DDSB Receives Ministry Approval on Child Care Addition

DDSB Receives Ministry Approval to Construct a Three-Room Child Care Addition at Seneca Trail Public School in Oshawa

The DDSB invites media to attend a photo opportunity/media availability at Seneca Trail Public School (1915 Queensbury Dr., Oshawa) on Friday, November 24 at 10 a.m. DDSB Chair Christine Thatcher will attend the event alongside Durham MPP Todd McCarthy and Ajax MPP and Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministry of Education Patrice Barnes.

The Durham District School Board is pleased to announce it has received the Ministry of Education’s approval to proceed with the construction of a three-room child care centre addition at Seneca Trail Public School in Oshawa.

The approved three-room child care centre addition will include one infant room, one toddler room, and one preschool room with the associated ancillary spaces. Total funding provided for the project is $4,072,915, with construction anticipated to be completed in Fall 2024.

The DDSB provides a variety of child care options for children from ages 0 to 12. These programs are in DDSB schools throughout the region to make it convenient for parents and guardians to find reliable child care.

“This investment in child care helps to increase accessibility for families in Oshawa. Anytime we can increase the number of child care spaces at a DDSB school it is good news; we help address equity challenges, affordability constraints, and the disproportionate lack of child care services for women and marginalized families,” said Oshawa Trustees Deb Oldfield and Shailene Panylo. “These additional child care spaces will be a welcome addition to families in the community to help support children’s brain development, learning, behaviour, and health.”

Added DDSB Director of Education Camille Williams-Taylor, “The early years are an important component in a child’s development. By providing high quality child care, we’re supporting student achievement leading into Kindergarten and the basis for a successful start to a child’s education.”

Added Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, “We are determined to build schools and child care expansions faster, part of our commitment to modernize learning spaces in fast-growing communities. We are proud to support a child care centre addition at Seneca Trail Public School for families in Oshawa. By expanding this school and increasing funding and staffing, supported by a back-to-basics focus on reading, writing, and math skills, we are working to ensure students graduate with confidence that they can succeed in good-paying careers."

Durham District School Board

The Durham District School Board (DDSB) is responsible for public education in the rural communities of Uxbridge, Brock and Scugog townships and the cities and towns of Oshawa, Whitby, Pickering and Oshawa. We employ over 10,000 teaching and educational services staff in 135 elementary and secondary schools and learning centres. DDSB has more than 79,000 regular day students and thousands more who take continuing education and adult credit courses. More information can be found on the DDSB’s website at ddsb.ca. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @ddsbschools, Instagram @ddsbschools and YouTube at DurhamDSB.