Excerpted in the overview
The information found within this guidance document is meant to support partners in reopening EarlyON Centre programs and to provide clarification on operating with enhanced health and safety measures. This guidance document will be modified as applicable when these restrictions can be lifted and/or amended to reflect new advice at that time.
This guidance document has been designed for use in conjunction with the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) and its regulations, and the Ontario Child Care and EarlyON Child and Family Centres Service Management and Funding Guideline 2020 (2020 Guideline). In the event of a conflict between this document and the 2020 Guideline, this document will prevail. Advice of the local public health unit must be followed, even in the event it contradicts this guidance document. In addition, EarlyON Centres must adhere to provincial rules regarding limits on gathering/group sizes and physical distancing requirements.
The ministry is requesting school boards, CMSMs/DSSABs and EarlyON Centre program providers, in collaboration with local public health units, work together to ensure EarlyON Child and Family Centres located in schools are able to re-open. These partners should work together to align health and safety protocols and procedures where necessary in order to support the health, safety and well-being of children and families.
You may wish to visit the provincial COVID-19 website regularly for current information, as well as the Public Health Ontario public resources page for information to help stop the spread, find sector specific resources, including helpful posters, mental health resources, and other information.