Approximately 900 licensed child-care providers across B.C. will receive a bonus cheque this spring.

That's because the Ministry of Children and Family Development has allocated $1 million in one-time funding for licensed group child-care (30 months to school-age) providers that receive funding under the Child Care Operating Funding program.

This funding is to help child-care providers during the transition period associated with the implementation of full-day kindergarten. It is anticipated that this licence category may be impacted by a lower enrolment in their child-care facilities as a result of more five year olds attending full-day kindergarten in September 2011.

Providers can use this funding to assist with the cost of providing quality child-care services to purchase items that enhance developmental opportunities for younger learners. This may include purchasing books, toys, arts and crafts supplies, and other educational items, as well as minor capital enhancements to improve the quality of the facility (e.g., equipment or furniture). The funds may also be used for professional development and training.

Payments are based on the number of funded licensed group child-care spaces - at the rate of approximately $45 per licensed space. In this category, the number of licensed spaces per facility ranges from two spaces to 80 spaces. This funding is being applied to nearly 23,000 child-care spaces across B.C. with an average payment of more than $1,000 to each provider.

Quick Facts:

• Approximately 900 licensed group child-care (30 months to school-age) providers across B.C. will receive this one-time funding.

• To be eligible to receive this payment, child-care providers must have an active 2010-11 funding agreement under the Child Care Operating Funding program as of Dec. 1, 2010. Eligible child-care providers will receive the one-time payment by the end of March 2011.

• The B.C. government provides over $65 million for providers annually in child-care operating funding. More facilities are eligible for funding than ever before - with over 4,800 licensed child-care facilities across the province receiving funding.

• The Child Care Operating Funding program assists eligible licensed group and family child-care providers with the cost of providing child care. Funding amounts are based on enrolment. Funding is available for all licensed care types, with the exception of occasional child care and residential care.

• The B.C. government has taken several innovative steps to bring in new early learning and childhood development opportunities, services and supports, such as introducing full-day kindergarten for B.C. families.

• Budget 2011 includes $365 million over three years to establish full-day kindergarten for five-year-olds. Full-day learning is associated with improved literacy and numeracy, smoother transitions to Grade 1, and increased post-secondary graduation rates.

• The first phase of full-day kindergarten was implemented in September 2010, with more than half of the province's kindergarten students beginning full-day kindergarten. The remaining kindergarten students will begin in September 2011, which will bring the number of full-day kindergarten students to an estimated 40,000.

• Government is also continuing to invest in StrongStart BC programs and plans to expand the program across the province.

• The B.C. government will spend $296 million on child care in 2011-12 - a 40 per cent increase since 2000-01. As a result, 97,000 licensed child-care spaces are funded in communities around the province.

Learn More:

For more information on the Child Care Operating Funding program, please visit: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/operating.htm

For more information about child care in B.C., please visit: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/

For more information on full-day kindergarten and StrongStart BC, please visit: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/early_learning/

Contact:

Christine Ash
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1639
250 812-3616 (cell)