The province announced Thursday it would shut down a private early education provider in Calgary following an inquiry that began late last year.

Big Plans for Little Kids Ltd., which provides early childhood services in Calgary, will no longer be funded by the Alberta government following an external review, the province said.

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Alberta Education launched an inquiry into the provider in late 2018. The governance and financial review was conducted by KPMG, which found Big Plans for Little Kids had misused government grant funds, breaching regulations and requirements set forth for receiving education grants.

“This, coupled with other issues, led to the rejection of their annual operating plan,” the province stated in a press release.

“As a result of findings from a third-party audit, Alberta Education will not allow Big Plans for Little Kids Ltd. to operate in the 2019-20 school year.”

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All private early childhood services operators must comply with financial requirements set forth by the provincial government.

“We are putting children first and doing the right things for the right reasons,” Education Minister Adriana LaGrange said in a statement.

“Alberta Education will work with parents of every child affected to ensure a smooth transition to other ECS operators for the 2019-20 school year, with as little impact as possible on the children. … Our government expects all ECS operators to use funds appropriately.”

The province said it has provided a list of alternative providers to affected parents. Funding which would have been used by Big Plans for Little Kids will follow the child to their new operator.