News & Stories: Policy Monitor

Excerpt: "The province will add 130 new pre-primary classes this fall, in 87 school communities across Nova Scotia."

Excerpt: "$17.6 million to add about 130 new pre-primary classes, as part of a plan to have it available across the province; $15.5 million (federal funding) to add up to 1,000 new regulated child care spaces and to expand the subsidy to make child care more accessible, affordable, and inclusive."

Excerpt: "Creating more opportunities for Nova Scotians who want to pursue a career in early childhood education will strengthen and develop the workforce and help meet the needs of families with young children. Government is working with the Nova Scotia Community College to create 135 new seats in the early childhood education program over the next three years. The total investment is $1.45 million."

Excerpt: "The amendments will: give the department more authority over inspections conducted by family home daycare agencies; change the title of the act from the Day Care Act to the Early Learning and Child Care Act; remove or revise outdated language, terms and definitions."

Excerpt: "In September 2017, government launched the first pre-primary program for four-year-olds. This is a free, play-based program that provides all children an opportunity, regardless of their socio-economic situation. It provides parents with an option, and it has been well received across the province. Currently, more than 3,000 four-year-olds and their families are accessing the program in 185 pre-primary classes. With an additional $10.2 million this year, the rollout will continue, and by September 2020, we anticipate that every four-year-old in Nova Scotia will have access to a free, pre-primary, early learning opportunity. Early childhood educators are at the heart of quality child care. To expand services in both child care centres and in pre-primary classroom settings, we are dependent on a well-trained workforce."

Excerpt: "The expansion of pre-primary will save families thousands of dollars in child care costs and create more opportunities for early childhood educators in Nova Scotia. About 224 more early childhood educators will be needed to support the new classrooms. More than 400 early childhood educators will be employed by the program next year."

Excerpt: "Children and families across the province will have more options and improved access to child care with a $4.4 million investment. The money will help create 403 new spaces across the province and provide 108 non-profit child care centres with opportunities to expand or improve their programs."

Excerpt: "The province will expand the on-site, Nova Scotia Before and After Program to 40 sites this fall, with continued expansion in 2020, where needed."

Excerpt: "Budget 2020-21 includes an increase of $17.5 million, for a total investment of $51.4 million. That makes Nova Scotia a leader in Atlantic Canada in pre-primary education. Families have told us that transportation would make it easier to access pre-primary, particularly in rural Nova Scotia. Bus service for all eligible pre-primary children begins this September with new funding of $4 million under Budget 2020-21. Creating this opportunity for young children also means more parents can attend school themselves or return to the workforce and contribute to family income."

Excerpt: "In July, government will expand the Nova Scotia Child Benefit to include more families, while also raising the amount eligible families receive. The $18 million investment, included in the 2020-21 budget, is the largest single increase to the benefit since it was created in 1998. “We’re putting more money directly in the hands of families who need it,” said Kelly Regan, Minister of Community Services. “This is another major investment in the children of our province.” Families with incomes below $34,000 will now be eligible."

Excerpt: "Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced $17 million in federal support for Nova Scotia’s child care sector to help ensure that safe and sufficient child care spaces are available to support parents’ gradual return to work."

Excerpt: "Every four-year-old in Nova Scotia now has access to pre-primary, a free, universal early learning program."