YMCAs applaud Ontario Government's decision on early learning partnerships

Children and families to benefit from system integration

TORONTO, Dec. 15 /CNW/ - YMCAs from across Ontario welcome the government's decision to permit partnerships between school boards and child care organizations in the delivery of before and after school care as part of the new full-day kindergarten program.

"We have been strong supporters of the government's ground breaking full day learning program. Allowing school boards to partner with organizations such as the YMCA will ensure many more children receive an integrated, curriculum-based, before and after school program that better meets the local needs of Ontario families," said Rob Armstrong, Senior Vice-President YMCA Ontario. "Hundreds of our programs currently operate in schools.  The model is already working; it's cost effective and can be scaled up quickly". 

The YMCA is Ontario's largest not-for-profit early learning and child care provider for children from infancy to age 12, with more than 38,000 children involved in licensed programs.  We have been offering high-quality, curriculum-based early learning and care for over 40 years in local communities of all shapes and sizes. 

"This is great news for children and families across Ontario," says Armstrong.  "The YMCAs applaud the government's decision to allow us to continue working in partnership with schools, helping to ensure the success of the government's goal of providing a seamless and integrated full day learning program."

The YMCAs in Ontario currently work with 50 school boards across the province to offer a range of early learning and care programs including over 300 licensed pre-school child care programs and 500 licensed school-age before and after-school programs.

For further information:

Jennifer Holmes Weier, General Manager External Relations, YMCA Ontario, cell: [phone]