The co-founder of a childcare advocacy group says there have been improvements in the system over the last few years, but there is still more to do.

This is ECE Week across Newfoundland and Labrador, recognizing early childhood educators—professionals trained in the education and development of young children from infancy to school age.

ABCs and ECEs NL, a childcare advocacy group, was founded several years ago by a group of frustrated parents who struggled to get access to childcare.

Erin Cullen, co-founder of the group, says they have been pushing the government on a number of items and have seen improvements.

For example, Cullen says she has two children with childcare spaces, and there has been an increase, in general, in the number of childcare spaces.

She cites a recent study from the University of Toronto, which says this province has about 35 percent childcare coverage—up from 29 percent in 2021.

Cullen says that is “certainly an improvement,” but it is still not sufficient and is a “long way” from the target of having 64 percent coverage by 2027.