April 2, 2021 · 0 Comments
With a growing population and many young families moving into the area, the need for child care in Tottenham has been increasing at a rapid rate over the last couple of years.
A new child care centre will be opening in Town this spring with a full range of programs, a spacious classroom area, and a new outdoor playground.
Learning Cubs Child Care will be opening at the Tottenham Mall in the location formerly occupied by the library.
The 4000 square foot facility will have classrooms for children starting with toddlers age 18 months and up.
The staff are all registered Early Child Care Educators.
Business owner Ana Kaloudis has a background in business and said she knew there was a need for child care in the area.
“I have an entire staff of registered ECEs – Early Childhood Educators,” Ana explained. “We have a supervisor with the same credentials and who also has been a supervisor at another day care for over eight years. We will have a staff of 12 full-time as well as several more part-time. We will be a licensed centre with everything based on the Ministry of Education curriculum. With a licensed centre only registered ECE’s are allowed to work there so they have to be registered with the College of ECEs.”
The centre will be all about child safety. All ECEs are not only registered, they have all gone through vulnerable sector screening through the police, and have CPR and first aid training as well as appropriate vaccinations. The Centre will have a pass-code door system for additional safety.
The centre will be divided into three classrooms with a maximum of 55 children.
The youngest class is for toddlers from 18-months to two and a-half years. There are classes for Junior preschool and senior preschool.
“The way we have divided it, the Junior preschool will be for children two-and a-half to three-and a-half,” Ana explained. “At that age they’re starting to become more independent and learn more in a different way. It’s kind of a transition room between toddler and preschool. In the senior preschool, that’s ages three-and a-half to six years old. At that age you get a little cognitive learning. We do take children with disabilities whether physical or cognitive.”
If you do have kids that are a little older, but need a place to go after school, the centre will have a before- and after-school program for children up to Grade Eight. They can accommodate up to ten children in that program. This program will feature PA days and summer classes.
Learning Cubs will feature extended daytime hours. With many parents commuting to work, Ana said they are very aware that sometimes weather or other situations may arise that delay a parent getting back in time to pick up a child.
The Centre will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. every day.
If you need a special break, the Centre has a “date night” program on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30 p.m. .to 11:30 p.m., which allows parents to drop off their kids for evening so they can have some alone time.
The Centre will also be installing a water purification system. With so many concerns about the water quality in Tottenham, the Centre will ensure the kids have safe drinking water.
There is currently an indoor playground being constructed at the rear of the facility with proper safety measures in place.
Learning Cubs well holding a grand opening that will take place over a week and will allow parents to come in and see the facilities and learn more about what the Centre has to offer.
Learning Cubs Child Care is expected to open in early May once construction of the new facility is complete.
By Brian Lockhart
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter