Action Plan for the Social Well-Being of Surrey ... - City of Surrey

Children & Youth: Action Steps
Issue Element: Culturally Appropriate Early Childhood Education/Development Programs
Key Gap(s): Lack of awareness of existing childcare and early childhood development programs
by many residents, especially new immigrant families. There is a specific gap in childcare and
early childhood development for families with seasonal workers
Issue Element: Affordable, Accessible Quality Licensed Childcare, Pre-school Programs
and Family Resource Programming
Key Gap(s): Shortfall in senior government funding for affordable and accessible childcare, early
childhood development and education services. Need for extended hours, ethno-specific and
ESL childcare programs and services
Recommendations
A2
B1
• Participate at the "Make Children First" community planning table.
• Support initiatives that address capacity deficiencies on a neighbourhood/community
basis.
• Encourage community organizations; such as the Make First Children community
planning table and others, to raise awareness about existing childcare resources
and early childhood development programs and services, with a special focus on
the needs of immigrant families.
Encourage the other orders of governments to continue to support and expand, as a
high priority, the development of childcare resources.
C1, C2, C3, C4
• Provide support as required based on the results of the discussions at the Make
Children First community planning table, and provincial funding for additional
childcare resources.
• Develop and review the zoning by-law and locational guidelines for childcare
related facilities to support their development, proper distribution and effective
integration in the City.
• Where locational guidelines are developed include them in the Terms of
Reference for the NCP planning processes.
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City of Surrey