SUPPORTING CHILD CARE PROVIDERS WITH SCHOOL-AGE DISTANCE LEARNING Distance learning for school-age children is a reality families in San Diego County are facing. As families continue to work during the COVID-19 pandemic, child care providers are being called upon to care for and support school-age children that are participating in distance learning and also engage and care for younger children in their program. Child care providers are creating safe spaces to meet the social and emotional as well as learning needs of children during a critical time when working families have few options. YMCA Childcare Resource Service surveyed child care providers to assess the status of available school-age child care, understand the challenges providers face in supporting children with distance learning, and to identify resources needed to ensure children are able to successfully engage in distance learning, ultimately contributing to children’s ongoing learning and development.
PROVIDERS REPRESENTED REPRESENTED PROVIDERS IN THE DATA 78% 1% 21%
Family Child Child Care Family HomeHome Care
Licensed Licensed Child Licensed Child Licensed Exempt Child Care Care Center Care Center Exempt Child Center Care Center n=696
75% of p r ov id er s a r e cur r entl y ser v in g sch ool-a g e child r en
FUTURE ENROLLMENT FOR SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN PROVIDERS WHO ARE WILLING TO ENROLL
55%
45%
do not need to make additional changes to their current operations in order to accommodate and begin enrollment for school-age children require a license change to accommodate school-age children
WILLINGNESS TO
PROVIDERS WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO ENROLL
15%
do not have room for additional enrollment
24%
have a license or contract that does not permit them to serve school-age children
18%
work in facilities that are not appropriate for school-age children
43%
prefer to stick with young children
36%
PROVIDERS WHO ARE NOT SERVING S U P P O R TCURRENTLY D I S TA N CE LEARNING SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN BUT ARE WILLING TO
PROVIDERS WHO ARE WILLING TO SUPPORT PROVIDERS WHO ARE WILLING TO SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN SUPPORT SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN WITH DISTANCE LEARNING* WITH DISTANCE LEARNING*
95%
PROVIDERS WHO ARE NOT CURRENTLY SERVING SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN BUT ARE WILLING TO
*Based on those who are currently serving or willing to enroll school-age children
PRIMARY REASON PROVIDERS ARE UNWILLING TO SUPPORT SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN WITH DISTANCE LEARNING
NEED TO RESTRUCTURE Providers already have established curriculum, schedules, and activities for age groups who are currently receiving care.
LACK OF CAPACITY Providers are concerned with the lack of resources, time, and staff to support distance learning for school-age children.
PROVIDING CARE AND SUPPORT FOR MULTIPLE AGE GROUPS The demands of distance learning and individual needs of school-age children may not allow providers to properly care for each age group in their program.