We welcome you to Network Child Care Services’ 28th year of operation. Our long tradition of providing outstanding child care to the families of Toronto continued this year, as we maintained our existing Centre and Home Child Care locations while also opening many new sites.

As we reflect on 2018, we are reminded of a song a very famous caregiver sang to the children in her care:

"Anything can happen if you let it.
Sometimes things are difficult
but you can bet it doesn’t have to be so
changes can be made.
You can move a mountain if you use a larger spade.”

She also told the children to “Stretch your mind beyond fantastic. Dreams are made of strong elastic.” That child care provider was none other than Mary Poppins. Her guidance and care for Jane and Michael was legendary. She made the impossible, possible. Who wouldn’t love having Mary Poppins as their caregiver?

We begin our report with these thoughts because they capture Network Child Care Services’ vision and spirit in so many marvellous ways. 2018 was a year for Network to broaden its horizons, to reach new heights, and to expand its operations on several fronts. The agency continued to “stretch its mind beyond fantastic”, knowing that it was supported by the tireless and unwavering commitment of its talented, professional Staff and resourceful affiliated Home Child Care Providers.

Our specific efforts in the past year focused on the following endeavours:

• The acquisition of Lansing Child Care Centre, located at 49 Bogert Avenue, Toronto, in the Yonge & Sheppard area;
• The operation of Before & After School Programs at St. Victor and Annunciation Catholic Schools;
• The accelerated opening of 15 new licensed Home Child Care premises to meet market demand;
• The approval of funding to initiate infant programs at Network’s Group Centre, Just Kids, Jubilee and St. Nicholas Child Care Centres;
• The continued provision of continuing education for all Centre Staff and affiliated Home Child Care Providers. Specific sessions included:
• How Does Learning Happen? pedagogical training for all 140 Centre staff and Supervisors;
• Mental Health First Aid course for affiliated Home Child Care Providers;
• Practical Programming Techniques;
• Quality Assurance Guidelines as mandated by the City of Toronto Children’s Services;
• Practicing Behaviour Guidance;
• Effective Menu Planning;
• Ethics;
• Building Strong Partnerships;
• STEM Activities for Preschool/School Age Programs;
• Navigating the CPL Portfolio Cycle;
• Guiding Self-Regulation in Toddlers and Preschoolers;
• Running Your Home Child Care Business: Organizing Your Way to Success;
• Building Quality in Licensed Child Care;
• Communication Strategies.

Furthermore, the following activities took place in 2018:

• Continued efforts with the provision of nutritious and healthy meals;
• The continued streamlining of the Accounting Department with the full implementation of the ADP payroll platform;
• The enhancement of Human Resources practices and procedures; and
• The enrichment of Network’s support and consultation to affiliated Home Child Care Providers and their premises.

In addition, Network continued to be an active participant at various consultation tables and committees concerned with the ongoing policy developments in early years and child care.

We would be remiss if we did not recognize up front that as we expand our horizons, we will certainly encounter new challenges and new growing pains. But as we set challenging goals, we are confident that we will discover the real depths of our abilities and skills and will achieve what we set out to do. With that spirit in mind, we take this opportunity to acknowledge the ongoing assistance and support of the Ontario Ministry of Education, the City of Toronto Children’s Services, and the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Network truly appreciates their efforts and will look forward to their valued support and encouragement. We would like to reassure them of our continued commitment to deliver programs of the highest calibre that are grounded on our principles of excellence, responsibility, and integrity.

We would also like to extend our most sincere thanks and appreciation to all the parents and families who trust us daily with the safety and care of their children. Their confidence in our programs and services has been essential to Network’s success. We would like to reassure them that our efforts are designed to offer the best to each and every child.

Finally, we would like to extend a very warm and heartfelt thank you to Network’s Board of Directors for their thoughtful insights and valued leadership, as well as all the Advisors, individuals and community partners who have contributed to Network’s advancement over the past year! To come back to Mary Poppins’ advice that “Anything Can Happen If You Let It”, we are especially grateful for their respective willingness to share in our vision and to allow Network to reach new heights.