Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, July 29: A Nova Scotia mother is calling for stronger inclusion practices in child care after her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, who has autism, was dismissed from a daycare following repeated behavioural incidents that the centre said it could no longer safely manage.
Katelyn Ennis says her daughter was removed from Smiles and Chuckles Children’s Centre in Stewiacke after recurring biting incidents. While the family has since found alternative child care, Ennis believes the experience highlights broader challenges faced by children with disabilities in accessing inclusive early childhood education.
Mother Alleges Lack of Collaboration
Ennis told CBC News she was disappointed by what she described as insufficient communication between the daycare and her family before the decision to end her daughter’s placement.
She said the centre should have worked with her to develop strategies and accommodations once behavioural concerns became apparent.
“It felt discriminatory because it felt like they didn’t want to care for her because she was too much for them,” Ennis said.
She believes earlier discussions between staff and parents could have helped identify supports that would have allowed her daughter to remain in the program.
Daycare Says Safety Was the Primary Concern
The daycare declined to discuss the individual case publicly, citing confidentiality obligations, but disputed the mother’s allegations.
In an email provided to CBC News, Executive Director Kathy Stewart stated that the decision was not based on the child’s autism diagnosis, developmental delays or communication abilities.
Instead, Stewart wrote that the centre concluded it could no longer safely meet the child’s needs while ensuring the safety of all children and staff.
The email referenced a serious biting incident on the child’s final day and cited the daycare’s dismissal policy, which permits ending care when persistent behavioural concerns cannot be adequately addressed.
Experts Point to Systemic Challenges
Early childhood policy experts say the case reflects broader challenges facing child-care providers rather than a single isolated dispute.
Christine Saulnier, Nova Scotia Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, said decisions to remove children from care can often indicate systemic shortcomings, including insufficient funding, staffing and specialized support for inclusive education.
Although she did not comment directly on the specific case, Saulnier said childcare centres need additional resources, stronger regulations and greater professional support to successfully include children with disabilities.
She also emphasized the importance of providing educators with dedicated time to collaborate with families on individualized care plans.
Calls for Greater Inclusion
Disability advocates argue that inclusive early childhood environments are essential for children’s development and social integration.
Brian Foster, Executive Director of Inclusion Nova Scotia, said child-care providers have a responsibility to understand their obligations under human rights legislation and work collaboratively with families whenever possible.
He cautioned against viewing children with disabilities primarily through the lens of safety risks, warning that such perspectives can contribute to stigma and exclusion from an early age.
Growing Pressure on Child-Care System
The case comes as Nova Scotia continues expanding access to affordable child care through recent government investments.
While sector leaders acknowledge progress, many say demand for services has outpaced the availability of trained staff and specialized supports needed to serve children with diverse developmental needs.
Advocates argue that additional investments in staff recruitment, professional development and disability supports are necessary to ensure child-care centres can meet inclusion objectives while maintaining safe learning environments.
Balancing Safety and Inclusion
The circumstances surrounding the Stewiacke case illustrate the complex balance that child-care providers must maintain between ensuring the safety of all children and providing inclusive services for those with additional support needs.
While the daycare maintains its decision was based on safety considerations rather than disability, Ennis hopes her family’s experience will encourage broader discussions about improving communication, collaboration and resources so that more children with autism and other disabilities can remain fully included in early learning environments.