spəqmix, our original building, is located at 1262 Discovery Ave. Learn how to pronounce spəqmix (swan). There are two group childcare programs: An Infant Toddler program (under 36 months) and a 3-5 Program (30 months to school age). Each program has two classrooms.
Infant Toddler
Our Infant and Toddler Program (up to 36 months) focuses on providing warm, responsive child care, supported by a primary caregiver role. One infant/toddler program has a group size of eight children and a maximum educator-child ratio of 1:4. The second program has a group size of 12 children and a maximum educator-toddler ratio of 1:4.
The program offers flexible daily schedules, experiences and materials to support the rapid and extensive developmental changes usually experienced by children in their first three years. We accommodate children’s sleep and food needs as required and provide environments that support language, cognitive, motor and especially social skill development. Our program environment offers a natural and calm space connecting to nature both indoors and outdoors. Each day includes choice-filled indoor and outdoor play times and small group experiences punctuated by routines such as snack time, nap time and diaper time, and opportunities for language and music activities. Parents provide main meals and a morning and afternoon snack.
To build strong, trusting relationships between children, families and educators, we follow a Primary Caregiver Approach. Each group of four children is assigned a dedicated primary caregiver (educator) who takes a lead in their daily care. This educator sits with the child during mealtimes, handles diaper changes and assists with toileting as children progress. Communicates daily with parents, keeping them informed about their child’s milestones, routines and needs. A senior is present to oversee the whole program, ensuring a well-managed environment.
3-to-5 Program
We have two full-day, 3-5 age group child care programs. One program has a group size of 25 and a maximum educator-child ratio of 1:8. The second program has eight children with a maximum educator-child ratio of 1:8.
The British Columbia Early Learning Framework informs the curriculum of all UBC Okanagan Child Care programs, including the 3-5 centres. That framework emphasizes the importance of interpersonal relationships, flexible dynamic environments and play for children’s learning. It also identifies four key interrelated areas of early learning: well-being and belonging, exploration and creativity, languages and literacies and social responsibility and diversity. Curricular choices made by early childhood educators reflect the learning goals identified within these four areas.
Our programs foster learning by emphasizing opportunities for negotiation with others, problem-solving, exploring curiosities, engaging with materials, and expressing creativity.
To provide individualized care and growth in our 3-5 program, we assign every group of eight children to a dedicated primary caregiver (educator). Including the small and big 3-5 program classrooms, the children are divided into four groups, with eight children assigned to one educator. We have four dedicated educators rotating weekly across the four groups. This rotation allows children to benefit and build relationships with multiple educators. The primary caregiver builds a strong bond with each child to create a sense of security and trust. This educator observes and records your child’s developmental milestones, learning progress and social interactions. They will also communicate with families and offer regular updates on your child’s achievement and areas of growth, providing tailored feedback and insights. A Senior Educator is present to oversee the entire classroom, ensuring a well-managed environment.
