On Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, government tabled Bill 19, the school amendment act. If passed, this act will enable school districts to provide child care to children of all ages, including infants and toddlers. Districts also will be allowed to provide care during non-school days, such as professional development days, and winter, spring and summer breaks.
EXPANDING PUBLIC EDUCATION
Beginning School at Age 4
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Province to remove barriers, make way for more child care at schools
Daycare in Denmark is a basic right. Could Canada offer the same?
When Lisa Petersen had her first child, she knew she would be heading back to work before long. So when her daughter, Naia, was a few months old, the former B.C. educator logged onto an portal run by the city of Copenhagen and selected her ideal daycare.
The Importance of Junior Kindergarten
Every child deserves the best possible start. Expanding public education to include 4-year-olds through universal junior kindergarten is not just an investment in early learning, it’s an investment in equity, families, and our collective future. By ensuring access for all, we can close gaps before they widen, strengthen communities, and give every child the foundation they need to thrive.
L'importance de la maternelle 4 ans
Chaque enfant mérite le meilleur départ possible. Étendre l'enseignement public aux enfants de 4 ans grâce à la mise en place d'une maternelle universelle n'est pas seulement un investissement dans l'apprentissage précoce, c'est aussi un investissement dans l'équité, les familles et notre avenir collectif. En garantissant l'accès à tous, nous pouvons combler les écarts avant qu'ils ne se creusent, renforcer les communautés et donner à chaque enfant les bases dont il a besoin pour s'épanouir.
The Role of Junior Kindergarten in Improving Child Mental Health Outcomes
Discussions about improving mental health outcomes for children often overlook a critical factor: the mental health and well-being of their educators. Research has long highlighted the importance of healthy, supportive environments for early childhood development, yet the working conditions of early childhood educators remain a blind spot.
The experience of jurisdictions with universal pre-kindergarten shows that 4-year-olds benefit from the expertise of school staff and services, especially marginalized students.