Expansion of Neepawa’s daycare facilities in the works
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, September 9, 2015
By Kira Paterson
The Neepawa Press
This year, the Budz 'n Bloom Daycare is once again conducting a survey about childcare needs in the Neepawa area. They are looking to find the extent of the need for daycare spots in the community.
Donna Todoruk, the director of Budz 'n Bloom Daycare, says that as of now, they have 50 families on the waiting list for the three different age groups. They only have eight infant spots (ages 12 weeks to two years), 32 preschool spots (two years old up to kindergarteners) and 12 school-age spots (Grade one to 12 years old) and the highest demand on the list is for infant and school age spots.
Donna says they believe that there are many more families looking for childcare, but aren't on the waiting list, either because they've given up on getting a spot or they don't know how to register.
Budz 'n Bloom knows already that the largest need is for school-age spots, but they are hoping that the survey will give them a better idea as to how many are required. They need to have as many surveys filled out as possible in order to give them an accurate representation. Donna explains that the hope is to take the numbers that they get to the provincial government for possible funding for new daycare services.
Recently, the Beautiful Plains School Division (BPSD) bought a lot that will potentially be used to house a stand-alone daycare. Other school divisions in the province have provided daycare services on their school properties and BPSD is hoping to be able to offer that service too.
The lot they have identified to be used for a daycare is adjacent to the Neepawa Area Collegiate and is a part of the school's property. The provincial government had made the decision in the past to provide funding for the construction of daycares that are on school property. Once Budz 'n Bloom has the data they need from the surveys, they can send in a request to accompany the request from BPSD. If the proposal for this new daycare is approved, Budz 'n Bloom and BPSD will work together to develop a daycare that will fulfill the town's needs.
With the support of government funds, the much-needed expansion to Neepawa's childcare services would become more feasible.
“We appreciate the forms being filled out,” says Donna. “Every form helps to get a more accurate number. The more the better.”
