Latest News & Stories

Excerpt: "The COVID-19 outbreak has further highlighted the importance of having a range of high-quality child care and early years programs, that provide rich social, emotional and early learning experiences for children while allowing families to work. The outbreak has also highlighted what we already knew about people working in the child care and early years sector: they are passionate, dedicated and child-centred, able to adapt to changing circumstances while always keeping the best interests of children and families at heart."

Excerpt: "In the year ending March 31, 2020: The number of licensed child care centres increased by almost 1% to 5,565 centres, of which more than 3,000 centres were located in publicly funded schools; The number of licensed child care spaces grew by 16,206 spaces to 462,802 spaces, representing an increase of 4%. All age groups have seen an increase in spaces: a 4% increase for infants, toddlers, Kindergarten, and school age children; a 3% increase for preschool children; and an increase from 418 to 692 spaces for the “family age group”; A total of 131 home child care agencies were in operation, with 8,296 approved homes affiliated with these agencies; More than 2,000 individuals were approved to receive grants to support them in obtaining an early childhood education diploma."

Excerpt: "FINDINGS: There are not enough places available in subsidized childcare to meet the needs of families in Québec. Families that are unable to find subsidized childcare pay more for a service whose quality does not necessarily meet expectations; The children of low-income families are underrepresented in childcare centres (CPE) that are located in the administrative regions of Laval and Montréal; The Place 0-5 single-window access to childcare services does not allow for the efficient management of access to these services. Theinformation presented on the website is not up-to-date and is not sufficient to meet the needs of parents; The oversight of childcare services by the ministère de la Famille is largely insufficient to optimize access to childcare services, in particular for families with a child who has special needs; The ministère de la Famille is not meeting its objectives for the creation of new places in subsidized childcare that were announced several years ago, which prevents it from meeting the needs of families."

Excerpt: "Your government will develop a modern child care system and funding model that will enable and support the child care sector to grow in line with demand from Manitoba families, provide greater equity in the type of support given to families, and offer choices and flexibility that reflects the needs and challenges today’s parents face."

Excerpt: "Canada and Yukon agree that the long term vision, principles and objectives for early learning and child care, which are set out in the Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework that is attached as an Annex (Annex 1), will guide the investment of funds provided under this Agreement."

The Atkinson Centre promotes research on child development, and the development of early learning policy and practice that serve young children and their families.

Tara Goldstein and Yasmin Owis’s work on ethical principles and practices with LGBTQ families will be published as a chapter in Goldstein’s new book Our Children are Your Students: LGBTQ Families Speak Out.

Our invitation-only conversation on creating a child development repository in New Brunswick with privacy in mind.

When it comes to outdoor recreation, the conservation industry, even the climate change movement, “there are barriers based in the legacies of history,” she explains. “We don’t see ourselves advertised. They don’t have Black people on staff. It sends a clear message that if you’re Black, this isn’t your space.”

The Atkinson Centre promotes research on child development, and the development of early learning policy and practice that serve young children and their families.

Excerpt: "The Ontario government is providing $24.3 million in targeted investments to hire additional staff, increase access to counselling and therapy, create new programs to help manage stress, depression and anxiety, and address eating disorders and other challenges facing children and youth. This funding is part of the government's $176 million investment in the Roadmap to Wellness, a comprehensive plan to build a fully connected mental health and addictions system across the province."

Excerpt: "The Ontario government is investing $550 million to build 20 new schools and eight permanent school additions across the province in 2020-21. These new projects will create nearly 16,000 new student learning spaces and 870 new licensed child care spaces as part of the government's ongoing efforts to improve and build modern schools."