Program Statement

Our families are competent and capable, curious and rich in experience. Families love their children and want the best for them. Our families come from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Families are the experts on their children and our centres strive to meet family requests and preferences.

Educators’ work schedules are arranged to try to maximize opportunities for verbal communication with families on a daily basis. Parents are asked to come directly into the classroom or fully onto the playground to speak with their child’s educators and recognize that the educators must maintain supervision during dialogue with other adults. Where verbal dialogue is not possible, a written note may be completed to ensure families get important information about their child’s day. Families can make an appointment with the Director to arrange a meeting with any of our educators if there is a need for a longer discussion.

Educators record children’s progress and development through the use of photo documentation of children’s learning and an electronic record of each child’s activities is maintained and shared with parents. We are also happy to arrange parent-educator meetings to discuss children’s progress.

We encourage families to become involved in our centres in whatever ways are meaningful and accessible to them. Our open door policy permits prospective families to pop in for tour of our centres at any time. Before a child starts at our centre, families are asked to attend “stay & play” visits, where parents, grandparents or other family members spend time with their child in their new classroom getting to know the educators, the other children and the class routine. Once children begin attending on their regular schedules, families are welcome to visit and spend as much time in the classroom with their child as they like.

Opportunities for volunteering as special visitors or to assist on field trips occur regularly throughout the year. In the case that a parent wishes to become a volunteer, a Police Records Vulnerable Sector Check must be obtained prior to the volunteer position. Educational and social parent evenings are held and everyone is invited to attend our annual family BBQ. During the month of December, our centres engage in the celebration of family traditions. Family members are invited to share meaningful traditions from their family and together we share and learn about the values and beliefs that we have in common even among diverse cultures and family backgrounds.

Parental feedback on our programs is highly regarded. The Director is always available to take emails, calls, or speak face to face to receive input or address concerns. A formal family satisfaction survey is completed annually and changes are made based on suggestions from families.