Latest news with #LittleStars
CBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Another potential daycare is being stalled, and child-care providers are frustrated
A St. John's daycare operator has his sights set on opening another location, but it might not happen anytime soon. Coady Hardy opened the for-profit Little Stars daycare centre with his wife in September 2024. All of its 120 spaces are filled, with more families on the waitlist. He says getting the funding, permits and approval to finish that project was a smooth process. Hardy assumed it would be the same when he applied to develop a non-profit daycare with 100 spaces in the old Pipers store in the Kelligrews neighbourhood of Conception Bay South. He and his wife have the space, and the plan, but things have been slow-moving so far. "We thought this was going to be, you know, a no-brainer," Hardy told CBC News on Monday. "I don't know if there's a few hiccups on the Department of Education side… we've been just waiting." WATCH | Coady Hardy wants to open a daycare, but has been waiting on government for months: St. John's daycare operator latest to voice frustration with government delays 3 hours ago Duration 2:22 Coady Hardy is the latest person to face a long wait to open a new daycare centre in Newfoundland and Labrador, telling CBC News he's been waiting months for a green light from the provincial government. Heather Gillis reports. According to emails and documents he forwarded to CBC, Hardy was in contact with an architect, a contractor and the Department of Education before applying for the Create a Space Incentive Grant in November 2024. He's been emailing back and forth with the provincial department since then, and has been met with delays and minimal responses. The application was "moved forward for signature" in February, according to an email from a director of regional operations. Hardy asked Education Minister Bernard Davis for an update in May, and still hasn't heard back. CBC News asked the minister for an interview, but he isn't answering questions. Department of Education spokesperson Lynn Robinson sent an emailed statement. "The department carefully evaluates each submission to ensure a thorough and fair assessment process. The process considers overall project timelines, commitments to other child care projects, and long-term viability of projects," the statement said, in part. 'Child care is critical' Hardy is frustrated. "The government is not waiting on us anymore. We're waiting on them. Like, we were ready to break ground in Kelligrews as soon as the frost was gone," said Hardy. "We planned to open in October, and that is not gonna happen now." He isn't the only one facing barriers. The YWCA in St. John's is working on a child-care centre in a health-care facility, but its executive director says finding the finances to make that happen is difficult. "The delays that we are experiencing is really to make the numbers work right," said Maria Gentle. She said bureaucratic delays are natural, and she understands that the government takes time to ensure spaces are safe— but they should be speedy, too. Gentle said it doesn't only benefit young children and their parents, but child care also supports immigration and women in the workforce. "If the goal is for the province to build non-profit child care, the support really needs to be in place for non-profits to build," said Gentle. On the other side of the island in St. George's, a group of child care providers are pushing the government to approve their applications for permits and grants to open a daycare of their own. The province's 2025 budget included $3.9 million to create more child-care spaces. Advocate Yolande Pottie-Sherman says it's not enough. "What we're hearing on the ground is that for each group that's trying a building [renovation], it's costing… around $700,000," she told CBC. By those figures, the government money would only fully cover five projects. Pottie-Sherman said that might be one reason why it's taking so long for some projects to get approved. At the same time, she thinks the government needs to step up and provide more money. "Early learning and child care is critical to sustaining and making sure that Newfoundland and Labrador can thrive as a society," she said. Pottie-Sherman describes the province as a child-care desert.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Co Down pre-school at risk of closure due to funding cuts
The future of a pre-school in Co Down is at risk due to a funding shortfall with staff saying they are "deflated." Little Stars Pre-School, a cross-community playgroup located at St Mary's Primary School in Killyleagh, has had its funding axed this year. Stormont budget cuts have reduced cash to The Pathway Fund, which Little Stars and many other pre-schools rely on for key funding. Last Friday, staff were informed that the funding had not been granted, with the community grouping together to fight to keep the doors open. Thanks to a fundraising drive, playgroup leader Karen McCormick said they will be able to stay open until at least the end of June. They hope political support can help the school get the finance it needs to guarantee the doors open for the new term in September. Read more: 'I have to prepare every day for a life-threatening allergic reaction' Read more: MLA 'deeply concerned' as hundreds of SEN children remain without school place Speaking to Belfast Live, Karen said the playgroup was informed in March it was getting finance but would have to wait for the Stormont funds to come through. However, an email last week detailed that finance was allocated on a points system, with Little Stars missing