Originally Post: Sept 3 2020
Edited (due to regulation changes) : July 9 2024
That's a good question, and I'm sure you are not the only one to struggle with the uncertainty.
If you think of the Government as a tree trunk, and each branch that comes off it, is a department that oversees companies that work with children. There is the Daycare Branch, and the Preschool / Playschool / Nursery School Branch. Each branch has their own regulations the companies they over see must follow. Some of these regulations are more strict and some a little bit lenient.
The Daycare Branch will over see daycares / child care centers, and (certified) home daycares /day homes. These daycares will have strict regulations to follow. These regulations will include how many children may attend in each age group. Hours the center is to be open. The center can decide if they want to have full time, part time and/or casual spots available for children, and what the fee is for those time slots. There are MANY regulations daycare centers are suppose to follow.
For example a high quality daycare will have excellent (not mediocre) staff / child ratios, a great philosophy, high standards for programming, highly trained staff and well thought out nutritious meals. And you will pay a high price for this service! Child care isn't cheap, especially when it's high quality care. And most parents prefer it, because of work hours and income.
The Preschool / Playschool / Nursery School branch will over see all the preschools, playschools and nursery schools. These too have regulations to follow.
For example one of the strict rules is that Pre., Play., and NS can only offer a certain number of days (up to 5 half days) to families for their children to attend.
Even though Pre., Play, and NSs are under the same government branch, there is differences between them.
Preschools are a combination of learning environment and play (lots of teacher prep and programming involved). These can be operated by a parent board or privately own/operated.
Playschools are run by a parent board where parents must help/participate by supplying snacks, cleaning and fundraising. This environment is strictly a play environment.
Nursery Schools are also a combination of learning environment and play (these too, have lots of teacher prep and programming involved). NSs can be privately own/operated or operated by a parent board.
It's up to families to decide what type of program they want their child to be in.
Most parents do choose the daycare environment because they are more convenient, but children will not have learned certain skills that are required for kindergarten.
Where as children who attend Preschools or Nursery Schools are better equipped to begin kindergarten because they have learned all the necessary skills needed to successfully start their school careers.
There are a lot of companies that allow their staff to leave during the work day to take their children from daycare, and bring them to preschool. All you have to do is ask...
What does your family need?
There are a lot of companies that allow their staff to leave during the work day to take their children from daycare, and bring them to preschool. All you have to do is ask...
What does your family need?
