(ID 108198107 © Vchalup | Dreamstime.com)

By Teena Monteleone

Child Care and COVID

Child care ‘challenging implication’ in move to remote learning

Dec 15, 2020 | 1:07 PM

Many families are scrambling to find child care this week after both the separate and public school divisions in Prince Albert announced a move to remote learning. It means all students won’t return to in-person classes until at least Jan. 18.

“It (school) is not meant to be child care, but when it’s shut down you need child care,” read a comment on paNOW’s Facebook page.

Director of Education for the Saskatchewan River’s Public School Division Robert Bratvold said child care was one of the challenges they discussed with the health authority as an implication of the recommendation to move to remote learning. But the government felt the rate of community transmission warranted the move to Level 4 of the Saskatchewan Safe Schools Plan.

“One of the anticipated alleviates was that some families would have older siblings that are also home from school to help with child care, but this will not be the case in all circumstances,” Bratvold said in an email to paNOW. “There are no clear solutions to this challenge, but we have confirmed that school-based child care centres can continue to operate even when the school itself is in Level 4.”

An email response to paNOW from the Prince Albert Catholic School Division delivered a similar message.

Election 2024

Birch Hills staff won't share election decision

15m ago

Business and Economy

Investment and development firm that bought Cornerstone acquires South Hill Mall

1h ago

education

Auditor finds non-compliance with international trip, credit card and expense claims at Northlands College

6h ago

“The child care centres will remain open and are following the COVID-19 protocols put in place by the province. Although one, Children’s Choice, has one child care centre program in isolation at St. Catherine for a short period. They will resume operations Friday morning,” Director of Education Lorel Trumier said.

As parents begin to find babysitters through other means like acquaintances, the Ministry of Health looked to offer some clarity on how to follow proper pandemic protocols.

Caregivers are not included when determining the number of people in a private dwelling. A babysitter would be considered as a caregiver.

The Ministry of Health also suggests, wherever possible, that it should be the same caregiver through the duration of the public health order. They should remain masked while they are in the home, practice frequent hand washing and whenever possible, physical distancing.

The latest public health orders, effective Thursday, Dec. 17 limit private, indoor gatherings to immediate household members. Co-parenting arrangements are permitted to continue and so are caregivers and support services in the home.

—

teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MonteleoneTeena