Communication with families

Communication with families regarding the enhancement of health and safety measures makes expectations clear. New policies should be shared with families for their information and to ensure they are aware of these expectations, including keeping children home when they are sick, which is aimed at helping to keep all children and staff/providers safe and healthy.

Licensees must share with parents the policies and procedures regarding health and safety protocols to COVID‑19, including requirements and exceptions related to masks.

Licensees may want to consider providing links to helpful information as well as detailed instructions regarding screening and protocols if a child or individual in the program becomes ill.

Priority/waitlist policies may need to be updated as health and safety measures change to account for any resulting limited capacity. Any changes to policies should be communicated to families so they are aware of the changes. An equitable approach should be implemented to assess priority for care.

Where possible, the use of in-person communication should be limited.

Access to child care spaces and prioritizing families

Given the strict health and safety measures in place and the advice of local public health units, some child care licensees/providers may continue to operate at reduced capacity for a period of time. When determining prioritization of limited child care spaces, CMSMs/DSSABs, licensees and home child care agencies and providers may wish to consider the following:

  • care for families where parents must return to work and that work outside of the home
  • families with special circumstances that would benefit from children returning to care, such as children with special needs
  • other local circumstances

CMSMs/DSSABs, licensees and home child care agencies and providers should also consider that some families they used to serve may no longer require care or require a different level of care (such as, part time child care).

Assessing demand for care as the COVID‑19 public and health and operational advice changes are recommended.

There may be families served through the Emergency Child Care for school-aged children program that were not accessing service prior to the closure and are no longer eligible for their space with the conclusion of the Emergency Child Care program. Service system managers and licensees should work together to support families to transition to the service level, program location, and payment structure that best suits their needs.

Fee subsidy eligibility and assessment

CMSMs/DSSABs may need to consider changes to the way in which child care fee subsidy assessments for eligibility are conducted in order to incorporate virtual assessments and records where possible.

Licensed child care programs in schools

The ministry recognizes that there are additional considerations for licensed child care programs located in schools.

School boards are required to find safe ways to allow child care licensees to enter their centres located in schools, in order to prepare their space and ensure they meet the operational guidelines provided by the ministry. School boards should familiarize themselves with this guide to optimally facilitate child care operating in schools.

School boards, CMSMs/DSSABs and child care partners should work together collaboratively to ensure that full day licensed child care programs located in schools are able to operate and that health and safety policies and requirements for child care programs and schools are complementary and aligned with the advice of local public health officials.

Staff and provider training

CMSMs/DSSABs must ensure that training that is aligned with local public health unit direction is provided to all child care staff/providers on the health, safety and other operational measures outlined in this document plus any additional local requirements in place.

Updated training should be offered such that all child care staff/providers receive training on current health and safety measures in place according to the Operational Guidance as well as those in place by the local Public Health Unit. You may wish to consult the Public Services Health and Safety Association’s Child Care Centre Employer Guideline for information on other measures to consider for child care staff/providers. Note that there is also a resource document for child care providers.

Liability and insurance

All requirements under the CCEYA must be met in addition to the enhanced health and safety measures outlined in this document and by local public health.

Licensees and child care providers may wish to consult with their legal counsel or insurance advisor about any other considerations for operating and providing child care during this period.