The Forgotten ECE

The Future of School-Age Care Starts Here: What Needs to Change First with Cody Topp

What is the future of school-age care—and what needs to change first? In this episode of the Forgotten ECE Podcast, Jamie sits down with Cody Topp, owner of TOPP KIDS in Alberta, Chair of the School Age Care Directors Association (SACDA), and a passionate advocate for school-age care across Canada. Together, they dive into the realities of before-and-after school programs, the ongoing struggle for recognition within the ECE sector, and the leadership, advocacy, and system changes needed to move school-age care forward. From Alberta and Ontario perspectives to workforce challenges and program quality, this conversation is honest, thought-provoking, and packed with insight for educators, leaders, and advocates alike. If you care about the future of school-age care, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. In This Episode: * Cody Topp’s journey into school-age care leadership * Why school-age care still struggles for recognition * Alberta vs. Ontario perspectives on before-and-after school programs * Leadership lessons from scaling large organizations * The disconnect between leadership and frontline educators * Advocacy and the future of school-age care in Canada * What quality school-age programs should really look like * What needs to change to better support educators and children Cody Topp is the owner of TOPP KIDS in Alberta and Chair of the School Age Care Directors Association (SACDA). He is a passionate advocate for high-quality school-age care and has helped lead conversations around leadership, advocacy, and the future of out-of-school care programs across Canada. 🌐 School Age Care Directors Association (SACDA) ⁠ [https://www.calgarysacda.com/]https://www.calgarysacda.com⁠ [https://www.calgarysacda.com⁠] 💼 LinkedIn ⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-topp/]https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-topp/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-topp/⁠] 🏫 TOPP KIDS ⁠ [https://www.toppkids.com/family/cody-topp/]https://www.toppkids.com/family/cody-topp/⁠ [https://www.toppkids.com/family/cody-topp/⁠] 🎙 Forgotten ECE Podcast 📸 Instagram: @forgottenecepodcast Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with an educator or leader passionate about the future of school-age care. #ForgottenECEPodcast #SchoolAgeCare #ECE #BeforeAndAfterSchool #ChildCareLeadership #OutOfSchoolCare #ECELeadership About Today’s Guest: Connect with Cody Topp Connect with the Forgotten ECE Podcast Enjoying the Podcast? Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with an educator or leader passionate about the future of school-age care. #ForgottenECEPodcast #SchoolAgeCare #ECE #BeforeAndAfterSchool #ChildCareLeadership #OutOfSchoolCare #ECELeadership

Hard Conversations, Real Connections: A New Lens on Supporting Families

🌟 Episode Overview In this episode of The Forgotten ECE, Jamie sits down with Jenny Nechvatal — educator, author, and parent advocate — to explore one of the most challenging and impactful parts of our work: having hard conversations with families. With over 30 years in early childhood education and 22 years of lived experience parenting children with disabilities, Jenny brings a powerful dual perspective that challenges educators to rethink how we approach communication with families. This conversation is especially important for those working in before and after school programs, where time is limited, relationships are complex, and difficult conversations often feel rushed or avoided altogether. * Why hard conversations feel so difficult for educators * Why families may avoid or fear these conversations * The emotional realities families experience — especially around diagnosis and support * How an educator’s approach can either build trust or create distance * Understanding Autism and sensory processing in everyday practice * Shifting from “delivering information” to building relationships * Practical strategies to approach conversations with confidence and care * Why these conversations directly impact outcomes for children * Perspective changes everything — understanding the parent experience transforms how we communicate * Avoidance is often rooted in fear, not resistance * Timing, language, and tone matter more than we think * Relationships come before recommendations * Small shifts in approach can lead to significantly better outcomes for children and families Jenny Nechvatal holds a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood and has worked in the early childhood sector for over 30 years in both teaching and management roles. Her work is deeply shaped by her lived experience as a parent of two children who live with disabilities. This perspective led her to write: 📘 Embracing Disability in Early Childhood – Supporting Children Living with a Disability and Their Families in Early Childhood Settings Jenny now facilitates workshops for educators and families, helping build inclusive environments and strengthening communication between educators and families through empathy, knowledge, and practical strategies. When educators feel confident having difficult conversations, families feel supported — and children benefit. This episode is a reminder that how we communicate is just as important as what we communicate. 📧 Email: ⁠idsenquiries@outlook.com [idsenquiries@outlook.com]⁠ 📘 Book: Embracing Disability in Early Childhood 🎤 Workshops: Available for educators and families If this episode resonated with you: ⭐ Follow the podcast ⭐ Share with a fellow educator ⭐ Tag us and let us know your biggest takeaway Hard conversations don’t have to feel like conflict. With the right lens, they can become moments of connection, understanding, and meaningful support for the children and families we serve every day.

