Ontario Early Years Centre Ancaster - Dundas - Flamborough, Todays Family - Early Learning and Child Care, Main Site - Waterdown Location
Share: [  Suggest an Update |  Suggest Volunteer Opportunity ] Record #: HAM0335 Last Modified: 11 Jan 2013 Last Full Update: 21 Sep 2012
Early Years Information
Early Years Headings	Ontario Early Years
Location, Telephone & Internet
Address & Map	315 Dundas St E Waterdown, ON L0R 2H0
Located In Community	Waterdown
Major Intersection	Franklin St and Dundas St E
Office Phone	905-689-9500
Fax	905-689-9402
E-Mail	oeycwaterdown@todaysfamily.ca
Website	www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/earlychildhood/oeyc/locations/oeyc.aspx?Center=39
Contact Information
Mailing Address	PO Box 1494  315 Dundas St E  Waterdown, ON L0R 2H0
Primary Contact	Deb Forster, Co-ordinator
Alternate Contact	Marni Flaherty, Executive Director
Description & Services
Description	The Ontario Early Years Centres in Hamilton strive to work with parents, caregivers and the community to:   Promote children's optimal development and readiness to learn which will assist children to reach their fullest potential  Create an environment where all children are safe and secure within our communities.   The vision for Hamilton's Early Years Centres is to create a welcoming and accessible environment for all parents and caregivers. The Early Years Centres allow parents and caregivers to acquire information, resources and support they need to ensure that all children have the best possible start in life, and provide a place where parents, grandparents, caregivers and children six years of age and younger play and learn together.    Major Services: Early Learning Activities - through programs such as interactive play  Parent Resources and Education - through workshops, written information, staff guidance and other parent education initiatives.  "Check it out drop-in" - Community professionals will be available to meet with families with their children from newborn to age 6 to offer consultation, teaching and referral with respect to their child's development. Bring your questions about your child's development, behaviour, vision, nutritional needs, dental health and/or speech and language development. This is a free consultation and no appointment is required. Registration takes place between 9:30 am and 10:30 am.  Pre- and Post-natal Resources and Information - through partnerships with Public Health and information available on site.  Information About Links to Other Early Years Services - parents and caregivers will be able to access information about all Early Years and related services available in Hamilton through a partnership with Community Information Hamilton, Child Care Information Hamilton and Inform Hamilton.  Early Literacy Programs - work with staff, families and caregivers to strengthen children's reading readiness, listening and language skills.  Outreach Services - take Early Years programs into communities where transportation or distance presents challenges. In Hamilton there will be travelling programs for people who cannot get to an Early Years Centre and neighbourhood sites so you can get to Early Years programs close to where you live.  Speakers Bureau - a program where educational opportunities are made available to parents and caregivers to learn more about being a parent, raising a family and keeping your children safe and healthy.  Volunteer Coordination - provides opportunities for well trained volunteers to contribute to the work of Early Years Centres and to support the development of Early Years Services in communities.  Data Gathering and Monitoring - will be an important part of the Early Years Services. It will help to ensure that the programs and services offered at the Early Years Centre are effective and responsive to the children, families and caregivers who visit. For more information you can visit the Ontario Early Years website at www.ontarioearlyyears.ca    Toy lending library services are available at this location.    This site offers Aboriginal programming once a month. For more information on Aboriginal services in the City of Hamilton contact the "Niwasa Early Learning and Outreach Program" at 905-549-4884    This program presently participates in Raising the Bar. The presence of a Raising the Bar certificate is a sign that the program is committed to maintaining provincial regulatory standards as well as local community standards. For more information please go to: www.ascy.ca/raising_info-for-parents.htm.
Hours	Mon, Thu 8:30 am-4 pm * Tue, Wed 8:30 am-7 pm * Fri 8:30 am-12 noon * Sat 9:30 am-12:30 pm * Check it out drop-in - Call for specific dates and times
Dates	All year except Statutory Holidays
Areas Served	Hamilton (City of) - Focused on the communities of Ancaster, Dundas and Flamborough
Boundaries	City of Hamilton * Focused on the communities of Ancaster, Dundas and Flamborough
Eligibility	Ages: 6 year(s) and under    Adults, Infants, Toddlers, Children, accompanied by parents, grandparents or caregivers.
Fees	None
Languages	English
Other Details
Accessibility	Partially Accessible - Main floor where the Early Years program takes place is accessible: Ramp and wide entrance; wheelchair accessible washrooms; 2nd floor where some workshops take place is not accessible
Funding	Provincial - Ontario Ministry of Children & Youth Services
Membership Types	Raising the Bar - 2012
Record Classification
Service Categories	Child Development Classes ; Children's Play Groups ; Early Childhood Family Centres ; Early Literacy Development Programs ; Family Life Education ~ Parenting Issues ; Parent/Child Activity Groups ; Parenting Skills Classes ~ Developmental Issues ; Parenting Skills Classes ~ Parents of Infants/Toddlers ; Parenting Skills Classes ~ Parents of Preschool Aged Children ; Toys/Toy Loan