Nova Scotia expands before, after school child care

Students arrive for their first day back to school at an elementary school in Montreal, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

The government of Nova Scotia announced it will be adding the before and after school child care program to 21 schools across the province.

The program will also add more than 1,200 new spaces at current locations for the 2025-26 school year.

The province says the program provides care for children ages four to 12 enrolled in public school before classes begin and after they end.

“Before and after programs are convenient and affordable child-care options for families with school-aged children,” said Brendan Maguire, minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, in a Tuesday news release.

“We’re on a mission to make life easier for families and to ensure parents can find affordable child care that meets their needs.”

The province says 4,000 spaces are expected in more than 100 participating schools this school year.

Families seeking care and those interested in working for the program at a school can visit the program web page.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page