On December 19, 2013, Minister of Education proposed regulatory changes, which are subject to a 45 day comment period.
The proposed regulation changes directly affect children, communities, RECEs and child care centres.
By completing the short survey, we can gain a better understanding on how the child care community feels about the proposed changes to ratios, mixed groupings and staffing.
Do you like this survey?
A: This is ridiculous! How can a 12 months old be a toddler!? How can you meet the needs of this child?. There are children that can not walk, most of the children at these age need fully assistance in eating, and dressing. If the ratio increases you can not meet these basic needs, think about their social, emotional and cognitive development. Think about their safety and their well being. When are they going to get their attention? Even though this child can talk, his/her cry means a lot. Please feel, hear and stop this cry! This is called neglect.
A: I would not want to adapt to this model
A: Ratios should stay the same (ie 1 RECE per group)
A: If we are looking for a quality childcare and meeting the children’s needs, the ratios should stay the same. I, as an experienced RECE , think that it even though we might have larger spaces in the class , that allows us for more children or even adding one more qualified staff for this group of children, we still can not promote a healthy and safety environment for these children. We should keep the same ratio and the same age group for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
A: I am also disappointed that RECEs are so devalued that putting 1 RECE in a room with two non ECEs would be encouraged. We need to encourage people to study Early Childhood Education so that they are knowledgeable in all of the areas that are so important in this field. Why would a young person want to invest their time and money in the training to become an RECE when it would be easier to enter the child care workforce without the investment?
A: Ontario should add another RECE per age group for children under 4
A: I would not want to adapt to this model
A: Please see my lengthy response to question 1.
A: Ontario should add another RECE per age group for children under 4
A: The space can be converted with additional funding
A: I strongly believe that the ratios should not be changed. And if they do happen to change then there should also be an increase of the number of RECE’s in each of the age groups.
A: Ontario should add another RECE per age group for children under 4
A: I would not want to adapt to this model
A: Ratios should stay the same (ie 1 RECE per group)
A: I would not want to adapt to this model
A: Child-staff ratios are one of the most important elements of quality. The proposed changes would greatly impact the quality, health and safety of our child care programs. Ontario’ s children deserve the best care we can offer, not reducing ratio to an un-acceptable level.
A: It is disappointing to hear that the province is minimizing the importance of our children by proposing the less than acceptable ratios. The research clearly indicates the importance of relationships for healthy brain development. It is impossible for RECE’s to provide environments that nurture relationships with ratios that compromise the safety and quality programming of children in our child care programs.
While not one factor alone can outline quality, research clearly supports that child;staff ratios are very important factors. Younger children require more opportunity for child/staff interactions and relationships therefore minimizing the importance of ratios will only reduce rather than enhance the quality of care and healthy development of the children.
Reduced ratios will have a negative impact on working conditions including staff morale, recruitment, retention and safety.
Better ratios cost more; and so do staff that are best trained, paid better wages and are provided with better working conditions. These are factors of quality child care resulting in successful children.
In Northern Ontario some communities have lost fee subsidy funding therefore programs are at jeopardy of closing. In some areas, the province has created a system in the north that is providing parental choice mainly accessible to the higher income earners.
A: I feel the proposed regulation changes are not acceptable and would greatly compromise the quality of care and safety of our most vulnerable citizens ~our children. Research clearly indicates that 0-6 years and most importantly 0-3 years are the most crucial time for brain development. During this period in a child’s life it is so important to provide a nurturing and safe environment that allows children to explore, inquire and participate in planned and spontaneous activities that are developmental appropriate and meets the individual needs of the children and families. The proposed changes to the age groupings not to mention the changes in ratios will make it extremely difficult for staff to set up an environment and plan a curriculum that is stimulating and inclusive of all children. In northern Ontario our current funding already is in adequate to meet the needs of the children, families and programs and does not allow for staff to have designated prep time. With the expanded ages and ratios the staff will have additional responsibilities and no time to allow them to appropriately plan and prepare to deliver quality programming. While the proposed amendments suggest that agencies may have the flexibility to adopt the new age groupings/ratios or operated under the existing regulations, reality is that due to the already underfunded system most northern Ontario providers will be forced to compromise and accept the new regulations due to financial pressures. It is also discouraging that the regulations do not address strongly enough the issues with unregulated child care nor am I confident that the system of monitoring the new regulations will improve the quality or prevent serious incidents from happening. Leaving more children in unregulated settings or watering down standards
A: the proposed changes would greatly impact the quality,health and safety of our child care programs. Ontario’ s children deserve the best care we can offer, not reducing ratio to an un-acceptable level.
A: Ontario should add another RECE per age group for children under 4
A: I would not want to adapt to this model
A: Ontario should add another RECE per age group for children under 4
A: Ontario should add another RECE per age group for children under 4
A: I would not want to adapt to this model
A: I would not want to adapt to this model
A: Ratios should stay the same (ie 1 RECE per group)
A: I would not want to adapt to this model
A: I’m shocked at this proposal! the existing ratios are very busy. children these days have more social and mental problems than in the past. we need more support from other agencies. People that can work one on one with children who have behaviour problems. Quality will go down!
A: I’m shocked at this proposal! the existing ratios are very busy. children these days have more social and mental problems than in the past. we need more support from other agencies. People that can work one on one with children who have behaviour problems. Quality will go down!