RRC Early Childhood Centre Inc. is a non-profit organization that has provided quality childcare since 1975. RRC Polytech has over 18,000 students, many of which are parents seeking to upgrade their skills or to change careers. According to students, the availability of childcare services can significantly influence their decision to pursue education. At present, the RRC Early Childhood Centre Inc. can only meet a fraction of the needs of the students at RRC Polytech RRC Polytech is the largest trainer of Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) in the Province and known locally and nationally for innovation. Despite this success, the program has long felt the lack of a learning lab to support the RRC Polytech ECE program. Childcare programs affiliated with ECE training programs enhance student learning by providing a living laboratory for child development, a replicable model of excellent practice, and a research site. This project would enable RRC Polytech to partner with RRC Early Childcare Centre Inc. to create a learning lab in which the childcare program functions as a demonstration centre. RRC Polytech’s vision is to represent a contemporary version of the historical ‘lab school’ model, providing an example of an excellent environment for young children, strong programming, and a highly professional team supported by students and ECE faculty. Through the introduction of a learning lab model, the childcare centre will continue to provide quality care for children with an additional focus on ECE student learning. Faculty would work in partnership with Early Childhood Educators and ECEs in training, closely following the children’s interests and integrating plans with concepts and ideas students are learning about in class. RRC Polytech ECE students would be presented with the opportunity for practicum in the centre and many chances to try out activities, set up spaces, and observe child development in action. Rural and remote ECE students who access programming in their own communities would also be a priority, enriching their learning with streamed or recorded video and providing opportunities for them to debrief with subject matter experts and replicate what they have learned in their own practicum or workplace. This is of particular interest to RRC Polytech as we meet our priority to transform our learning model to meet emerging needs. The transformation of the RRC Early Childhood Centre into a learning lab involves: • Expansion of the indoor space by approximately 245 sq m, enabling a growth from 53 spaces to 73 spaces for children aged 5 and under (including infants under 18 months) through the repurposing of an adjacent classroom and addition on the east side of the existing building, • Renovation of the existing space, to update room layout and provide observation areas; and, • Addition of equipment to record and livestream video to students offsite. Red River College Polytechnic is seeking proposals from qualified Vendors to provide Prime Consultant Services for the project.
All project specifications, documentation, Vendor Q&A, and proposal submissions can be found at the following link:
https://rrc.bonfirehub.ca/projects/72386/details
