Executive Summary
Over the past few years, the early learning and child care (ELCC) system has undergone transformative change supported by significant investment and commitment by both the Federal and Provincial governments. The historic launch of a national early learning and child care system has been celebrated by service providers and welcomed by families looking for more affordable, inclusive, and high-quality child care spaces.
As Service System Manager, the City of Ottawa’s Children’s Services is responsible for the planning and management of early learning and licensed child care programs for children 0 to 12 years old in Ottawa. A key responsibility is the development of a service system plan to ensure that early learning and child care programs adapt to meet evolving Provincial priorities, while responding to the local changing needs of children, families, and service providers.
The Service System Plan outlines the vision and priorities for early learning and licensed child care programs for 2025 to 2029 in Ottawa. The process to develop the Service System Plan offered both the opportunity to reflect on past achievements, as well as future planning. The development of the Service System Plan allowed the chance to engage with over 2,100 members of the local community, including families, licensed child care and EarlyON service providers, community partners, organizations serving diverse families, and City of Ottawa staff. The inclusion of unique voices and experiences of equity-deserving groups were prioritized and integrated by using inclusive engagement strategies and targeted outreach.
Children’s Services also worked collaboratively with the Child Care and Early Years System Planning Advisory Group, the Indigenous Early Years Circle, and the Table Francophone in the development of the Service System Plan. The input from these groups ensured that the Service System Plan Framework is inclusive, culturally responsive, and reflective of the lived experiences of families and service providers.
The Service System Plan outlines a long-term vision, a five-year strategy statement, eight strategic priorities, and 55 actions to support the changing needs of children and families. The Service System Plan aims to reduce systemic barriers, improve supports for children and families, and strengthen the ELCC sector so that every child in Ottawa has the opportunity to thrive in a nurturing and inclusive environment.