Newfoundland and Labrador - Child care Canada

1 Newfoundland and Labrador PROVINCIAL CONTEXT Number of children 0-12 yrs (2001 rounded estimate) Age Number of children 0-2 15,100 3-5 15,300 6-12 46,400 Total 0-12 76,700 Note: Total may not add up due to rounding. Children 0-12 yrs with mothers in the paid labour force (2001 rounded estimate) Age Number of children 0-2 8,900 3-5 9,000 6-12 31,200 Total 0-12 49,200 Note: Total may not add up due to rounding. Children 0-14 yrs identifying with an Aboriginal group (1996) Age North American Indian M tis Inuit 0-4 1,410 460 755 5-9 1,525 455 790 10-14 1,705 490 695 Note: These 1996 data are the latest currently available.

2 Children 0-14 yrs with disabilities (2001) Age Number of children Rate of children with disabilities with disabilities (%) 0-4 360 5-9 1,070 10-14 1,370 Total 0-14 yrs 2,800 Note: Total may not add up due to rounding. Workforce participation of mothers by age of youngest Child (2001 rounded estimate) Age of No.

3 Of mothers Participation rate (%) youngest Child 0-2 8,000 3-5 6,000 6-15 26,000 LEAVE Maternity leave 17 weeks. Parental leave 35 weeks available to both parents. Adoption leave 17 weeks of adoption leave to which can be added 35 weeks of parental leave.

4 Births and EI maternity claims Number of births (2000): 4,869 Number of initial maternity claims (2000-2001): 2,240 Note: Provincial leaves are unpaid. The federal government pays for some portions under Employment Insurance. See federal ecec programs for more information. KINDERGARTEN LEGISLATION Newfoundland . House of Assembly. Schools Act. 1997. (Amended 1999, 2000, 2001). 1997 c. PROVINCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR KINDERGARTEN Department of Education. KINDERGARTEN SERVICES KINDERGARTEN Kindergarten is delivered in public and private schools. It is available to all five year olds in Newfoundland and Labrador on a part-time basis.

5 There are 570 instructional hours a year. Kindergarten is not compulsory in Newfoundland and Labrador . Access is legislated; the right of access to education mandates kindergarten in every school. AGE ELIGIBILITY Five years old before December 31. CLASS SIZE There is no provincial class size limit and the mean class size is not available. There are no provincial policies regarding teaching assistants. CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS There is a policy of inclusion in regular kindergartens. A variety of kinds of extra support is available if need is demonstrated, including student assistants who, under the direction of a teacher, assist children who have special needs with personal care (eg.)

6 , toileting, portering, etc.) The number of kindergarten children with identified special needs is not available. KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT (2000-2001) Five year olds: 5,465 TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS is required. Concentration in Primary Methods is desirable. There are no teaching assistants in Newfoundland . How-ever, student assistants for children with special needs require a high school diploma. CURRICULUM There is a provincial curriculum guide, Early Beginnings. The focus is on a holistic approach with outcomes for all academic areas and different developmental aspects, with an emphasis on hands-on experiences.

7 SPENDING ON KINDERGARTEN (2001) Average spending per kindergarten student Information not available. Total spending for kindergarten Information not available. SPECIAL FEATURES Under provincial policy, ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers are provided by the provincial government to school boards which may deploy them at their discretion. A program for orientation to kindergarten (Kinderstart) was introduced in September 2002. It consists of eight one-hour orientation sessions for children and their parents/caregivers in the year prior to kindergarten entry. It is offered at the discretion of school boards.

8 The Literacy Branch of the Department of Education makes funds and resources available to school boards for Kinderstart. REGULATED Child CARE SERVICES LEGISLATION Newfoundland House of Assembly. Child Care Services Act. SNL 1998, chapter , amended 1999 c22 s6, 2001 c36. Newfoundland House of Assembly. Child Care Services Regulation 37/99. PROVINCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR Child CARE Child Care Services Department of Health and Community Services Confederation Building, West Block Box 8700 St. John s, Newfoundland A1B 4J6 Telephone: (709) 729-2093 Facsimile: (709) 729-6382 Child CARE SERVICES UNREGULATED Child CARE Unregulated family Child care Maximum number of children permitted: 4 If all are under 24 months, maximum is three children.

9 Figure includes the caregiver s own children under seven years. REGULATED Child CARE Day care centres Centre-based care for more than six children from 0-12 years between the hours of 6:30 and 8:30 Care may be full- or part-day. Overnight care is not permitted. School-age Child care centres Centre-based care outside school hours for school-aged children up to 12 years. Family Child care Care in the home of the caregiver for up to eight children including the caregiver s own children not attending school on a full-time basis. Not more than three children may be under 36 months; of these, no more than two may be under 24 months.

10 Family Child care homes may be approved by an agency licensed by the provincial government or may be individually licensed by the province. CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS Newfoundland does not have a written policy regarding children with special needs. One regulated centre works exclusively with children at environmental risk and their families, serving approximately 50 children at a time, both full- and part-time. The centre receives core funding from Health and Community Services; and parents, who pay no fees, are not income tested. Parents whose children require additional support to attend typical Child care programs may receive a Child welfare allowance if they meet eligibility requirements under a means test.