There is a gem of a childcare facility waiting to help provide care to young people while their parents are at work, right in the heart of Nampa.
The Nampa and District Daycare Society has been providing childcare in the community for a couple of years, and they currently have some spots available for parents who are in need of a place to take their little ones during the day.
The facility is open from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and is a quick jaunt from multiple communities within the region.
“We have openings right now,” says acting director Michelle Dovell. “We have more openings in the three- and four-year-old or out of school room. As of February, I believe we will be full in our baby room.”
Dovell adds they will be reviewing operational hours to see if the community requires extended hours.
“With the Government of Alberta’s affordability grant program, which is aimed at $15 per day daycare, full-time care is $326.25 regardless of the age of the child,” Dovell explains.
“For part-time care, the parents will pay $230 per month.”
Dovell also explains the children will have premium education while they’re in the facility. The teachers work hard to stay updated on strategies and skills that can help them provide top notch education to the children at the centre.
“All our staff just finished doing multiple professional development programs, to upgrade their training,” she says.
“We all just attended the National Child Day conference in Edmonton, so we all have renewed insights and direction from collaborating with other daycares. We visited multiple daycares in Edmonton to see different program styles that we could then come back and implement here.”
Dovell says the big focus through the Alberta government at this time is learning through play. The courses that have been offered through the daycare have been different stages of that curriculum, making learning more fun for the children attending.
“We have partnered with a pedagogical parter who works with the government, and she comes in to help us ensuring we are following the flight program,” explains Dovell.
“She will then also give us ideas of different strategies to use and help evaluate how the strategies are working.”
The daycare is set up in two different classrooms, one for ages 12 months to 36 months. The second room is for three years to school-age children. The two rooms help to provide the ability to segregate learning opportunities based on age and development.
Dovell says they currently have children in their care from Falher, Girouxville, McLennan, Peace River, Nampa, Northern Sunrise County, and the Smoky River region. She reminds families everyone in the area is welcome to apply for childcare at their facility.
The society will also be doing a fundraiser for a live Paw Patrol show in Edmonton on March 28, with winners also receiving a two-night accommodation provided, and a $350 prepaid Visa for meals or fuel. Tickets for the raffle are $20 each.
If you are looking for childcare or would like to buy raffle tickets, please either visit the Nampa and District Daycare Society Facebook page or phone the daycare at (780) 618-1827.
Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter