Play-based curriculum

Play-based curriculum is used in all of our centres. Educators plan activities based on children’s interests and passions. A growing body of research proves that every skill important to school success is enhanced by play. Learning occurs both indoors and outdoors where children can explore, play and learn. Educators promote children’s overall health and well-being by ensuring they have opportunities each day to connect with the natural world in our playgrounds and in our community.

Key concepts learned through play

• Children learn best when their interests and curiosity are captured.
• Children develop the ability to use their imaginations to represent objects, people and ideas. Pretend play and make-believe situations helps to develop language skills.
• Through play with blocks, clay, sand, water and other materials, children develop cognitive or thinking skills. They begin to learn scientific concepts such as cause and effect, and early math skills such as quantity, sorting and ordering items, and practice ideas for solving problems.
• As children interact with each other, negotiating the sharing of materials or plan pretend play, they learn important concepts and skills, like cooperation, supporting one’s own ideas, listening to others, handling frustration, and understanding the emotions of others.

Outdoor play

Outdoor play is an important part of our program. Children are born to move and learn from being physically active in outdoor play where they can shout, jump, roll and stretch.

Licensing

Our programs are licensed by the Ontario Ministry of Education under the Child Care Early Years Act (CCEYA) and are inspected every year to ensure that the requirements in the Act are met.

Requirements

• diploma in Early Childhood Education from a recognized community college;
• registered with the College of Early Childhood Educator’s;
• standard first aid;
• infant and child CPR-C;
• current police records check, including a Police Vulnerable Sector Check; and
• proof of vaccination against COVID-19; or a valid Medical Exemption or Protected Ground Exemption.

It is a requirement of employment to provide proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19; or a valid Medical Exemption or Protected Ground Exemption to the satisfaction of the Region before your first date of employment.

Fully vaccinated is defined as having received the complete series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine, as recommended by Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health or World Health Organization (WHO) and having received the final dose at least 14 days before your employment start date. In the event that health authorities recommend additional doses or boosters, such doses or boosters will be considered to form part of the required series of vaccines. 

If you do not have full vaccination due to a medical or protected ground exemption, written proof and documentation will be required to the satisfaction of the Region. If the exemption is approved, you will have to adhere to the protocols established in the Region’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.

Current Protocols that are in place are mentioned below:

• Complete the Daily Wellness Check each day that an employee plans to enter a Halton Region facility. The Daily Wellness Check must be completed prior to entering a workplace.
• New hires who would be required to attend a workplace regularly will be required to complete Rapid Antigen Testing at least twice a week on their own time. They must test negative for COVID-19 on the most recent Rapid Antigen Test.

Compensation

Halton Region's competitive compensation and employee recognition program are a few reasons why we are one of the GTA’s Top Employers. Our goal is to attract people who are committed to delivering excellent customer service to residents and businesses in Halton Region.

Team dynamics

Working with a dynamic team of individuals who are passionate about working with children and families, providing high quality inclusive care.

Hours of work

The shifts vary – 8 to 8.5 hours in length.  We have early shifts starting at 7 a.m. and later shifts ending at 6 p.m.  During each shift there is a one-hour unpaid lunch and a half hour paid break (for full shift). You may also be asked to work for a part day if needed.

Centres are open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. We are closed on the following holidays:

• New Year’s Day
• Family Day
• Good Friday
• Victoria Day
• Canada Day
• Civic Holiday
• Labour Day
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day