Licensed Child Care Special Needs Resource Services

  Special Needs Resources Guidelines

Role and Responsibility of the CMSM (Consolidated Municipal Service Manager)

As Service System Manager, the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville (the Counties) is responsible for the planning, funding, oversight and accountability of the delivery of Special Needs Resource services in licensed child care settings, within the counties of Leeds and Grenville. As such, the Counties has created this document to establish the guidelines for the delivery of this service as well as to ensure transparency and accountability of the use of public funds.

Special Needs Resource funding is provided to the CMSM, by the Government of Ontario, Ministry of Education (MOE) on an annual basis, for the following eligible expenses:

• To hire or acquire the services of resource teachers/consultants and/or supplemental staff where necessary (including salary and benefits) to support the inclusion of children with special needs in licensed child care program sites;
• To provide professional development opportunities to support all staff in licensed child care settings working with children with special needs and their parents/families to support inclusion; and
• To purchase or lease specialized/adaptive equipment and supplies to support children with special needs in licensed child care program sites.

The Service System Manager may choose to deliver Special Needs Resource services directly or enter into a contract with a third party agency to deliver Special Needs Resource services on its behalf.

Vision

The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville envisions the highest quality licensed child care system that offers inclusive and responsive child care programs for all children.

The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville views all children as competent and capable.

Service Intent

As directed by the Province of Ontario, Ministry of Education, the intent of Special Needs Resource services is twofold:

• To support the inclusion of all children in licensed child care programs; and
• To increase the capacity of licensed child care program staff to be confident and capable of providing an inclusive quality program for all children.

If you would like to know more about the supports available to children with special needs in the licensed child care system in Leeds and Grenville, please contact us at 613-342-3840 extension 2351 or speak to your child’s Child Care Service Provider.