Description:
In November 2010, the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC held a webinar to present their emerging plan on early learning and care in BC.
Excerpt from the Emerging Plan:
The Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC (CCCABC) and the Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC) are developing a Plan for an Integrated System of Early Care and Learning in BC. This work is motivated by BC's implementation of full school day Kindergarten for 5 year olds and the consideration of 'pre-kindergarten' for 3 and 4 year olds to follow. On the one hand, the extension of universal, publicly funded, free services for young children is progressive and welcomed. On the other, while Ontario and other provinces are developing integrated approaches for the provision of early care and learning, BC is proceeding without a strategy that recognizes and is inclusive of existing services or the needs of all families. Therefore a plan is essential.
Our plan builds on what is already well established. Families need access to quality care. Quality child care IS early learning. Current policies and approaches do not meet the need of BC's children and families. Public spending on the early years is a wise social and economic investment. Quality matters.