Daycare opens at Donwood School

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This article was published 19/07/2017 (3089 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Parents of young children in River East may benefit from 74 new child care spaces that officially opened this week, provided they can get their child on the waiting list.

On July 18, River East MLA Cathy Cox officially opened the new Laugh ‘N’ Learn Early Learning Centre at Donwood Elementary School (400 Donwood Dr.). The 6,000 square-foot centre has spots for 20 infants and 54 preschool kids. The provincial government provided $2.4 million in funding for the new space.

“I’m thrilled to have it within our community,” Cox said. “It provides a lot more options for child care in our community. It’s good for families, good for the education system, and the opportunity for children to do well in school.”

Donwood School, a K-5 school, was built in 1970. It’s child care centre was formerly housed in a modular classroom.

“It’s a beautiful facility, with nice and bright, lots of green space,” Cox said.

Cox said the province likes facilities that are integrated within elementary schools, because “it provides a smooth transition for children,” as they enter school age.

“Centres like Laugh ‘N’ Learn make the most of existing school infrastructure, such as gyms and playgrounds, year-round,” education minister Ian Wishart said in a statement.

“Child care spaces are at a premium and we appreciate the government’s continued support to address this important issue,” said Colleen Carswell, board of trustees chair of the River East Transcona School Division, in a statement. “Having quality child care within close proximity to schools within our community is important to our families.”

Cox noted that the centre began operating in April, and is now fully operational. She said that there is already a wait-list for the infant spaces, and that the preschool spaces are also filling up quickly.

“They will be at capacity soon,” she said.

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