Parent Information
Handbook
The Early Learning Centre Handbooks provides families with information and details regarding the different programs offered. The Handbooks can be found here:
New COVID-19 Policy
Any person coming into the ELC must monitor and self-screen (please see below for links) for symptoms before entering the ELC. If you are feeling unwell, please stay at home.
Screening Tools to be used daily before entering the Early Learning Centre
Screening tools to be used on behalf of child, parents, employees, ECE students and volunteers: Covid-19 Screening
Days and Hours of Operation
Our early learning and care program is open daily, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. Education and care are offered year round with the exception of:
- Weekends
- Statutory holidays
- Christmas Break (one week as per college closure)
- First Monday of the Fall Academic Break in October for a Staff Professional Development (PD) Day
Please note the ELC will open at 11:00 am one day during the 3rd week of August to allow staff to attend the President’s breakfast. Families will be notified well in advance.
The Importance of Parent Involvement
We have an Open Door policy for parents, and parental visits are encouraged. The Observation Rooms are open for your use, to watch interaction without your child’s knowledge of your presence. The ELC staff value your input and participation in your children’s education and care.
We complete regular observations of your child’s growth and development, and share that information with you. This information is then used by the staff to develop play-based curriculum to meet your child’s developmental abilities and challenges. We reference the documents Early Learning For Every Child Today ELECT, Ontario’s Early Learning Framework and How Does Learning Happen? HDLH
Door Passes
The Early Learning Centre is a secure facility and all families are required to purchase a swipe card for the front door. The cost for the door card is $10.00. All visitors and service people are required to sign in at the Front Desk. All students accessing the Centre are required to wear an ID badge. Algonquin College security staff are close at hand in the event of an emergency. The safety and emotional well -being of the children is paramount to us . We are a “limited-access” area in the College.
Our Role as a Teaching-Demonstration Program
The Algonquin College ELC holds an important role in the community as a model early learning program. The program is designed to demonstrate best practice to students in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program at the College. ECE students access the ELC to complete observations and activity assignments and some may spend dedicated time at the centre on placement.
Some students are placed at the ELC for 4-6 week blocks to practice their skills while being supervised and mentored by the ELC educators.
From time to time, other Algonquin students may have limited access to the Centre if clearance for a particular project has been obtained from the Manager. In the past, students from Advertising, Broadcasting, Child and Youth Worker, Recreation, Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Horticulture, Interior Design, Journalism, Paramedic, Performing Arts and Photography programs, have been permitted to use the Centre.
Nutrition
All the meals at the Early Learning Centre are prepared on site by our full-time cook. Food is prepared from scratch using quality ingredients that meet the nutritional standards and requirements for young children in licensed child care centres as set out by the Canada’s Food Guide. We provide children with a substantial morning snack/breakfast and a lunch as well as an afternoon snack. Fresh fruit is served with every meal. Parents do not need to provide additional food and we work with families to ensure dietary needs are met and allergy concerns are addressed.
See sample menu here
Virtual Tours of the AC Early Learning Centre
Virtual Tour of our Observation Room or our Preschool Room