YMCA Westglen Child Care

Child Care Info

Early Years Program Highlights

• all staff hold Alberta Child Care Certification
• Playing to Learn Curriculum
• access to outdoor activities
• access to facility gymnasium (where available)
• two snacks provided daily (minimum two Canada Food Guide Groups)
• some programs provide lunch (minimum two Canada Food Guide Groups) - contact program director for availability at your centre
• all field trips and special programming are included
• all programs include community involvement activities
• an entirely independent registered charity (for 110 years) and all of our 66 child cares (we are the largest in Western Canada) are completely not-for-profit

Playing to Learn

YMCA Playing to Learn is a national curriculum that helps children in YMCA licensed early years programs to discover learning through creative play. This curriculum combines three decades of experience in child care delivery, with the latest body of knowledge on how the brain develops and how children learn. We believe YMCA Playing to Learn is the best approach to ensure a child’s continued enthusiasm and capacity for life-long learning. Educators in your child’s classroom will develop activities based on the children’s interest which will provide them with the foundations of language and literacy, mathematics, science and technology, and the arts, including music, visual arts and dramatic arts. Through this curriculum, your child will develop knowledge, skills and attributes which will help facilitate a smooth transition into the school-age environment. Please speak with your centre Director for more detailed information on this exciting curriculum.

Kindercare Program Highlights

• all staff hold Alberta Child Care Certification
• Physical Literacy programming
• access to outdoor activities
• access to facility gymnasium
• two snacks provided daily (minimum two Canada Food Guide Groups)
• some programs provide lunch (minimum two Canada Food Guide Groups) - contact program director for availability at your centre
• all field trips and special programming are included
• all programs include community involvement activities

Out of School | Before and After School Program Highlights

• all staff hold Alberta Child Care Certification
• Physical Literacy programming
• access to outdoor activities
• access to facility gymnasium
• two snacks provided daily (minimum two Canada Food Guide Groups)
• all field trips and special programming are included
• all programs include community involvement activities

Physical Literacy

• individuals who are physically literate move with confidence and competence in a wide variety of activities and environments that develop the whole person
• once these skills are built up there is an increase in self-esteem and self confidence
• ensure that fundamental movement skills are offered in our programs
• help to progress participants through skill development
• provide a framework to structure games and physical activity opportunities
• all opportunities to practice a variety of skills through numerous activities

YMCA Child Care Objectives

• to provide a warm, caring environment which will develop your child’s potential creative, intellectual, emotional, social and physical skills
• to provide a safe environment that is a natural progression from home to school
• to ensure that your child is cared for and is supervised at all times
• to hire educators that are experienced and well trained to provide the best care and enrichment for your child
• to provide a communication system that ensures parent to educators contact throughout the program year
• to set fees that allow the Centre to operate on a full cost recovery basis

YMCA Child Care Values

• YMCA Child Care is available to everyone regardless of race, sex, religion or economic circumstances
• parents have the right to pursue work or education with peace of mind, and children have the right to a secure, safe and developmentally appropriate program
• YMCA Child Care families can access additional programs and services that the YMCA provides to support them
• parent participation is important to YMCA Child Care

YMCA Quality Statement

Parent evaluations, current research, and over 20 years of experience in delivering child care programs have helped us to define our Quality checklist:

• children are happy and involved
• educators have a caring attitude
• centre, equipment and toys are accessible, clean and safe
• children participate in small groups in stimulating activities with teachers
• food is nutritionally balanced
• parent-educator communication is promoted, and parents feel welcome in the centre
• sufficient play materials are available
• outdoor play activities are taking place in well-maintained play areas
• educators are good role models and have ongoing and appropriate training
• parents have regular feedback about their child

Licensing

Every child care centre in Alberta is regulated by the Provincial Licensing Standards. Centres are required to meet the mandatory regulations, and are visited regularly by a Licensing Officer to ensure they are in compliance. Reports from these visits are posted in your centre, and are available for parents to view. Any recommendations from these reports are used as an opportunity to improve the centre.

Accreditation

The purpose of Accreditation in Alberta is to raise the standard of Child Care in the Province and improve best practices in Early Learning and Child Care Services. Accreditation is a voluntary process, and involves great dedication on the part of the educators and the centre.

The benefits of an accredited centre:

• attracts families who are looking for a high-quality centre
• attracts educators who are looking to work in a quality centre
• the educators receive support funding

All of our centres participate in the Accreditation process. Preschool Accreditation was implemented in 2004, and School-Age Accreditation was launched in 2009. Our centres are at varying stages in the process. Please ask your Director for more information.