$1 MILLION FOR 235 NEW CHILD CARE SPACES

Today at Princess Alexandra Community School in Saskatoon, Education Minister Donna Harpauer announced the locations of the 235 new child care spaces outlined in this spring's budget.

"Providing children and their families with high-quality child care continues to be a priority for the government, which is why we committed $1 million in the budget to expand spaces," Harpauer said. "As a result of this investment, eight communities are receiving new child care spaces."

Spaces will be developed in Saskatoon, Duck Lake, Porcupine Plain, Kinistino, Regina, Meadow Lake, Turtleford and a yet to be determined community in the Northern Lights School Division in northern Saskatchewan. Many of the new child care spaces will be located in schools, creating stronger links between schools and child care, while continuing to focus on a high-quality early learning program.

"Early learning and literacy has been a strategic learning priority of Saskatoon Public Schools for the past six years," Saskatoon Public Schools Board of Education Chair Ray Morrison said. "We are thrilled that families living in Riversdale and beyond will have access to our newest early learning and care centre. More than 10 per cent of our elementary schools now support this seamless service to our families."

"Spadina Early Learning & Childcare is once again excited to be partnering with the Saskatoon Public School Board in creating a high quality early learning centre for families," Spadina Early Learning & Childcare Co-operative Board Chair Glen Green said. "This school based child care model offers families in the Riversdale area and beyond, the opportunity to have their children grow, learn and be cared for safely in one location."

Over the past three years, the Government of Saskatchewan has made a record investment in licensed child care, allocating funding for 2935 new child care spaces to communities across the province. This represents a 30 per cent increase in child care spaces since 2007. The new spaces are anticipated to be up and running by March 31, 2011.

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For more information, contact:

Sarah Still
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1613
Email: sarah.still@gov.sk.ca