Early Years System
As the System Manager for Early Learning and Child Care Services, the City of Greater Sudbury partners with Early Learning organizations in Greater Sudbury to develop priorities, policies and procedures that will support and promote high quality services for children and families.
System Priorities
Licensed home and centre-based child care and EarlyON programs use the document “How Does Learning Happen?” as a resource for the purpose of guiding their programming. As a result, we have aligned system priorities with the Early Years Community Plan to help operators identify areas in their program that can be improved through critical reflection, discussion and work towards achieving their organizational goals.
Quality
High-quality early years child care programs that foster children’s learning and development are a key component in establish positive, responsive relationships with children and their families. Therefore, we expect all contracted childcare operators to participate in the City of Greater Sudbury Early Years Quality Program.
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Role of City of Greater Sudbury |
Role of Operator |
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Provide professional learning opportunities. Develop quality initiatives based on best practices. Monitor the Child Care Licensing System and work with operators to ensure compliance. Determine funding allocations for child care operators. Promote opportunities to engage with various organizations. Develop local policies that align with provincial legislative framework and meet local needs. Provide understanding of what funding is available. Work with Ministry of Education, Program Advisors to develop action plans in response to the Licensing Terms and Conditions. Work collaboratively with operators to ensure professional learning opportunities align with work plan. |
Recruit and retain highly skilled and qualified educators. Participate in local quality initiatives. Create a program statement that is consistent with the Minister’s policy statement on programming and pedagogy. The document “How Does Learning Happen?” is to be used as the framework to guide and develop licensed child care programs. Provide developmentally appropriate and evidence-based learning environments, resources and curriculum Follow provincial legislation, regulations and directives. Notify City of Greater Sudbury immediately when a provisional license is received. Work with City of Greater Sudbury to develop action plan. |
Sustainability
Building a sustainable child care system ensures the City of Greater Sudbury can continue to offer high quality child care programs with well-established community relationships and knowledge of local needs. Adapting to changing demographics and market demands requires research, planning and the development of a business and/or marketing plan that addresses potential barriers and opportunities for improvement.
The purpose of the sustainability priority is to assist child care operators in re-evaluating their current business model and operations and to incorporate new ideas and strategies to build a sustainable business that is responsive to the needs in the community.
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Role of City of Greater Sudbury |
Role of Operator |
|---|---|
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Provide tools and training to support operators with business planning, meetings, work plan templates. Ensure operators know what funding they are eligible for (one-time, transformation, capital retrofits expense, health and safety etc.). Monitor vacancy reports. Create Early Years System plans |
Adopt annual business plans that show demand for child care and quality that aligns with costs. Have strong organizational governance. Have strong financial management practices. Be responsive to changes in the child care market. Have a balanced budget. |
Accessibility
An accessible child care program provides an early learning environment which minimizes the barriers for families accessing child care. A child- and family-centred approach which is responsive to the local needs in the community creates a sense of inclusiveness that encourages operators and parents to participate in community initiatives.
The purpose of the accessibility priority is to assist child care operators in creating an early learning environment which minimizes the barriers for families accessing child care.
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Role of City of Greater Sudbury |
Role of Operator |
|---|---|
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Provide an understanding of the demand for child care in Greater Sudbury to help influence decision-making efforts (funding and contractual decisions). Development of waitlist strategy. Manage special needs resourcing supports. Lead and develop community initiatives that align with the Early Years Community Plan. |
Provide fee subsidized spaces. Have an updated and current profile on the Greater Sudbury Child Care Registry. Minimize barriers to child care services for parents. Provide inclusive early learning and care environments (e.g. AODA, Health and Safety Policies and Procedures, space for physical activity in/out doors, etc.). |
Integration
Building strong connections and partnering with other service providers across the early years system creates a strong integrated relationship. Engaging parents and children and communicating with them using multiple means helps to establish and maintain positive reciprocal relationships. This integrated approach requires the adoption of the Ontario Early Years Policy framework which moves towards an increasingly seamless service experience for children and families.
The purpose of the integration priority is to build strong connections and encourage partnering with other service providers across the early years system.
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Role of City of Greater Sudbury |
Role of Operator |
|---|---|
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Create opportunities and participate in consultation sessions and committees. Help develop policies and procedures that support a seamless transition (e.g. referral pathways, school boards, special needs).
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Partner and link to other service providers across the early years system. Engage parents/children. Seamlessly transition children (home to child care to school). Embrace and adopt the City of Greater Sudbury Early Years Community Plan. |
Workforce Planning
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Role of City of Greater Sudbury |
Role of Operator |
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To bring operators and other stakeholders together to monitor workforce issues, develop workforce support initiatives and respond to challenges and opportunities to develop a strong and resilient workforce. |
To share data and information about workforce issues and successes. To participate in workforce development programs and initiatives and provide feedback to the City of Greater Sudbury. |
Continuous Quality Initiative (CQI) Model
The City of Greater Sudbury’s CQI Model is a framework designed to enhance quality child care and early learning programs through the maintenance of provincial regulatory standards and high quality practices for our community.
In participation with Funded Childcare and Early Years programs, the CQI framework is based on cultivating relationships with teams through:
- Continuous professional learning and mentoring opportunities
- Reflective practice with each professional
- Commitment to “How Does Learning Happen – Pedagogical Framework” by the Ministry of Education
- Goal and action-oriented model
Participation in the quality program is mandatory for all licensed child care and EarlyON child and family centre operators that currently have a funding agreement with the City of Greater Sudbury.
For more information on the Greater Sudbury Early Years Quality Program, contact:
Miranda Mackie, Manager of Children Services
miranda.mackie@greatersudbury.ca
Inclusion Support for Children with Special Needs
The City of Sudbury supports the vision that every child belongs, and we are committed to an inclusive child care system that is of high quality and rich in learning opportunities for all. Inclusive childcare for a family of a child who needs extra support means that:
- A family has the opportunity to access the child care program of their choice, and
- All children are welcomed and establish a sense of belonging based on their needs in all City of Greater Sudbury early learning and child care programs
Each child care program has access to a trained and qualified staff who work with Child and Community Resources, the organization funded to support all children in early learning and child care within our community.
The Resource Consultant and Child Care team will work with every child and family to develop strategies and carry out individualized support plans for a child as required. In addition, resource consultants support child care programs to build inclusive environments through training and program consultation around inclusion practices.
Information for families
If your child already attends a licensed child care program, you can speak to the supervisor of the centre or to the home visitor from the home care agency to request support.
If your child does not yet attend a licensed child care program, you can contact our NEO Kids Smart Start Hub and they can assist you in finding services and supports offered by agencies that serve children requiring extra support needs.
In addition, EarlyON Child and Family Centres provide free and inclusive programming to support your child and family while you wait for a child care space.