out. The Department of Education said although Little Stars met all eligibility requirements to receive an award through The Pathway Fund, "funding was exhausted before reaching their score on the ranked list." Karen explained: "In March we received an email to say we were eligible for The Pathway Funding and when the budget comes through, they would let us know how much we were getting and when. Last Friday, we got the email to say there wasn't enough money in the budget. "We would usually get £30,000 then this year the total actually increased to £40,000. You weren't guaranteed to get that full amount, but what they're saying is because it went up higher this year, the money wasn't in the budget to pay out the smaller groups. "The parents pay a small fee for their children, but we keep our fees as low as possible to help our families. We depend on the other funding coming in because in this day and age, families don't have money to spare, but they know how important it is for their child to get a good early years education." Karen said the news is "heartbreaking and deflating", but said the team aren't giving up. Little Stars currently has 38 children across their pre pre-school and pre-school sessions, with 25 enrolled to start in the new term. However, if funding isn't secured by then, there will be no places for them. "You look at the smiles on the kids faces, and you just want to make sure you're there for them," Karen added. "I look at them and think of the heartbreak that some of them kids may not have somewhere to go in September when they start pre-school. You're in this kind of limbo. "I'm very passionate about my job, and the job isn't just about our children, we're very family orientated. To stand there on Monday and have to explain to our parents about the funding, you could just see the look of devastation in their faces. They couldn't believe this could happen to us. "It's heartbreaking, but I'm not a person who gives up easily. We're fundraising like mad, we're hoping that will take us through to the end of June and we're hoping between now and then we'll get good news. But if we don't get good news very soon, our future is very bleak." Two years ago, Little Stars fought off the threat of closure, with the community now devastated to be facing a similar situation. Karen said the wait to hear if they will receive funding has been painstaking. The playgroup leader added: "Every year, our numbers continue to rise, so we are doing something right. I just don't know what else we can do. I feel like bringing all my kids to Stormont and asking the politicians to look after them, I'm sure they wouldn't be long with the funding then!" Pathway funding is administered on behalf the Department of Education by Early Years – the Organisation for Young Children (EYO) who undertake the application, scoring and award process. The Education Minister has sought Executive approval to enhance the Pathway Fund budget, with the currently available budget having been allocated already. A Department of Education spokesperson said: 'The increased level of demand for the Pathway Fund exceeds what can be funded from the Department's 2025-26 opening resource allocation. 'The Minister has sought Executive approval to enhance the Pathway Fund budget from the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy (ELCS) funding being held centrally, in line with 2024-25 arrangements. 'The currently available Pathway Fund budget has been allocated to eligible settings in ranked order by score against the Pathway criteria, as assessed by EYO. While Little Stars Pre School has met all eligibility requirements to receive an award, funding was exhausted before reaching their score on the ranked list. 'The Department will confirm any further Pathway awards when the Executive position regarding additional ELCS funding for Pathway is known.' For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
BBC News
21-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Oswestry: Little Stars lights up with £5k from Comic Relief
"When we receive funding from Comic Relief, it makes a huge difference to us," says the founder of a children's Simcoe founded Little Stars in Oswestry in July 2020, after she said she saw a need to support families with young children in families in the county are referred to the charity, which gives out baby parcels, children's clothing, school uniforms, and Christmas have benefitted from Comic Relief funding before and, in February, found out they will be given £5,000. "It's extremely important for us to have that funding; we take a lot of pre-loved [items]. But ultimately we do need to supplement some of it with brand new," said Ms Simcoe."New mattresses for the Moses baskets, new mattresses for the cots, then you've also got the stair gates as well for safety in the home and the bottle teats."Sometimes we do need to buy nappies and wipes because we don't have enough to get out there."The charity has donation points around the county and solely relies on monetary donations from the public and securing are made through people like doctors, midwives and health also hand out products for parents, like shower gel and period products."For a parent that can't afford shower gel for themselves, let alone being able to provide for their child, by us just popping it in the bag… they're able to get a shower and have that dignity."In 2024, the charity provided essential items to 1,333 children, delivered toiletries to 140 adults, and gave 52 pregnant women maternity charity said there had been a 176% increase in the number of children it supported compared to 2023. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
