News and Events

Come to this page to find out what's new at TCO. You'll find community news, events, and ways for you to get involved.

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20th Anniversary of Tayside Community Options

Stay tuned for more info

TayCare Children's Centre Full and Part Time Spaces Available Now For:

Infant (up to 18 months)
Toddler (18 months to 2.5 years)
Preschool (2.5 years to 4 years)
Also Accepting Registrations For The Fall - All Ages
Call 613-267-6542
Open 6:30 am - 6 pm
Subsidy for qualifying families
Licensed programs
Qualified staff
Stimulating Learning Environments
Nutritious meals and snacks

Ready 2 Learn: New Partnerships at Stewart School in Perth

September ushered in a new partnership between Taycare Children's Centres and the Upper Canada District School Board at Stewart School in Perth. In preparation for the implementation of the full day JK/SK program required to be offered by all schools by 2015, the two organizations have established a partnership which enables Taycare (a division of Tayside Community Residential & Support Options) to operate a Ready 2 Learn program. This program is similar to the full day JK/SK but is completely licensed under the Day Nurseries Act. The Stewart School, Ready 2 Learn program is the only full day JK/SK program in Eastern Ontario that has been licensed under the Day Nurseries Act. All other full day JK/SK programs are unregulated or operate in the designated Early Learning Program schools such as Maple Grove in the Village of Lanark and Duncan J Schoular School in Smiths Falls.

Taycare insisted on the programs being licensed to ensure that the children and families of Perth could be confident that the learning programs that precede the implementation of the required full day JK/SK programs would be of the highest quality and are provincially regulated by well established and proven The school portion of the day is provided by Taycare at no cost to the parents and is funded through a purchase of service with the public school board. The before and after portion of the program has a fee attached to it. The before and after spaces, however, are eligible for child care fee subsidies.

Currently there are 48 children enrolled in the program with another 19 children attending the before and after component. The educators have their Early Childhood Education diploma and have many years of experience delivering stimulating and creative programming to young children in a well managed environment. Taycare also offers a very similar program at 100 Wilson Street, where all the spaces are eligible for provincial fees subsidies and is available to all families in Perth and District. A typical day would have the children arriving as early as 6:30 AM at the school for the breakfast program and quiet play, after nine there would be a learning circle around monthly themes, followed by learning through play and then outdoor play activities. Lunch follows and again children will join each other in their circle groups to do work jobs and hands on activities centre around the monthly theme, then, quiet time, another supervised learning through story times, music around specific themes and then snack. The children have another outdoor play time, snack for the after four children, followed by free play and then the parents pick up their children between 4:00 and 6:00 pm.

When asked her thoughts on the program, Catharina Bond, a parent in the Ready to Learn program, said "I was so happy Stewart School was offering the Ready 2 Learn program under the Day Nurseries Act. It is very important to us that vulnerable young children are protected by high quality provincial standards that are delivered by a community organization that has a proven track record of high quality early childhood education programming". Our son/daughter is very happy in the program and looks forward to going every day". Joanne Guthrie, another parent in the program said "The program is great ...the ECE teachers and school teachers coordinate and cooperate with everything so well...the transition between the programs is seamless"

Stewart School as well has accepted the program into its fold. "The Ready 2 Learn program operated by Taycare Children's Centres has integrated very well into the school community...it has become a very important part of the early learning experience here at Stewart School" says Brenda Tennant, the principal of Stewart School.

"Taycare is very happy to be part of this partnership, says Dave Hagerman of Tayside. It enables the children of Perth and District to have an early childhood education program that complies with the very highest of standards".

Cameron House Open House

A great start to the New Year. The official opening of our most recent developmental services home took place on January 11, 2009.

A wonderful, warm gathering on Sunday for the official opening of Cameron House - we have a lot to be grateful for - the staff and individuals who welcomed us into their home and were such terrific hosts.

The celebration was attended by many people including, families and friends, the Cameron family, volunteers from the Board, and staff. Larry Paul so kindly attended with his keyboard and provided some toe tapping music enjoyed by all. Congratulations to all! In addition, our SIL (Supported Independent Living) office will operate from Cameron House and can still be reached at 613-264-8032.

The Senior Childcare Centre is now operating a full-time kindergarten age program at the Wilson Street location and the TayCare Junior Centre is now offering care for babies from birth to children up to 3.5 years.

A Before and After School program is operating at the Wilson Street location as well. Currently, there are spaces available in all of these programs.

Please call Sandra MacGregor at 613-267-6542 for more information.

Or donate on-line now through our trusted partner CanadaHelps.Org

CBC Features Tayside Residents

CBC Radio 1 did a documentary feature on the struggles of local families to meet their special needs called "No Place to Go".

"November 2007: Institutions are closing, group homes are full and waiting lists grow ever longer. CBC is taking a closer look at families that have children with disabilities. Where will their children go now that it's time to leave the nest?..."

See Karina Roman"s video report (requires RealPlayer).
Visit the CBC"s "No Place to Go" website.
Read and add comments to the CBC talkback page.

Candidates Visit Tayside.

Concerned parents waiting for residential care for their adult children with intellectual disabilities, spoke with candidates in the recent provincial election.

They met with Randy Hillier (Progressive Conservative) and Ian Wilson (Liberal) at Rimmer House in Perth on October 1st and 5th.

Read the full report entitled " Crisis For Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities" in the advocacy section of the site.