Seamless Day Kindergarten Pilot Program

Kamloops-Thompson School District’s youngest learners and their families will soon benefit from an expansion of the Seamless Day Kindergarten pilot, which funds before and after school care for Kindergarten students in British Columbia.

Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw stated, “We are excited to be part of this program that began in four elementary schools in BC and has now expanded to 21 schools, including Arthur Hatton Elementary School. This is part of the government’s 10-year ChildCare BC plan, as the province works to build an inclusive universal child care system that meets B.C. communities’ growing child care needs.”

“Our participation in this pilot will improve access to before and after school care that parents need in our district,” said Superintendent Rhonda Nixon. “It has been an excellent example of an innovative step in the direction of providing that continuity of learning from the start to the end of a child’s day in school.”

“I am looking forward to how this pilot program will make it easier for busy parents to get to work and have peace of mind knowing their kids are cared for and learning, all in one spot,” said Grant Reilly, Assistant Superintendent of Early Learning and Elementary Education. “Our involvement in the program will enable the district to provide high quality, inclusive before- and after-school care for families in a structure that strengthens the continuity of children’s learning experiences.”

Beginning in January 2022, the Seamless Day Kindergarten program will be delivered in Arthur Hatton Elementary School in one classroom by a team that consists of a Kindergarten teacher and two Early Childhood Educators (ECEs). Marianne Vande Pol, District Early Years Coordinator noted, “The ECEs work alongside the teacher in the classroom during the school day and provide high-quality before and after school care within the same Kindergarten classroom setting. With minimum transition for the students, and team collaboration for the educators, students will excel in all aspects of their development.”

Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw emphasized, “I look forward to how this pilot program meets students’ and parents’ needs, and what we can learn from it to possibly expand into other locations. Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education will continue to work with parents, the Ministry of Education, and municipal governments to be innovative about how to cocreate these spaces for early learners.”