The County of Huron, the Avon Maitland District School Board and London Bridge Child Care Services have announced the opening of a Family Age Grouping Child Care program at Exeter Elementary School.
The Ministry of Education provided the funding for the Day Care Centre and the Avon Maitland Board accepted the tender from Elgin Contracting for 567-thousand dollars.
Avon Maitland Superintendent of Corporate Services, Cheri Carter says the Centre is attached to the Exeter Elementary School and it's funding for a family-age grouping, which has a capacity of fifteen children. “It's attached to our Exeter Elementary School and it's funding for a family-age grouping, which has a capacity of fifteen children. We're thrilled, obviously, to have the little guys in our building, with us, with the hope that they will eventually transition to our Exeter Elementary school community.”
Carter says the Centre is located in the conversion of a resource room on the west side of the school. “It's a one-hundred and 27 square metre space now and, of course, it's outfitted for the child care program, so it has cubbies, washrooms, change area, sleep room, food prep area, storage room and a separate meeting/staff room and it's kind of at the end of the school." The Child Care has an entrance at the west side exterior vestibule and Carter says there will eventually be some outside play areas there too.
London Bridge Child Care Services describes the program as a unique opportunity for siblings to be together during the day and supports their belief about learning from others, regardless of age.