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Resources for Child Care Professionals

Home Living Here Early Learning and Child CareResources for Child Care Professionals

The Regional Municipality of Durham maintains several resources for early learning and child care professionals.

Note: The 2019 Durham Region Child Care Forum Conference scheduled for Saturday, October 19 has been cancelled.

Professional learning opportunities

The Region of Durham has a Professional Resource Library for early learning and child care professionals. The library is funded by the Ministry of Education's Capacity Building funding. Contact us to book an appointment at the Professional Resource Library.

Check out our Professional Learning sessions in the new Grow Newsletter - Fall 2019 edition.

Visit the College of Early Childhood Educators Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) website for additional early learning and child care professional resources.

Other Resources

More information about early learning and child care professionals can be found on the following websites:

To order Heath Department resources to help you in your daily practice you can go to the Health Care Provider Resource Order Form.

Professional Resource Library

Please note that the resource library will not be open 5 to 7 p.m. Wedneseday December 4, 2019.

Durham Region's Professional Resource Library is for early learning and child care community. The Ministry of Education's Capacity Building funding pays for the library.

The resource library has many free resources that can be used by early learning professionals, including new curriculum and inquiry-based kits.

The Fall Resource Library Drop-in schedule is now available. Outside of scheduled drop-in hours appointments can be made through Janine.Keith@durham.ca or Dale.Franklin@durham.ca or by calling 905-666-6238.

How Does Learning Happen?

In 2014, the Ministry of Education launched How Does Learning Happen?, Ontario's Pedagogy for the Early Years. The pedagogy recognizes children as competent, capable of complex thinking, curious and rich in potential.

How Does Learning Happen? is organized around four key concepts: belonging, engagement, expression and well-being. these concepts are the foundation of high-quality care, supporting children's future potential. Early learning and child care centres and licensed home child care agencies follow this pedagogy.

To download a copy of the pedagogy in English and French, visit the Ministry of Education's website.

Extra copies of the Durham Region HDLH English Posters and Reflective Cards and French Posters and Reflective Cards can be downloaded.

Child Care staff wearing t-shirts showing the four concepts of How Does Learning Happen?

Durham Region Child Care Forum

The Durham Region Child Care Forum (DRCCF) looks after the training needs of Durham Region's Early Learning and Child Care community including the Annual DRCCF Conference held every fall. Follow the DRCCF link above for more information.

Best Start Network

The Best Start Network provides a place and time for people who work with children and families to meet and share information, data and best practices. We meet four times a year.

Infant Mental Health Sub-Committee

Working to improve infant mental health experiences for children and families across Durham by integrating the science of mental health into professional practice.

For more information on the Infant Mental Health Sub-Committee, contact us at beststart@durham.ca.

Indigenous Planning Activities

Improving access to culturally relevant, Indigenous-led Early Years programs and service off-reserve, including child care and child and family programs.

For more information on Indigenous Planning Activities, connect with us at beststart@durham.ca.

Child Care Sub-Committee

Providing members of the child care community with an avenue to:

Receive updates on the current child care environment
Network and share strategies for responding to changes in the child care sector
Provide feedback to various legislative bodies on how to promote quality child care and deliver services that reflect current research and best practices.

Participants can attend with a goal of becoming informed, networking, and/or taking on a role in a working group.

For more information on the Child Care Sub-Committee, connect with us at beststart@durham.ca.

Research and Knowledge Mobilization Sub-Committee

The goal of the Research and Knowledge Mobilization Sub-Committee is to create a different type of space that brings together researchers and early learning and child care professionals to make change together.

Our Sub-committee is made up of representatives from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology; the Region of Durham, Social Services and Health departments; Durham College; Lake Ridge Community Support Services; YMCA of Greater Toronto; Ultimate School Agers; Trent University; and Tender Years Childcare.

Research spotlight

In 2016 and 2017, the Research and Knowledge Mobilization Sub-Committee developed resources to help early learning and child care professionals address vulnerabilities based on the 2015 Early Development Instrument (EDI) data. These resources were provided to more than 2,000 early learning and child care professionals.

This past year, the members of the sub-committee successfully applied for the joint Durham College and University of Ontario Institute of Technology Innovative Initiatives Fund (IIF) to see how effective these new resources have been. It is expected that results will be reported in spring 2019.

Resources

If you would like a copy of the resources, contact us at beststart@durham.ca.

Your stories

"As an Elementary School Primary Teacher, I value the sub-committee's efforts in developing strategies to help our students learn skills to regulate their own emotions. My students are often faced with social situations that are new to them, where they need to learn how to problem solve, and how to cope with situations. The resources created by the sub-committee provide teachers and early child care providers with, easy to use, strategies to help model and practise with our students when they are needing to take breaks, or to calm themselves. I like that these strategies are easily applicable within the classroom setting and can be taught to the class as a whole, during circle time, or group time. I have practised these strategies with my class, so when my students feel they are escalating, and having a difficult time controlling their emotions, they have been given a tool to help themselves. I have seen my students prompt each other to use their new breathing skills as well, fostering confidence that these recommended strategies are helpful for my students."

John, Durham District School Board

Resources for Child Care Professionals

Professional learning opportunities

Professional Resource Library

How Does Learning Happen?

Durham Region Child Care Forum

Best Start Network

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