The Department of Education says consultations are ongoing with the daycare sector on proposed changes to the Operating Grant Program – which governs how daycares get their money for the $10-a-day.

A 74-page draft document outlining the proposed changes was recently sent out to operators, with government asking for feedback.

In a statement to VOCM News, government says the goal of the consultation process is to “promote more access to child care space for families and ensure funding is aligned closer to usage.”

The department says they have asked for feedback on changes that would “ensure child care centres are accepting as many children as they can.”

Government is also proposing an increase in meal rates to reflect current grocery costs, and adjusting breakfast funding to “reflect average attendance and usage at a centre rather than number of children at the centre.”

They state that more communication with providers will be planned before any decisions are made.

The advocacy group Childcare Now NL recently released a statement about what government is proposing. They say their group was not consulted about the document, and they have been hearing concerns from operators – but do not specifically outline what those are.