November 26, 1998
To:Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee
From:City Clerk
Subject:Report Sponsored by The Caledon Institute of Social Policy regarding Kindergarten and Child Care
Recommendations:
The Children and Youth Action Committee recommended to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee:
1.That City Council endorse the recommendations contained in the report sponsored by the Caledon Institute of Social
Policy regarding the Early Years Project which read as follows:
"1.That the federal government take leadership in establishing a federal/provincial partnership to fund, implement and
evaluate demonstration school-based integrated early childhood education programs for kindergarten-aged children. New
Brunswick, because of its recent experience implementing kindergarten and Quebec, due to its innovative early childhood
reform, can provide particular provincial expertise;
2.That local and provincial jurisdictions responsible for curriculum and program continue to respect child development
and the wishes of parents and practitioners regarding the content of early childhood education programs.
3.That, regardless of new models, provincial and local jurisdictions with responsibility for education and child care take
steps to encourage communication and coordination between kindergarten and child care programs, especially those that
share children; and
4.That provincial and local jurisdictions recognize that early childhood education programs require minimum number of
trained staff to ensure quality and make the necessary regulatory and funding changes. Further, that they co-operate in
providing "cross-over" in-service training in early childhood education at levels appropriate to both teachers and child
care staff."
2.That the Child Care Research Committee be requested to examine a follow up study focussing on different
jurisdictional models for child care and design a communication strategy to promote the results of the study and that the
findings of the study be used as background for any future consultation on child care.
Background:
The Children and Youth Action Committee on October 26, 1998, gave consideration to a report (October, 1998) from Ms.
Julie Mathien which was sponsored by the Caledon Institute of Social Policy, titled "Early Years Project".
The Committee also had before it a "Guide for Public Consultation on Ontario Works Child Care" (Fall 1998), prepared
by the Toronto Children's Services Division of Community and Neighbourhood Services.
Ms. Julie Mathien briefed the Committee on the key findings of the report.
The Committee's recommendations are noted above.
City Clerk
B. Bains (392-7033)
(981026.1)
