Why Choose Licenced Child Care?
At Network Child Care Services we believe in the right of a child to pedagogically-supported quality child care, provided by highly trained caregivers. The experience and knowledge of our Early Years specialists, Early Childhood Educators (RECE’s), affiliated Home Child Care Providers, and other support staff are a critical element in the programs we offer.
Network Child Care Services is a non-profit child care organization, licensed by the Ontario Ministry of Education to provide high-quality child care services and programs to children and families in our Early Years Learning and Child Care Centres, Licensed Home Child Care Premises, Before and After School programs and Onsite Event Child Care services across Toronto and the GTA. Network is committed to diligently meeting the legislative requirements of the Child Care and Early Years Act (2014) and surpassing the quality rating indicators in the City of Toronto’s Assessment for Quality Improvement.
For more information on these Licensing and Quality requirements, please explore the links below:
Child Care and Early Years Act (2014)
Child Care as a Right
A human rights perspective on the view of the child values children as citizens (not ‘citizens-in-the-making’), fully human, with a voice that must be listened to and rights that must be upheld through progressive social policy and a caring society (Hick, 2005). Within this perspective, child care is valued as a non-stigmatized right: that which belongs to every child, irrespective of family type, parental employment status and income level (OECD, 2006).
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Curriculum and Pedagogy
Network’s programs are designed to provide children with opportunities that strengthen their emerging skills and support each child’s needs, abilities and interests. Our holistic approach offers an emotionally secure and nurturing environment where each child feels safe, valued and respected. Both our Centre and Home Child Care programs are informed by the Ontario Ministry of Education.
This research-supported approach requires caregivers to consider the Four Foundations (Belonging, Well-Being, Engagement, Expression) when designing and delivering programs for children in care. Resources can be downloaded below.
Philosphy
Children are capable, competent, curious, and rich in potential. Network collaborates with children, their families and with each other as educators to create high quality early learning and care environments that take a strength-based approach to learning and development in which children, parents and educators are co-learners.
Network believes that all children and their families are entitled to equal opportunity to access high-quality early childhood educational programs, in a diversely enriched, and inclusive learning environment. Children should be provided with experiences which build positive self-esteem and confidence and supports their emotional, social, creative, academic, and physical needs and development. It provides opportunity and freedom to make choices, celebrates accomplishments, promotes self-respect and respect for others, and encourages responsibility.
Network recognizes parents and guardians that have the primary responsibility for the care, education, and advocacy of their children. It supports parents’ and guardians’ involvement in their child’s early learning and development and recognizes parents’ and guardians’ participation as an integral part of their child’s learning and development.
Finally, it recognizes all Staff for their commitment to maintaining professional standards, their dedication to the development and education of children, and their skills, knowledge, and qualifications. Network also values and supports its staff in all aspects of their professional endeavours and growth.
Goals
Network’s program is based on the Ministry of Education’s pedagogy for learning and the How Does Learning Happen? framework. Network aims to strengthen the quality of its programs and ensure that children and their families obtain high-quality services and experiences that are grounded in a sense of belonging, which consistently provides children and families with a sense of well-being, engagement, and expression.
To meet its goals, Network works collaboratively to cultivate respectful relationships and connections that create a sense of belonging among and between children, adults, and the community; nurture each child’s healthy development and support their growing sense of self and well-being; as well as provide positive early learning environments in progressively enriched child-oriented programs, that engage children in active, creative, and meaningful exploration and learning.
Reflecting our philosophy and core values, Network is committed to provide children with positive learning experiences that will support and enhance their health, nutrition, development in language, intellectual growth, physical growth, social and emotional skills, within a safe, healthy, child-oriented environment where each child is safe, valued, and respected.