Dignity for All policy summit Early childhood education and care

Martha Friendly

Ottawa March 3-4 2011

Overview

State of ECEC in Canada 2011 Recommendations for discussion

Definitions… What IS ECEC?

Care/education inseparable for young children A program for all children and all parents regardless of

employment or socioeconomic status Neither babysitting nor schooling nor solely early childhood

education or solely care Depending on the design, ECEC programs can meet multiple

objectives - care, learning and social support for children and their parents

Includes daycare, childcare, kindergarten, nursery school, preschool, family resource

Other public policies for young children/families – parental leave, income security, health, housing

ECD’s conclusion - Canada review

“National and provincial policy for the earlyeducation and care of young children inCanada is still in its initial stages. Care andeducation are still treated separately andcoverage is low compared to other OECDcountries” (2004).

ECEC provision: What we do now

Canada much behind other OECD countries No national policy; limited provincial policy Child care and kindergarten - divided Access, quality very undeveloped/limited P/ts (including QC) more similar than different Hodgepodge, patchwork, unplanned ECEC overall very under-financed Child care - private responsibility; kindergarten -

public responsibility (only 5s) Child care - market/privatized, not a system

What does this mean “on the ground”– children, families, ECEs ?

Range, quality and access to ECEC programs vary enormously by region (both provincial, local), family circumstances, child’s age

Overall – regulated cc for 20% of 0-5s but more than 70% of mothers in labour force

Therefore, regulated child care for only a minority of children with working mothers; most use unregulated child care

Most – no early childhood education < age five Paid mat/pat leave – 15 wk + 35 wk; many ineligible;

55% wages to $447/wk; feds – benefit, provs – leave

and….

Programs either limited in supply (regulated child care) or don’t meet parents’ needs (kindergarten)

Regulated child care too costly for ordinary families Poor families often excluded from child care –subsidies limited Quality of regulated child care often not “educational” or

"developmental“ Low wages, poor working conditions – child care Quality of kindergarten unknown (large classes; required

teacher training not appropriate for young children – pedagogy may be too academic)

Young school-agers may be alone after school

Canada in context: Visualizing ECEC provision and policy internationally

Dignity for All Recommendation #1 – Mat/pat leave

Federal government should undertake significant improvements to maternity/parental leave benefits for new parents:

- Improve mat benefit level to at least 80% of wages – Redesign parental benefit – more flexible duration and

financing (as per QC) – higher benefit> shorter or lower benefit > longer (no reductions in duration or amounts)

– New father-only leave benefit – at least two weeks;

Recommendation #1 cont.

– Improve eligibility for excluded new parents (contingent, seasonal, self-employed workers, trainees and students);

– Develop leave benefit policy for families/children in special circumstances (children with disabilities, unusual health circumstances, premature/ multiple births, other special circumstances);

– Encourage p/ts to adjust employment standards to reflect federal maternity/parental benefit improvements.

Dignity for All Recommendation #2 -

ECEC system

● Federal government commit to development and implementation (in collaboration with p/ts) of publicly-funded ECEC systems made up of high quality seamless programs blending care and early childhood education by 2020.

System would be public and not-for-profit, universally accessible to all 0-5 year olds and up to age 12 outside regular school hours.

Recommendation #2 cont.

Canadian ECEC system to be designed:

-- First, foremost: with the best interests of children in mind, consistent with the UN CRC

– Following evidence-based principles recommended for child care.

– Promoting child development/learning through play.– As flexible and multifunctional – centres, family child

care, family resource; varying schedules, locally responsive, different linguistic and cultural approaches where needed.

Recommendation #2 cont.

– A system based on: public planning, public expansion, public infrastructure and public management, democratically controlled, collaborating with educators, parents, community members.

– Well educated, paid, respected staff– Well-designed facilities and environments (part of

elementary school or in own space), high-quality equipment and supplies.

Dignity for All Recommendation #3- ECEC federal role

The federal government, supported and complemented by other levels of government, should play a strong leadership role – both in terms of policy and funding – in the new ECEC system.

Specifically, we call on the federal government to pass national legislation that clearly identifies and establishes:

– Foundational evidence-based principles recommended for child care (as per DFA Rec #2, above).

Recommendation #3 cont.

– Universal entitlement, targets, and timetables.– Canada-wide goals and objectives for the care

and education of young children including (not limited to) principles related to quality (such as staff training and compensation) and access (such as affordability and social, physical cultural inclusion).

Recommendation #3 cont.

– Dedicated federal transfers to ECEC systems designed to create and maintain high-quality, accessible services, using the international benchmark of at least 1 percent of GDP by 2020.

– Policy frameworks based on public planning; public expansion through publicly delivered ECEC services (with transition to public management); public monitoring with good data, ongoing evaluation and assessment and a long-term research agenda; public funding (to systems, not individuals).

Key points to keep in mind…

● Universal accessibility High quality Seamless Inclusive Public – funding, management, delivery,

accountability System, not market Federal leadership, provincial/territorial responsibility Democratic participation

For further information:

www.childcarecanada.org