As the new school year gets underway, Ontario is making it easier for children and families to access before and after school care.
More than 80% of schools across the province are now offering programming for 4 to 12-year-olds.
Minister of Early Years and Child Care Indira Naidoo-Harris made the announcement yesterday and says all publicly funded elementary schools must have the programs in place where there's sufficient demand.
She says, for most families, the work day doesn't begin and end with the ring of the school bell.
"What this does is really creates a seamless level of care," says Naidoo-Harris. "Families are dropping their kids off at the school in the morning and they're getting care in the morning, they're moving on to their programs during the day. The end of the day, those young people are able to access after school care."
She says families have been asking for additional care.
"Those families who need the support and are facing challenges actually getting to the school right after that school bell are able to have their kids smoothly transition to an after school program and they can finish off their day at work with peace of mind."
She says these are standards never seen before.
"It's a very exciting time. If you're a parent out there and you have a little one that you are concerned about when it comes to child care, we are getting ready to really do everything we can to give you the support you need in your everyday life and we are making historic commitments."
Naidoo-Harris says, because of the changes, care is now available to 16,000 additional students across Ontario.
With files from Peter Langille