Find Quality Child Care

Licensed Centres/ Nursery Schools

• may be in a freestanding building or a separate facility within a school or community centre
• are licensed by the Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services and must meet requirements set out in the Day Nurseries Act and Regulation. They include staff/child ratios, staff qualifications, maximum group size, safety, discipline, nutrition, furnishings and equipment
• offer group care in a specially designed setting for infants and children up to the age of 12
• trained/experienced staff
• offer full day & part-time options including, nursery school, before and after school and school break programs
• are usually open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. but may have extended hours
• must comply with legislated staff/child ratios which vary by age:
  • Infants: 1 staff : 3 children
  • Toddlers: 1 : 5
  • Pre-school: 1 : 8
  • School age: 1 : 15

Licensed Home-Based Agency

• caregivers registered with a licensed agency and receive support, training and supervision
• homes visited a minimum of once every 3 months by agency and monitored for health, safety, and age-appropriate programming
• caregivers have current medical requirements and all family members over 18 have criminal reference checks

Unlicensed/Independent Home Care

• are expected to comply with the Day Nurseries Act and Regulation stipulating there can be no more than 5 children in care under the age of 10, at any one time, not including the caregiver's children
• caregiver not supervised or monitored