Spaces remain open for students in Before and After School care program launching at Gabriola Elementary

Derek Kilbourn

Sounder News

In June, it was announced that Gabriola Elementary was selected as one of the schools that will receive school district before and after school care for this coming 2024-2025 school year.

According to media representatives with Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public Schools (NLPS), there are still spaces available in the program.

As of press time, only one spot remained for Tuesday afternoons, but all other days of the week, before and after school, still have spots available.

If anyone is interested in a spot, they are to email
GB-BASC@sd68.bc.ca

Gabriola Elementary will have a total of 12 spaces available for before school care and 24 spaces for after school care.

A letter sent to parents in June stated the before and after school care is not meant to affect any current childcare providers attached to Gabriola Elementary, but is for families who do not yet have a childcare option for their children or an option that is working for their children and family,” the letter says.

According to the registration form, families who have children with diverse abilities and disabilities can apply for space but will be “asked to work with supported child development services through Nanaimo Child Development Centre to secure financial support for additional staff in the childcare setting.”

NLPS will proceed with staffing once funding is secured for the extra support.

“Children needing the additional support will not be able to start in the Gabriola Before and After School Care program until supported childcare staff are in place and are fully trained.”

For kindergarten students, the fee for both before and after care for five days a week will be $200 per month. For grades 1 and up the fee will be $348 per month for the same care options. Fees have been reduced via the province’s Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) for providers. Eligible families can also apply for the province’s Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) for further reductions.

Families can choose one to five days a week as well as the option to select either morning care or afternoon care. Before care will be available 7:15-8:40 a.m. for kindergarten and 7:15-8:25 a.m. for Grade 1+. After school care will be available 2:23-5:30 p.m. Families indicate drop-off and pick-up times on the registration form.