Regulations Can Support Quality Early Learning and Child Care
The Government of Alberta’s 2020 review of its Child Care Licensing Act and supporting regulations provided a timely opportunity for broad discussions on the issue of quality in early learning and care. To what extent can quality be supported by legislation, regulation, and policy? An Examination of Regulatory and Other Measures to Support Early Learning and Child Care in Alberta, by Jane Beach, is an extensive analysis of the possibilities. In Regulations Can Support Quality Early Learning and Child Care, Marie Lesoway highlights some of the critical elements from the Beach report, including issues in defining and implementing measures to support quality. Lesoway also summarizes specific recommendations regarding staff qualifications, child-to-staff ratios and group sizes, physical environments, and curriculum frameworks. Finally, Lesoway provides a useful, section-by-section summary of what can be found in the Beach report. This brief introduction to the Beach report was commissioned by the Edmonton Council for Early Learning and Care.
