Educational childcare establishments offer children from 0 to 5 years of age an educational program adapted to their age, but also to the amount of time they spend in their care.
The educational program is based mainly on play in order to:
- assist children in their learning process;
- foster their overall development;
- promote healthy lifestyles (eating habits, active play, etc.).
Educational childcare establishments also promote the sharing of knowledge about children’s experience to help prepare them for a
smooth transition to the school system.
New regulatory provisions regarding the educational program have been in force since June 8, 2019. The Educational Childcare Regulation now includes a new chapter that identifies, among other things, the essential elements of the educational program applied by childcare providers, and states in particular that childcare providers must make the program accessible to parents, free of charge. A person applying for a permit or for recognition as a home childcare provider (HCP) must submit an educational program compliant with the new rules, to the Ministère or the home childcare coordinating office (as the case may be) before it can obtain a permit or recognition.
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