How do you feel about the proposal for full day kindergarten? Do you think ECE's and kindergarten teachers can work together? Will ECE's get a fair deal in the process? Do you want your child to attend this type of program? Are you happy with how things are now? How will your centre survive with all the children over the age of 3.8 years being cared for elsewhere and mat leave being extended by 2020? How will daycare maintain qualified staff teams when the school board proposes to raise ECE wages by approximately $17,000/year?
This proposal seems to raise more questions then it answers. I would love to hear your views.
This could be quite interesting. I've been reviewing our birthdates of children enrolled and we will lose about 30% of our children. As such, it is our assistants that will be out of work first. I am already beginning to look for "younger preschoolers" and seeing how I can manipulate our licence in regards to mixed grouping. With all that said, another election is up in 2011 and everything could change in a heart beat
I think the Ministry is going to have to be flexible in the licensing requirements in order for some daycares to stay open. Our centre has considered opening an infant room as our 12 month spot is wait listed as soon as parents find out they are expecting. We'll expand the toddler room and move our preschoolers into our former school-age/Kinder space.
Although as you say, everything could change in a heartbeat. Who knows what will happen.
It's so hard to stay financially viable though withan infant room (although I love the infants...worked 4 years in an infant room!)
Yes, this is a huge concern. The fees for these 3 spaces would have to be so high to cover staffing costs. We have been in talks with our programming advisor to see about opening both junior toddler and senior toddler rooms. 12 months to 18 months in one room and 18-30 months in another. If both had 1:5 ratios we would probably be ok.
So now they are talking about changing the DNA so that the Toddler room can take children as young as 12 months with no special permission from the Ministry and still keep the 5 to 1 ratio. Imagine your toddler teacher having to deal with 5 one year olds on her own! The government works in mysterious ways.
This is going to be very interesting. If all the 12 month olds could walk, our centre would probably be ok. We have 3 extra staff daily that are not in ratio that could easily lend a hand when needed (transition/meals etc). However, if it were run as a basic older infant room, with non-walkers, it would be very difficult.
Right now we can take one child 12-18 months in our toddler room. We have a list a mile long for this one spot. There is a definite need for 12 month care in our area.
Things are changing. With the new 20% mixed ratio regulations, my 20% under age child in my toddler room can be any age as long as walking. I know 9 month olds that can walk! I can also put up to 3 toddlers (18 months+) into my preschool room. This offers us more flexibility, which is appreciated with all the other changes going on in daycare today, but I hope centres use discretion and good judgment and not push the limits of these new regs.
So last month, just for the heck of it, I and a couple of other staff applied for the ECE positions in the school boards. None of us received a call for an interview. Upon talking to others in the daycare community it appeared evident that the school boards were looking for individuals with teaching degrees as well as ECE diplomas. Some of the people called had less than 1 year experience!! It's clear that school boards (at least the one in our area) have a secret mandate and would rather hire younger, easily influenced ECE's. It's a shame...I don't think the school system gets it.
Gord, same thing happened here. ECE's with 20 years experience applied and heard nothing. No one I personally know got a call and I have contacts all over the Region. However, I heard of someone in York Region who was hired. She has her Montessori diploma and her ECE.