The Provincial Government has released a report outlining a review of the Operating Grant Program for child care services in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The report includes six opportunity areas for improving the Operating Grant Program, including:
- Governance;
- Funding and rates;
- Program policies, processes and requirements;
- Accountability;
- Workforce; and
- System enablers.
The Department of Education has reviewed the report. Work has begun to address approved recommendations in each of the areas identified for improvements in line with the high-level road map included in the report.
The Operating Grant Program is a key component of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, and helps to address the affordability, quality, and availability of child care services for families with young children in the province. Through the Canada-wide agreement, the Government of Canada is contributing more than $306 million for child care in Newfoundland and Labrador between 2021-2022 and 2025-2026.
The full report can be viewed at https://www.gov.nl.ca/education/files/OGP-Review_Final-Report_November-2023.pdf
There are currently more than 8,600 early learning and child care spaces operating at $10 a day or less in the province, with almost 1,200 child care spaces created in 2023.
Quotes
“The Operating Grant Program plays a key role in supporting the affordability of regulated early learning and child care services in the province. This report outlined multiple areas to strengthen the Operating Grant Program, and I am confident that our government will implement changes to further support high quality and accessible child care in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Education
-30-
Learn more
Operating Grant Program
Contract Awarded for Review of the Operating Grant Program for Child Care Centres
Follow us on X @GovNL and @EDU_GovNL
Like us on Facebook