Morell child care moving from mobiles to school classrooms

Parents and educators of children whoattend the Morell and Area Early Learning Centre in Morell, P.E.I., are looking forward to moving from mobiles intoMorellConsolidated School just next door.

The move has been in the works for twoyears, says the centre's director PaigeMacLaren, because the child care centre outgrew its space.

"It's just the ideal place for us to be," she said."It was never a long-term solution."

The layout inside the centrewasnot ideal, she said, with an office and noisy kitchenarea next to the infant room.

The new space for the child care centre will be much bigger and better laid-out, said MacLaren, with "less traffic through the infant area, so it'll just be a calmer environment. Lessinterruptions."

'Only good things'

There are 43 children at the centre now, from infants to five-year-olds.

Crystal Palmerhas a daughter thereand another who will attend in a few months, as well as a third child at Morell Consolidated.

"It is one drop-off and easy transition for the ones going into the elementary school," Palmer said.

"It is a newer space and it is a bigger space, so only good things can come from that."

Thomas Drake has two children in the consolidated schooland one at the child carecentre.

"I think it will be good to have all three in the same building for pickups and anything like that," he said. "I think the big sisters will be happy to see their little brother atthe same school that they are at, andfor him to see his big sisters is a nice change too."

Ready for September

Construction is planned to be finished this summer so there will be no disruption for students and educators at the consolidated school.

Crews are renovating fourclassrooms at the school andadding a kitchen the province is footing the $240,000 bill.

"Morell parents want to keep their children together and asked government to ensure that the Early Years Centre remains close to the school," Education andEarly Learning Minister Jordan Brown said in a news release.

The centre will lease the space from the Public Schools Branch. Administrators, teachers, and early childhood educators have been consulted on the design and floor plans, according to the release.

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