Our Program
Our Centre offers a rich, play-based program designed to support every child’s growth, learning, and development in a natural and engaging way. We believe that play is the foundation for meaningful learning, providing children with opportunities to explore, experiment, and make sense of the world around them. Through play, children develop essential skills such as problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and self-regulation, all while building confidence and independence.
Grounded in the principles of Play and Exploration, our program reflects the highest standards of early learning and care, guided by current research and best practices in early childhood education. This approach ensures that our learning environments are child-centered, inclusive, and designed to spark curiosity. Materials, activities, and spaces are intentionally arranged to encourage creativity, discovery, and a sense of wonder, while also allowing children to follow their own interests and ideas.
We view children as competent, capable, and holistic learners—individuals who bring their own unique strengths, experiences, and perspectives to their learning journey. Our educators act as facilitators, carefully observing and engaging with children to extend their thinking, scaffold new skills, and provide experiences that challenge and inspire.
By embracing a play-based approach, we foster not only cognitive growth but also social, emotional, and physical development, creating a balanced and supportive environment where children can truly thrive. In this way, our Centre becomes more than just a place to learn—it is a place where imagination takes flight, friendships grow, and every child’s potential is nurtured.
Hours of Operation
Casper’s Early Learning Co-operative Centre is open Monday to Friday, from 6:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Our team ensures that children are cared for in a safe, nurturing environment throughout these hours, with staff always present to meet required staff-to-child ratios and provide supervision, guidance, and support.
We are closed on weekends and statutory holidays, and staff are provided these holidays in accordance with the Saskatchewan Employment Standards Act. Extended hours may be considered by the Board if there is a demonstrated need from families or the community.
This schedule ensures that children have consistent care, families have support for their schedules, and staff can maintain a high standard of safety and engagement throughout the day.
Statutory Holidays
Casper’s provides staff with statutory holidays as outlined in the Saskatchewan Employment Standards Act, giving employees paid time off without reducing their regular salary.
Paid statutory holidays include:
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New Year’s Day
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Family Day
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Good Friday
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Victoria Day
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Canada Day
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Saskatchewan Day
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Labor Day
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Thanksgiving Day
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Remembrance Day
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Christmas Day
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Boxing Day
Holiday Pay Procedures:
If a statutory holiday falls during the workweek or on a scheduled closure, the employee’s workweek is reduced by one day without affecting take-home pay.
When a statutory holiday falls on a weekend, the centre will close either the preceding Friday or the following Monday, in line with local business practices.
December and Special Holiday Hours
During the Christmas holiday season, Casper’s closes early at 4:00 p.m. on the following dates:
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Christmas Eve (December 24)
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New Year’s Eve (December 31)
In cases where minimal families are scheduled during the holiday break, the Board of Directors and Director may request that families schedule their children out to ensure operational and financial feasibility. Families will always be informed in advance to allow for alternative arrangements.
Supporting Families
Casper’s is committed to flexible scheduling whenever possible to support families’ needs while maintaining high-quality care for children. Clear communication, advance notice, and collaborative planning with families allow us to adapt to seasonal demands and unique circumstances while keeping the centre safe and well-staffed.
Take a Look at What Our Program Offers
At our Centre, children are welcomed into a vibrant, play-based learning environment where curiosity, creativity, and exploration are at the heart of everything we do. Our program is thoughtfully designed to nurture the whole child—supporting their cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth—through engaging experiences that feel natural, joyful, and meaningful.
We offer a variety of activities and opportunities tailored to different ages and developmental stages, including hands-on sensory exploration, imaginative play, creative arts, outdoor adventures, music and movement, and early literacy and numeracy experiences. Each day provides a balance of child-led exploration and educator-guided learning, ensuring that children have the freedom to follow their interests while also being introduced to new ideas and skills.
Our learning spaces are carefully arranged to inspire discovery and independence, with open-ended materials and resources that invite children to experiment, problem-solve, and collaborate with their peers. We follow the principles of Play and Exploration, using current research and best practices to create a warm, inclusive environment where every child feels safe, respected, and empowered to learn.
By focusing on play as the foundation of early learning, our program allows children to develop confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning—skills that will serve them well far beyond their time with us.​​
Supervision
Staff-to-Child Ratios
To ensure the highest standard of care and safety, Casper’s Early Learning Co-operative Centre follows strict staff-to-child ratios as set out by provincial regulations. These ratios are designed to provide each child with the attention, supervision, and support they need for their age and stage of development.
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•Infants (6 weeks – 18 months): 1 staff member for every 3 infants
•Toddlers (18 months – 30 months): 1 staff member for every 5 toddlers
•Preschoolers (30 months – 6 years): 1 staff member for every 10 preschoolers
•School Age (6 – 12 years): 1 staff member for every 15 school-age children
Points System for Ratios
Our ratios are also managed through a points system to ensure staff are not over capacity. Each staff member is permitted a total of 15 points at a time. The points assigned to each child are based on the level of supervision and care required for their age group:
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•Infants: 5 points each
•Toddlers: 3 points each
•Preschoolers: 1.5 points each
•School Age: 1 point each
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For example, a staff member could care for 3 infants (3 × 5 points = 15 points) or a combination such as 1 infant (5 points), 2 toddlers (2 × 3 points = 6 points), and 2 preschoolers (2 × 1.5 points = 3 points), totaling 14 points. This system ensures we balance group sizes with the developmental needs of the children.
Adjusted Ratios for Excursions and Field Trips
When children are taken on excursions, field trips, or activities outside the centre, safety requirements become even more stringent. In these situations, the points limit per staff member is reduced from 15 points to 10 points to provide increased supervision in unfamiliar or less controlled environments. This adjustment helps ensure children are kept safe and closely monitored at all times when outside the centre.
This careful approach to ratios ensures that every child receives quality attention and care, while maintaining a safe and engaging learning environment both inside and outside the facility.
Parent Fees
As of April 1, 2023, all parents with children under six years of age attending a regulated child care centre are eligible for reduced fees of $10 per day or $217.50 per month. This rate applies to any infant, toddler, preschool, or school-age space occupied by a child under six.
This change follows the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, introduced in August 2021 between the Province and the Government of Canada. The agreement aims to improve affordability, access, quality, and inclusivity in child care.
Fee Details for Children Aged Five and Under
• 1–9 days per month: $10 per day (Daily Rate)
• 10+ days per month: $217.50 flat rate (Monthly Rate)
• Families who go over 9 days per month with be charged for the monthly rate
Children Six Years and Older
Children aged six and above are not eligible for this grant and follow a separate fee schedule.
Effective April 1, 2026, children attending child care or Kindergarten who are six years old will again be eligible for the $10/Day child care rate. Children who turn six prior to April 1, 2026, will continue to pay the regular preschool fee until March 31, 2026. The reduced $10/Day rate will apply from April 1, 2026, through the end of June 2026.
Take a Look at the Following Sections
We’ve put together helpful information to guide you through everything you need to know about our Centre. Here, you’ll find details about your child’s first day, Nutrition/menu, daily routine, policies and procedures, parent handbook, and our bylaws. These sections are designed to help you feel informed, prepared, and confident as part of our community.