Ministry of Education
Early Years and Child Care Division
315 Front Street West, 11th Floor
Toronto ON M5V 3A4
TO: Consolidated Municipal Service Managers and District Social Services Administration Boards (CMSMs and DSSABs)
FROM: Phil Graham, Assistant Deputy Minister, Early Years and Child Care Division
DATE: February 3, 2021
SUBJECT: Child Care Updates
Thank you for your continued patience and support as we navigate the ever-changing COVID-19 pandemic outbreak together. The Ministry of Education has committed to keeping you updated as the situation evolves to help you plan for and address the impacts on the early years and child care sector. Today, I am pleased to update you on the return to in-person learning in all (remaining) regions of the province and associated considerations for early years and child care programs.
Based on the most recent data and advice from the Chief Medical Officer of Health, elementary and secondary schools in all remaining PHUs across Ontario will be permitted to resume in-person instruction on Monday February 8, 2021, with the exception of schools in Toronto Public Health, Peel Public Health and York Region Public Heath, who will be permitted to resume in-person instruction on Tuesday February 16, 2021. See Appendix A for a list of PHUs and their reopening dates.
With the return to in-person learning in these remaining PHU regions, the targeted emergency child care program for school-aged children will come to an end on February 5, 2021. For the regions of Toronto, Peel and York Region Public Health, targeted emergency child care will end on February 12, 2021.
All before/after school programs may resume their usual operations in alignment with the return to in-person learning in their PHUs, including the charging of parent fees. EarlyON Child and Family Centres must continue to remain closed and may not offer indoor and outdoor in-person programming. EarlyON Centres are strongly encouraged to continue offering virtual programming during this time.
We have introduced enhanced health and safety measures to support the return to in-person learning across Ontario. See Appendix B for a summary of health and safety guidance.
I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of maintaining all of the protocols in place in all indoor areas in a child care setting, including staff rooms. All child care staff, home child care providers, home child care visitors and placement students are required to wear medical masks and eye protection while inside a child care setting, including in hallways and staff rooms (unless eating – but time with masks off should be limited and physical distance should be maintained). As a reminder, eye protection can include a face shield or goggles, and this is to be worn in addition to a medical mask. These measures are imperative to keeping our child care programs and schools open and safe.
As always, child care and early years partners may, particularly at the advice or direction of their local PHU, choose to implement additional measures based on local circumstances.
Once again, thank you for your continued support and collaboration as we work through these challenging times together.
Sincerely,
Phil Graham
PHUs that will be permitted to reopen elementary and secondary schools on Monday, February 8, 2021:
PHUs that will be permitted to reopen elementary and secondary schools on Tuesday, February 16, 2021:
All child care and early years programs are required to have health and safety measures in place as outlined in the operational guidance documents and are required to communicate these measures consistently to parents/guardians, students and staff.
Enhanced health and safety measures that were introduced January 20, 2021 are noted below.
Self-Screening
Masking
Updated Operational Guidance For Child Care During COVID-19 Outbreak v.5 and Before and After School Programs, Kindergarten – Grade 6 guidance documents reflecting these additional health and safety measures will be available soon for use.