Ready to Learn, Ready to Play: Sensory Regulation in Before & After School Programs with Megan Dorssers of Discover and Play

What happens after the school day ends? In this episode of The Forgotten ECE, I sit down with Megan from Discover and Play to talk about something we don’t talk about enough in school-age programs — sensory needs, emotional regulation and designing programs for neurodivergence. We dive into: ✨ Why sensory play isn’t just for early years — it’s essential for school-age children ✨ How to support emotional regulation and self-calming in before and after school programs ✨ Creating inclusive environments where every child can feel successful and seen ✨ Simple, realistic sensory strategies you can start using right away This conversation is a powerful reminder that school readiness isn’t just academic — it’s emotional, social, and deeply connected to how children feel in their bodies. 💛 Connect with Megan: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discover_and_play/ [https://www.instagram.com/discover_and_play/] YouTube: Discover and Play [https://www.youtube.com/@DiscoverandPlay-m1p] Book: https://a.co/d/0idxHycS [https://a.co/d/0idxHycS] Connect with Megan on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@DiscoverandPlay-m1p [https://youtube.com/@DiscoverandPlay-m1p] If you’re working in before and after-school programs, this episode will challenge you to rethink what children really need to thrive. 🎧 Listen now and let’s keep advocating for the children and educators who are too often forgotten. #TheForgottenECE #SchoolAgeCare #BeforeAndAfterSchool #ECE #EmotionalRegulation #SensoryPlay #InclusionMatters

The Inclusion Gap in School Age and Summer Camp Program

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Forgotten ECE, Miss Jamie is pulling back the curtain on the "3:00 PM Cliff"—the exact moment when provincial support for children with diverse abilities vanishes, leaving Before and After School (BASC) educators and summer camp leaders stranded. We’re diving deep into the systemic exclusion that tells 1 in 10 families their child is "too diverse" for community programming. Why is a child entitled to support at 2:59 PM but expected to navigate a loud, high-sensory gym alone at 3:01 PM? In this episode, we discuss: * The "Magic Act": How funding models pretend diverse abilities disappear when the school bell rings. * Jet Fuel vs. Joint Support: A spicy reality check on provincial spending—if there's a budget for private jets, there's a budget for our kids. * The Continuity of Care Revolution: Why the "Seamless Day" model is the only way to provide professional dignity to ECEs and emotional safety to children. * The Mandated Bridge: Why "hand-offs" shouldn't feel like a game of telephone. Call to Action: It’s time to stop being "forgotten." Miss Jamie shares how you can take this fight to your MPP to demand portable funding and systemic change. Special Announcement: Ready to bring the fun back to your practice? Miss Jamie introduces Camp North of Ordinary, a retreat for RECEs and Recreational Leaders designed to help you reclaim your confidence, find relief from burnout, and master the art of real, neurodiversity-affirming inclusion. Show Notes & Resources: * Stat of the Week: 1 in 10 parents of children with diverse abilities are denied care due to a lack of resources. * Get Involved: * Find your MPP: Use the Ontario MPP Directory [https://www.ola.org/en/members/current/contact-information] to get your representative's email. * Send the Letter: Copy and paste our pre-written advocacy letter found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UQoNnmE_YliwEJjgi_jYg1sU-3JpCPTonbzMj8CwrLw/edit?usp=sharing [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UQoNnmE_YliwEJjgi_jYg1sU-3JpCPTonbzMj8CwrLw/edit?usp=sharing] * Share: Once you’ve sent it, tag @TheForgottenECE on socials so we can track the movement! * Join the Movement: Register for the next Camp North of Ordinary retreat: https://www.missjamieconsulting.com/campnorth [https://www.missjamieconsulting.com/campnorth] * Follow Miss Jamie: * www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-lee-wagler-871773165 [http://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-lee-wagler-871773165] * https://www.instagram.com/missjamie_rece/ [https://www.instagram.com/missjamie_rece/] Keywords: #TheForgottenECE #BASC #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Neurodiversity #Inclusion #SeamlessDay #OntarioEducation #ECEBurnout #CampNorthOfOrdinary

When Language Feels Like a Barrier: Supporting Bilingual Children in School-Age Spaces with Dr. Yarden Kedar

In this episode of The Forgotten ECE Podcast, Jamie sits down with developmental psychologist and EdTech innovator Yarden Kedar to explore what it really feels like for bilingual children entering English-speaking environments. Drawing from both his research and personal experience as a parent, Yarden shares powerful insights into the social and emotional challenges children face in their first months of language transition — from navigating friendships to expressing identity without words. Together, they unpack: * What educators often miss when supporting bilingual children * The hidden emotional load of language acquisition * How gestures, relationships, and environment shape belonging * Practical ways educators can create safer, more inclusive spaces This conversation is a must-listen for anyone working in before and after school programs — where communication goes far beyond language, and connection is everything.