Community Partnerships

Why Community Partnerships are so important?

For many families, early childhood settings provide their first meaningful connection to the wider community beyond the home. Licensed Childcare Centres serve as essential hubs, linking families to local organizations, supports, and community services. These partnerships directly support two core foundations of How Does Learning Happen? – Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years:
Belonging and Well-Being.

By developing strong community partnerships, educators gain access to invaluable resources, insights, and supports. Drawing on local expertise enables educators to design meaningful, relevant learning experiences that reflect the real lives, cultures, and needs of the children and families they serve.

“Opportunities to engage with people, places, and the natural world in the local environment help children, families, educators, and communities build connections, learn and discover, and make contributions to the world around them.” — How Does Learning Happen? (HDLH)

Community Partnerships: A Core Value at Children’s Village of Ottawa-Carleton

One of the guiding beliefs of the Children’s Village of Ottawa-Carleton is that “it takes a village to raise a child.” Children grow and thrive when they are part of a connected, supportive community. Each of our community partners represents a vital piece of the puzzle, helping create a network of high-quality programs and services across Ottawa.

Together, these partnerships support:

• Licensed Home Childcare
• Licensed Centre-Based Childcare
• Summer Camps
• Family Resource Programs

This strong community network helps us provide quality child care and family support across the City of Ottawa and its surrounding suburbs.

Why Community Connections Matter for Children

Children flourish in environments built on mutually supportive, caring relationships. Being part of a broader community—beyond the classroom—gives children:

• A sense of belonging
• Opportunities to understand how their community works
• The ability to build social responsibility
• Exposure to shared values that help shape our society

As children grow, meaningful links to the outside world help them understand their place within it, develop confidence, and learn how to contribute to the community around them

Reference:
Ontario Ministry of Education. (2014). How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years. Toronto.