Back to school: all day K concerns some child care advocates
By Natalie North - Saanich News
August 11, 2010

Last spring, the provincial government announced $280-million would be spent over three years for B.C.'s full-day kindergarten plan. It promised to ease Victoria's daycare crunch, but not everyone within the child care industry is convinced the tax dollars have been well spent.

At Victoria Child Care Resource and Referral agency, Belinda Macey is busy with the usual influx of calls from parents seeking childcare in the fall. The agency’s program coordinator, Macey is wary of how smoothly the transition to full-day K will be. She questions just how much the added class time in selected schools this September will relieve the need for more quality child care in Greater Victoria.

"My understanding from the referral part of our agency is that the majority of our school-based care programs are fully subscribed, or don't offer kinder-care for that young age group," Macey said.

CCRR is an advocate for play-based training, which the full-day K program is based on. Other early childhood care considerations exist too, however. Macey questions how youngsters will be able to navigate their way to washrooms over the course of a full day without having any “accidents.” In particular, Macey is concerned about "young fives," children who will begin kindergarten at four years old because their birthday is later in the year.

Megan Roddan, mother of young five Evelyn who is registered for full-day K at Northridge elementary this fall, is grateful the option is available.

"After half-day summer camps, my child complained that they weren't long enough," Roddan said. "She's a high-energy, social kid that likes routine. It suits her personality."…

While daycare vacancy in Greater Victoria isn't anywhere near as low as it was three years ago, the all-day kindergarten hasn't yet relieved any additional pressure off parents for the upcoming school year.

"In terms of before and after school care, the B.C. government is increasing before and after school child care spaces to help families take advantage of the new opportunity for full-day kindergarten this September," stated Joanne Whittier, manager of communications for the Ministry of Education, in an email to The News.

Macey says the quality spaces are still be tough to come by.

"If families haven't found their before and after school care by now, they're probably going to be out of luck because all of the spaces are gone," she said. "It will be problematic."...