Cortes Island Playschool

The Cortes Island Playschool is operated by the  Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA).

The Playschool offers children a safe and healthy learning environment for experimentation and growth in all areas. Through play, arts and contact with the natural world, the program nurtures the whole child, responding to the emotional, intellectual, social, and creative needs of each child individually and within the context of the group.

Program Information

The program at Cortes Island Playschool is built on the needs of the children it serves, recognizing that often this is their first experience away from the family. With praise and encouragement, combined with simple, consistent and gentle verbal direction, sharing, cooperation and respect for others feelings and politeness is encouraged at all times.  Each child is encouraged and supported to develop positive relationships with other children and adults.

Staff

The Playschool program is administered by experienced staff who meet the required qualifications under Child Care Licensing Regulations. All staff have first aid certifications and have consented to criminal record checks.

Hours of Operation 

This year we are offering Playschool for children ages 36 months to school age, with a few spaces for 30 month olds under special circumstances. The Playschool year will run for 40 weeks from September 9 – June 27, breaking over Christmas for two weeks from December 23 – January 3.

Monday – Friday:  Half day 9 – 1pm  *  Half day 1 – 5 *  Full day 9 – 3pm

Fees

We are excited to announce that the Cortes Island Playschool has been approved to participate in the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI). Parent fee reduction amounts that we will receive are prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Child Care and are based on the type of child care provided. With the fee reduction in place, our new rates are $16.37 per child for half day and $18.70 per child for full day (9 – 3pm).

Parents are also still able to apply to the Affordable Child Care Benefit Program for additional subsidies. We are working hard to make Playschool more affordable for parents, and hope that these subsidies allow more families to participate.