As part of the next phase of reopening child care centres, the City of Toronto will reopen 10 Toronto Early Learning & Child Care Centres (TELCCC) by August 4 to support parents returning to work and to support the restart of the economy. Two centres opened on July 23 and eight more centres will reopen by August 4.
The Province of Ontario announced that licensed child care services could resume operations as of June 12. Since then, the City has been working to reopen its own operated Toronto Early Learning & Child Care Centres. Preparations have included ensuring that all staff have been trained on new health and safety protocols and procedures, thorough cleaning and disinfection of centres and contacting families. By August 4, 21 of the 47 City-run child care centres will have reopened. It is expected that most of the remaining locations will reopen by the end of September.
The City has been actively working with the Province, Toronto Public Health and licensed child care providers to assess what will be needed to reopen more than 1,058 child care programs and several hundred other agencies that provide EarlyON programs, before and after-school care and support for children with special needs. The City is working with providers to help them access the latest in COVID-19 related health and safety training, guidelines, as well as best practices learned from operating emergency child care programs for essential workers.
Licensed child care providers in local communities can slowly resume modified operations once they have implemented all of the requirements set by the Province and the City. Parents are asked to contact their child care provider directly regarding the status of their services.
City of Toronto district offices remain closed; however, staff are working remotely and contacting families. Families who had been receiving child care fee subsidies will continue to receive this funding once they resume their child care arrangements. Emergency child care services have been discontinued, however it has been recommended that essential workers will continue to receive priority admission during the reopening period.
Visit the City’s website for the most up to date information regarding the status of early learning programs in Toronto.
The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice and information about City services, social supports and economic recovery measures. Check toronto.ca/covid-19 for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.
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“A phased approach to reopening child care programs is the right move. It will allow operators the time to make their spaces safe for children, their families as well as for child care operators and their staff. As we continue to reopen child care centres, we must do everything possible to protect our children so that we can provide safe child care options to parents who are eager to get back to work.”
– Toronto Mayor John Tory
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