Oxford EarlyON

Oxford EarlyON - Caregiver Café

Caregiver Café

Welcome to Oxford Caregiver Café

Caregiver Café is a place where providers come together to network and brainstorm how we can provide quality care that puts children and families in Oxford County first. Sharing stories, ideas, and helpful tips with providers alike will unite providers on a neutral ground. Focused questions will give providers a chance to reflect on their business and give them ideas on how they can grow it.

Operating in Woodstock, Tillsonburg, and Ingersoll will help give providers an opportunity in all corners of Oxford County to participate in this inspiring network. This group will provide child care providers with professional development, make and take workshops, a resource space and a chance to make physical in person connections with other local providers which many have not had the chance to do.

Networking with other professionals that share the same career helps providers feel heard, understood and appreciated. Coming together to grow Oxford County’s child care, putting quality and families first.

For more information on Licensed Home Child Care visit Oxford County's Children Services or connect with Katie Makris at kmakris@oxfordcounty.ca or 519-539-9800 ext.3323

Looking for fun activities to do in your home child care program? Check out EarlyON @ Home for more ideas! 

Upcoming Events!

Oxford Caregiver Cafe's first event is Tuesday May 31st, 2022 6:30 - 8:00 pm at Woodstock Public Library.

Calling all home child care providers in Oxford County! Take a night out just for you. Join us for an evening of networking, information sharing and fun. Snacks will be provided. Please register for this event through KEyON The first 50 registered will receive a swag bag!

Join us at our next upcoming Caregiver Cafés in THREE different locations!

Monday, June 6 in Ingersoll at the Fusion Youth Center 6:30-8:00pm
Thursday, June 14 in Tillsonburg at the Lion’s Den 6:30-8:00pm
Tuesday, June 21 in Woodstock at the EarlyON Centre 6:30-8:00pm

Register at www.keyon.ca


Registration Details: 

  1. If you have not done so already, you will need to register for a KEyON account. Hint - check the box to receive notifications.
  2. Once you have a KEyON account, you will be able to register for programs listed in the Program Calendar. 
  3. Choose Region: “Oxford County”
  4. Choose the EarlyON Centre: Oxford Caregiver Café
  5. Double click on the program you are interested in to complete the registration (you will receive a confirmation email).

If you have any questions, please email us.

Resources to Support You!

Are you providing child care in Oxford County? We have dedicated this space to you! We want you to have access to resources that support your work with children and families. Help us create a collaborative space for sharing resources, links, activities and announcements that will contribute to the overall well-being of caregivers and the families you support. Let us know what you would like to see. Connect with us today! 

Here are a few resources to start:

  • Child Care and Early Years Act 
    The Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) came into effect on August 31, 2015. This legislation replaced the outdated Day Nurseries Act (DNA) and established new rules governing child care in Ontario.It applies to unlicensed child care, home child care providers contracted by a licensed agency, licensed home child care agencies; and licensed child care centres.
  • How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years
    How Does Learning Happen? is a professional learning resource for those working in child care and child and family programs. Built on the four foundations of belonging, well-being, engagement and expression, this document is shaped by views about children, the role of educators and families, and the relationships among them.
  • COVID-19 Pandemic Response
    Ensuring children's health and safety is as important as supporting children's learning, development and emotional well-being. The Ministry of education released a new resource entitled Building on How Does Learning Happen? Pedagogical Approaches to Re-opening Early and Child Care Programs in Ontario that shares ideas, reflective questions and lessons learned from the emergency child care provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, as child care and early years programs reopen across the province.

Southwestern Public Health has released guidance documents and resource links to provide COVID-19 Resources for Schools and Child Cares.