The other day I got to reflecting on sensory rooms which are commonly found in schools. These rooms have been mainly implemented in schools to serve those with special needs. These spaces often feature projected lights and sounds which both have a purpose to create an environment of calm, as well as to bring students to more of a relaxed state.
Soon I got to reflecting on the childcare sector, and how great it would be if more programs had more spaces that could support children who have a wide range of needs. My results from the 2016 study on the state of childcare in Alberta highlighted how 19% of childcare organizations are unable to offer care for children with special needs. Some believe that this is due to the lack of qualified staff within these organizations. When it comes to the qualifications of staff, the results from the early leaning and childcare study found that featured staff who has suitable qualifications. If staff don’t have sufficient qualifications, how are they supposed to care for children with diverse needs?
Another area worth exploring is in relation to environmental considerations. Childcare programs are busy places, on average there is an average of eighty children in childcare programs across Alberta. Although groups can find satisfaction with this line of programming, these over populated programs don’t work well for children who are sensitive to noise, and for those who require more individualized needs.
At We Did It! we believe that childcare should be inclusive to everyone, no matter their ability. We believe in small staff to child ratios where all children get the attention they deserve while in a safe and nurturing environment. A stable environment allows for environments to be adjusted based on the needs of the children involved in the program. They are also intended to house equipment to assist in the learning and personal growth of our young people.
