drive Campus	6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
June 19	Corner Brook	Academy Canada	6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
June 20	Stephenville	Keyin College	6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
June 21	Grand Falls-Windsor	College of the North Atlantic	6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
July 4 (TBC)	Happy Valley-Goose Bay	College of the North Atlantic	6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Early Learning Capacity Building Initiatives

• $10-a-day child care was introduced on January 1. More than 8,000 child are currently availing of $10 a day child care in the province.
• A new wage grid for early childhood educators was introduced with an increase for all levels based on $25 per hour for Level II ECEs.
• Early childhood educators received a recognition bonus and a wage grid delay payment.
• Funding was provided to the College of the North Atlantic, Keyin College and Academy Canada to expand the number of seats they can offer in early learning programs. These agreements will see an increase of over 700 seats at the end of this year.
• Bursaries are available to early childhood education students at post-secondary institutions in the province.
• The Department of Education is working on the development of a recruitment and retention plan for early childhood educators.
• A pre-Kindergarten pilot program that will see 35 sites open up by the end of this year has been introduced.
• The Department has provided funding to the Family and Child Care Connections Agency to expand their family home operations into Labrador and Central Newfoundland.
• Funding under the Child Care Capacity Grant has be increased to $8,000 per created space for not-for-profit groups and municipalities.
• Funding under the Family Child Care Capacity Grant has increased to up to $15,000 with an escalating service commitment.