Early learning and child care engagement

CCRR Request for Information

What was it? A request for information (RFI) engagement for current and prospective service providers to provide insights and information on the child care sector to support the ministry’s priorities for the ChildCareBC plan. The information collected will be used to help the Province understand the capacity, capabilities, barriers, and innovative approaches within a particular provider’s community.

The Province also held a “Discovery Day Session” where current and interested service providers were able to receive clarification on the Child Care Resource and Referral Program’s objectives and RFI process.

When was it? January 2023 – virtual engagement.

New Spaces Fund updates for school districts

What was it? An engagement series with the Ministry of Education and Child Care’s Capital Management Branch and child care space creation subject matter experts.  Updates on proposed process changes for school districts to access capital funding for K-12 child care projects were shared with over 120 participants representing school districts and child care operators.

When was it? Four virtual engagement sessions from December 6-13, 2023 

2023 Early Learning and Child Care Summit

What was it? An innovative dialogue with provincial leaders from the child care sector, business sector, local governments, K-12 sector, community and social services agencies. Delegates were invited to engage in a meaningful discussion on the theme ‘Supporting a child care ecosystem’ and on working together to build quality early learning and child care as a core service that families can rely on.

When was it? In-person conference held on October 13, 2023, at Coast Coal Harbour Hotel in Vancouver.

• View the recording of the 2023 Early Learning and Child Care Summit

ChildCareBC Facility Design Guidelines

What was it? An engagement series with child care space creation subject matter experts to share feedback on the ChildCareBC Facility Design Guidelines draft principles and implementation considerations. With over 180 participants representing child care providers, school districts, local governments, health authority licensing officers, inclusion organizations, Indigenous organizations and other child care advocacy groups.

The purpose of the Facility Design Guidelines is to inform the design of new public, not-for-profit, and Indigenous government-led projects that receive provincial funding to create new child care spaces.

When was it? 15 virtual engagement sessions from June 9 to July 7, 2023  

ChildCareBC Minister's Town Hall

What was it? The inaugural ChildCareBC Minister's Town Hall invited the child care community to have their questions about the ChildCareBC plan answered directly by the Minister of State for Child Care. This was the first session of its kind and will occur on a regular basis, as part of government’s ongoing efforts to engage meaningfully with the child care sector.

When was it? Tuesday, May 30, 2023

• View the recording of the ChildCareBC Minister's Town Hall

Self-paced feedback form

What was it? An opportunity for early learning and child care partners to provide self-paced feedback on a range of topics in a way that works best for their busy schedules.

When was it? The form was available from December 2, 2021, to March 17, 2022.

Virtual topic-specific workshops

What was it? A series of interactive, facilitated sessions focused on a single topic, where partners provided feedback on questions using an interactive whiteboard, chat features and live discussions.

When was it? Ten focus groups, two per topic, occurred between March 1-16, 2022.

Information Session: 2023/24 Funding Renewal and CCFRI Expansion to Preschool and School Age

What was it? A dedicated webinar for child care providers working with the government to lower child care fees for families, to learn about the 2023/24 funding renewal process for Child Care Operating Funding (CCOF), the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI), and the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement (ECE-WE).

This information session included:

• Expanded CCFRI eligibility to children enrolled in half-day preschool programs and children in Grade 1 and older, starting in September 2023
• Key changes to the 2023/24 CCFRI Funding Guidelines
• Demo of an enhanced 2023/24 Program Confirmation Form on a new online platform

When was it? January 23, 2023

• View the recording of the Upcoming Funding Renewal Information Session
• View the Upcoming Funding Renewal Information Session presentation (PDF) 

Related program information:

• View the Child Care Operating Funding web page
• View the Apply/Renew web page

Information Session: New Child Care Savings

What was it? A dedicated webinar for child care providers working with the government to lower child care fees for families, to learn about new child care savings that come into effect December 1, 2022.

We are cutting child care fees again, so families can save as much as $550 more every month. That’s $6,600 more back in the pockets of parents, every year, for every child they have in licensed care.

When was it? September 23, 2022

• View the full recording of the New Child Care Savings Information Session
• View the New Child Care Savings Information Session presentation (PDF)

Related program information:

• View the December 2022 Changes website
• View Frequently Asked Questions for Providers

Information Session: B.C. Employer Training Grant

What was it? Facilitated webinar for child care operators and ECEs to learn about the B.C. Employer Training Grant (ETG), which supports employers in paying for skills training for their employees.

The ETG program is a great fit for child care operators to access training support for their employees, as priority is given to applications from the early childhood education sector and successful applicants will be reimbursed 80% of eligible training costs.

When was it? August 3, 2022

Due to technical challenges, there is no available recording of the webinar. See the resources below to learn more about the program, including the presentation deck, webinar Q&A and the ETG website:

• View the BC ETG Information Session presentation (PDF)
• View the BC ETG Information Session Q&A (PDF)

Related program information:

• View the BC Employer Training Grant website
• Learn about the BC ETG eligibility criteria
• For further inquiries, please contact the ETG program: ETG@gov.bc.ca  

Information Session: Recruiting and Retaining ECEs using the BC Provincial Nominee Program

What was it? Facilitated webinar for child care operators, ECEs and the overall child care sector on recruitment and retention opportunities through the BC Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) with additional presentations on Immigration Programs and Resources for Employers from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and on ECE Certification from the ECE Registry.

When was it? June 15, 2022

• View the full recording of the BC PNP Information Session
• View the BC PNP Information Session presentation (PDF)
• View the Immigration Programs and Resources for Employers presentation (PDF)
• View the ECE Certification Presentation (PDF)

Related program information:

• BC Provincial Nominee Program
• IRCC Website
• Employer’s Roadmap to hiring and retaining internationally trained workers
• ECE Registry

ChildCareBC Virtual Information Session

What was it? Facilitated webinar for education and child care partners with information sharing, panel discussion, Q&A session, and electronic input into future sessions.

When was it? December 1, 2021

View the full recording of the ChildCareBC Information Session

View the ChildCareBC Information Session presentation (PDF)

View the full ChildCareBC Information Session transcript (PDF)

Information session video clips by topic:

1. Working together to deliver child care and early learning
2. Making child care culturally safe and inclusive of all children
3. Funding child care as a core service families can rely on
4. Supporting early childhood professionals who support families
5. Creating more child care spaces
6. Question and Answer Panel Discussion

Detailed information and FAQs by topic:

1. Working together to deliver child care and early learning
2. Making child care culturally safe and inclusive of all children
3. Funding child care as a core service families can rely on
4. Supporting early childhood professionals who support families
5. Creating more child care spaces