Nova Scotia budget 2026-27 cuts force closure of early years professional learning sites
Eight community-based centres that have long supported early childhood educators (ECEs) across Nova Scotia are closing after the provincial government eliminated their funding in the 2026–27 budget.
“The decision to cut a $1.05-million grant has sparked concern across the child care sector, with educators and advocates warning of lasting impacts on workforce quality, accessibility of training, and outcomes for children,” says Naomi Stewart, a Nova Scotia member of Child Care Now’s Board of Directors.
The Early Years Professional Learning Support Sites in Nova Scotia were centres that provided resources, professional learning, and leadership to ECEs and students, often within or near post-secondary institutions. These centres served as hubs for professional development, offering in-person workshops aligned with provincial priorities and tailored to regional needs.
The sites also housed lending libraries stocked with activity kits, books, play materials, and specialized equipment for children with disabilities.
The removal of these sites also raises equity and quality concerns. Many educators accessed resources that would advance inclusion, culturally responsive pedagogy, and sensory-rich materials in their centres. In-person, community-based training ensured that educators in rural or underserved areas had access to the same learning opportunities as those in urban centres. Without these hubs, access may become more uneven, particularly if online alternatives do not fully meet educators’ needs.
In Nova Scotia, educators must complete 30 hours of professional development every three years to maintain their classification. The closure of these sites removes a key pathway for meeting that requirement.
The closures come at a time when the early childhood sector is already facing recruitment and retention challenges. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development has stated that a new plan to support educators is in development. Some resources from the closing sites may be redistributed to centralized locations such as libraries, and online professional learning platforms will continue to be available.
However, Child Care Now remains concerned that these measures will not fully replace the hands-on, relationship-based learning and resource-sharing that defined the support sites.