Children at Kids Play Preschool enjoy circle time with their teacher Victoria Foote as they watch their classmate Skylar share her show-and-tell item. Medicine Hat daycares and preschools have seen an increase in enrolment this year since the implementation of more government grants and subsidies.--NEWS PHOTO LAUREN THOMSON
lthomson@medicinehatnews.com
Medicine Hat families are utilizing lowered daycare and preschool fees, made possible by the federal government’s plan to improve childcare accessibility through expansion of subsidies and affordability grants.
Jennifer Usher, co-ordinator of Medicine Hat and District Childcare Association, says she has seen an increase in the number of families looking for early learning and childcare spaces.
“(We are) hearing about some happy families who are able to return to work or go to school and still be able to afford those childcare fees,” said Usher. “So I’ve been hearing good things.”
Usher says the increase comes after a drop in enrolment associated with the onset of COVID-19.
“I think centres are really excited to get back to being at fuller capacities. I know some have even been able to reopen whole classrooms so that’s really exciting for programs to be able to bring their educators back and have their whole centre working at full capacity.”
Usher says the increased need has not come without challenges and concerns.
“The one thing I will say is that if we’re going to open up more spaces then we’re going to need more investment in early childhood educators,” said Usher. “We need to have those educators to be able to open those spaces and we want them to be well educated; that’s the one piece I’m not so sure if it’s been addressed enough by the government, so it’s a bit of a concern.”
Carleen Schaan, chair of the Medicine Hat and District Childcare Association and owner of Kids Play Preschool, expressed that although the administrative side of things has become more difficult, she still agrees the program is a win for families.
“When the affordability grant came in, lots of parents wanted to take advantage of that so I know almost every centre filled their spaces really quickly,” said Schaan.
Steph Kurtz, a local mother whose youngest of three is enrolled at Kids Play Preschool, says the affordability grant made it possible for her child to enjoy increased preschool hours.
“We actually were able to add some more time for my daughter to go to preschool and pay less than we were paying before,” said Kurtz. “So that’s been nice to have had the opportunity to have her in for a little bit more time to get some more of that socialization.”
Schaan says even her fall programming is already nearing full capacity.
“It’s definitely made a huge impact for families,” Schaan said. “It’s been great for them to have their fees reduced and lots that maybe weren’t working as much are now able to work a bit more, so it’s been an incredible program for families.”
