The ministry recognizes that, while the focus of this guidance document is on the health, safety, and operational measures that are required to safely deliver EarlyON Centre programs during the ongoing COVID‑19 pandemic, that it is also critical to keep the well-being of children and families at the forefront by continuing to provide a welcoming and caring environment.

How does learning happen? Ontario’s pedagogy for the early years (HDLH) continues to be the guide to support learning through relationships for those working with young children and families during the COVID‑19 outbreak. As the cornerstone of EarlyON Centre programs, How does learning happen remains a key support for children, families and educators as we navigate the challenges of these difficult times together.

Ensuring children’s health and physical well-being is important, but we also know that early years programs play a critical role in supporting their learning, development, and emotional well-being. The values, foundations for learning, and pedagogical approaches in HDLH can also help to guide discussions on ways to ensure children’s emotional well-being and capacity for learning continue to be nurtured.

Now more than ever, HDLH is a key support for children, families and educators as Ontario recovers from the challenges of this unprecedented time. We know it is critical to put measures in place to support the immediate health and safety needs of children, families and educators; however, emotional well-being should be given the same level of care and attention. Children need responsive and caring relationships and environments that support exploration, play and inquiry, which have a long-term impact on children’s mental health, well-being and capacity to learn.

The ministry has developed a resource entitled Building on how does learning happen? that provides pedagogical approaches to re-opening child care and early years settings. This resource shares ideas, reflective questions and lessons learned from child care and EarlyON Centre to help to support child care and early years settings as they work to provide healthy physical, social, and emotional spaces for children and their families as they gradually re-open.

Tracking re-opening of sites

CMSMs/DSSABs are responsible for updating the EarlyON Centre website with information on EarlyON Centre programs located within their region through the EarlyON Centre Location Administration Application. The service system manager administrators for each CMSM/DSSAB can indicate that an EarlyON Centre is open to the public for in-person programming and services using the “pre-registered programs” option when editing their location description. It is important that CMSMs/DSSABs make timely updates to reflect the current status of their programs and services. The ministry will collect information on the re-opening of sites across the province from the updates made by CMSMs/DSSABs in the EarlyON Centre location administration application. If you have questions or require technical support, you can email earlyon@ontario.ca.

Meeting mandatory core services

CMSMs/DSSABs and providers are required to continue delivering mandatory core services including :

  • supporting early learning and development
  • engaging parents and caregivers
  • making connections for families

Recognizing that service delivery methods may have shifted as a result of COVID‑19, EarlyON Centres can continue to deliver high quality programs and services that support early learning and development, engage parents and caregivers and make connections for families through a variety of methods that support the health, safety and well-being of children and families.