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Ministry of Education
Early Years and Child Care Division
315 Front Street West, 11th Floor
Toronto ON M5V 3A4
TO: Consolidated Municipal Service Managers / District Social Services Administration Boards
FROM: Shannon Fuller, Assistant Deputy Minister, Early Years and Child Care Division
DATE: August 13, 2020
SUBJECT: Operational Guidance for September for Child Care and Early Years Programs
Further to Minister Lecce’s announcement on July 30, as of September 1, 2020 child care centres may return to maximum group sizes as set out under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) (i.e., licensed age groups prior to the COVID-19 outbreak). EarlyON Centres and before and after school programs may also re-open beginning September 1, 2020. All programs must adhere to strict health and safety measures in order to operate, including but not limited to:
To support re-opening of all programs, I am sharing with you three operational guidance documents: a revised version of the Child Care Operational Guidance During COVID-19 Outbreak as well as operational guidance for the re-opening of EarlyON Child and Family Centres, and the 2020-21 Before and After School Kindergarten to Grade 6 Policies and Guidelines. The resource documents have been developed to reflect the updated health and safety measures to be in place for the fall, as well as specific guidance related to each program.
The revised Child Care Operational Guidance During COVID-19 Outbreak document provides new information on:
The EarlyON Child and Family Centre Operational Guidance During COVID-19 Outbreak document provides direction to support partners with the re-opening of child and family programs including:
The 2020-21 Before and After School Kindergarten to Grade 6 Policies and Guidelines include:
These changes have been made in consultation with the Ministry of Health and through conversations with the sector. We continue to put the health and safety of Ontario’s children, families, staff and providers at the forefront, and we are basing the updated guidance on advice from Dr. David Williams, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health and the experts at the COVID-19 Command Table.
The Ministry of Education continues to work with the Ministry of Health and other sector partners on the health and safety restrictions in place and will make updates and amendments as the situation safely allows. The ministry remains committed to working closely with all partners to support children and families and to keep everyone safe.
Thank you,
Shannon Fuller