GUELPH – The County of Wellington is working with licensed child care operators in Guelph and Wellington County, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, and local school boards on a plan to deal with a one-week school closure announced in conjunction with a province-wide lockdown.
On Dec. 21, the province announced Safer at Home Restrictions for 28 days beginning Dec. 26, in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 across the province.
This order includes an extended school closure for all elementary schools. Elementary students will be learning remotely for the week of Jan. 4 to 8.
All licensed, school board operated and authorized recreation and skill building programs for elementary students will also be closed during this time period.
To support parents of school-aged children who are regularly enrolled in school, the Ministry of Education will be implementing a targeted Emergency School Age Child Care program at no cost to families.
Those eligible for Emergency School Age Child Care include health care and other frontline workers. For a complete list of eligible workers, visit: www.wellington.ca/individuals_eligible_for_emergency_child_care/.
The Emergency School Age Child Care Program will be offered through existing licensed and school-board operated extended day programmes and participating licensed home child care providers.
To help licensed child care operators in their decision-making and planning process, the county is working to assess child care needs through an online survey.
“While child care staff and providers will not be responsible for managing the requirements of each individual child’s virtual learning, it will be a safe place for children to help families who have no option but to work out of the home during the extra one-week closure of school,” said Luisa Artuso, director of the county’s Children’s Early Years division.
In a Dec. 24 press release the county states it will release more details on Emergency School Age Child Care as soon as they becomes available. For more information, visit www.wellington.ca/emergencyschoolagechildcare.
