The B.C. government says 260 new child care spaces are being created in the capital region, with 144 of those at three local schools.
Those new spaces are being created through a partnership between the Greater Victoria School District and non-profit organizations, and officials say each facility will be fully accessible and inclusive for children with extra support needs.
Braefoot Elementary in Saanich will see 65 new child care spaces divided between 16 pre-school spots and 49 school-age spaces.
There are 51 child-care spaces being created for Oaklands Elementary in Victoria, including 10 infant/toddler spaces, 16 pre-school spaces and 25 school-age spots.
Another 28 spaces will be new at Lampson Elementary in Esquimalt with eight infant/toddler spaces and 20 for children between the ages of three and five.
“Children in early childhood education programs can ease into the school environment and feel familiar and comfortable when they transition into kindergarten.” B.C.’s education minister Rob Fleming said in a statement.
Victoria’s Oasis Daycare is creating another 24 infant/toddler spaces, another 16 spots are being created at Little Wild Early Learning in James Bay for children between three and five and at Maple Tree Children’s Centre in View Royal will have 76 new child care spaces.
Of those, there will be 36 infant/toddler spaces, 16 for children aged 30-months to school age, and 24 for children up to 12 years old.
The province says these projects bring the total spaces funded in Victoria in the past two years to nearly 980.
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