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Child care employee sitting at a table with children.

Operating a Child Care Centre

HomeLiving HereEarly Learning and Child CareOperating a Child Care Centre
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Early Learning and Child Care for Operators

The Children’s Services Division is the service system manager for early learning and child care in Durham Region. We continue to work with the Durham Region Health Department and the Ministry of Education to ensure the safe operation of licensed child care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, we continue to provide operators with helpful information and resources on, such as the Reopening Toolkit.

Select the “Receive email updates” button at the bottom of this page to be notified of updates.

New Licensee Canada Wide Child Care and Early Learning system expansion

As announced in December, the Ministry of Education is committing funds to support the expansion of child care across the province as part of the federal / provincial Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) agreement.

The Ministry of Education has provided Municipalities with guidance and targets for expansion, with a regional expansion plan to be submitted in late January 2023. 

The Region of Durham, as the Child Care and Early Years Service System Manager for Durham Region is currently finalizing our expansion plan and will be ready to provide direction to current and potential licensees once the plan is finalized and approved.

Please watch our web site for updates.   Thank you for your interest in opening a child care centre in the Region of Durham.

Children's Services Early Learning Updates

The Children’s Services Division is committed to keeping licensed child care operators apprised of changes impacting licensed child care services in Durham Region. See below for the most recent Early Learning updates. Current licenses can access previous editions in the Operator Portal.

  • Early learning update - December 16, 2022
  • Early learning update - December 5, 2022
  • Early learning update - November 16, 2022
    • What is the Entry to School Integrated Service Model
  • Early learning update - October 14, 2022
  • Early learning update - September 15, 2022

Operating licensed child care

Opening a child care centre 
The Ministry of Education looks after licensing new child care centres. You can find information about licensing a new child care centre on the Ministry of Education website.

The Region of Durham Children's Services Division (CSD) is the service system manager for child care in Durham Region. We look after system planning to make sure families have access to affordable, quality child care spaces across Durham Region. This includes oversight of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) System and Fee Subsidy (subsidized) child care spaces. All licensed child care operators are eligible to apply for enrolment into the CWELCC system. To be able to offer fee subsidy spaces, licensed child care operators must enter into a purchase of service agreement with CSD by completing the Purchase of Service - Fee Subsidy application process. 

All staff working in licensed child care in Durham Region may access professional learning opportunities through Resources for Child Care Professionals. Licensed child care centres are able to seek access to Special Needs Resourcing agency support to help create inclusive child care environments for children with special needs and concerns in child care. 

All child care operators are eligible to enrol in the CWELCC upon opening and may apply for Wage Enhancement funding for their staff after they have been in operation for at least two months. 

For more information, please email ChildCareOperators@Durham.ca.

 Wage Enhancement
On December 15, 2016, the Ministry of Education gave­­­­ direction to The Regional Municipality of Durham to roll out the Wage Enhancement Program in Durham Region.

To get more information, go to the Ministry of Education website.

The Ministry of Education's wage enhancement goals and focus are to:

  • Close the gap between Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) wages in the school boards and licensed child care programs.

  • Help licensed child care operators keep RECEs and child care staff.

  • Change the present child care system, so parents and children get quality child care service to support children's learning and development.

  • Strengthen the licensed home child care system.

These were essential considerations used to develop the process and expectations set out by the Region of Durham.

 

We will support operators with the application process. Operators must apply every year to get this funding. If an operator does not complete the application the operator's organization will not receive an allocation. All operators must submit a Wage Enhancement Attestation form in December to continue to receive monthly payments to pay employees.

New operators wanting to apply for funding can contact the Wage Enhancement Team by email WageEnhancement@durham.ca and request an application.

If you need help, you can contact the Wage Enhancement Team by email WageEnhancement@durham.ca.

Please note: individuals may not apply. Individuals asking about their share of wage enhancement must fill in the Wage Enhancement Inquiry form.

 Purchase of Service- Fee Subsidy application process
The Children's Services Division approves or denies new Fee Subsidy Purchase of Service Agreement applications in Durham based on quality and strong community need. This allows the Children's Services Division to make sure that growth of the child care system is well planned, ensuring equitable access to fee subsidy spaces and supporting a stable child care sector.  The most important thing is that children and families in Durham have good quality, safe, child care and early learning programs.

Currently, the Region of Durham Children's Services Division has a moratorium on new Purchase of Service agreements during the transition to the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system and to support a stable COVID-19 pandemic recovery. Exceptions to this moratorium occur only when a strong community need for spaces in a neighbourhood has been identified. 

As the child care sector recovers from the impacts of the pandemic, and as the first phase of the CWELCC system implementation nears completion, the moratorium will be reviewed and lifted as appropriate. 

Operators can contact the Children's Services Division, Early Learning Team to indicate interest in obtaining a Fee Subsidy Purchase of Service. Should community need arise, those operators who indicated an interest will be contacted according to the date of contact. Please email the Early Learning Team at ChildCareOperators@Durham.ca for more information on expression of interest. 

Once community need is established, the Fee Subsidy Purchase of Service application process requires a child care operator to have a clear license with the Ministry of Education for at least six months. If these factors are met, an application will be forwarded to the operator. Once the application is received, a budget check and Quality Assurance inspection of the site will occur and a full review will take place to determine if a Purchase of Service Agreement will be granted. The full process can take up to one year to complete. A letter will be sent to the operator with the result.

 

The Durham Region Fee Subsidy Payment Policy is available for more information.

 General Operating Program (GOP)

In 2013, the Ministry of Education released a new funding model for Consolidated Municipal Service Managers (CMSMs) based on information about the community. The Ministry's aim was for CMSMs to change the wage subsidy processes into a GOP. Durham Region's goal was to use community input and research when developing the GOP. Until the provincial budget is announced in spring 2019, GOP will continue to be paid to operators based on 2018 allocations. 

Licensed child care centres and home child care agencies, that are approved for a Purchase of Service Fee Subsidy Service Agreement in Durham, qualify for the General Operating Program.

  • General Operating Program information
  • General Operating Policy
 Durham Region's Operating Criteria (DROC)

 

 Infant
  • Guidelines | Lignes directrices
  • Assessment | Évaluation
 Toddler
  • Guidelines | Lignes directrices
  • Assessment | Évaluation
 Preschool
  • Guidelines | Lignes directrices
  • Assessment | Évaluation
 Before and After School
  •  Assessment | Évaluation 
 Playground
  • Guidelines | Lignes directrices
  • Assessment | Évaluation
 Nutrition
  • Guidelines | Lignes directrices
  • Assessment | Évaluation

 

  • Administration Review | Examen des procédures administratives
  • Attendance Audit Form | Formulaire de vérification de la fréquentation
  • Financial Management Review | Examen de la gestion financière
  • Governance Review: Commercial operators | Examen de la gouvernance: Exploitations commerciales
  • Governance Review: Not-for-profit operators | Examen de la gouvernance: Entités sans but lucratif
  • Leadership Review | Évaluation du leadership
  • Measurement Information | Processus de mesure de la qualité
  • Policies and Procedures (P&P) Review Form | Formulaire d'examen des politiques et des procédures
 Special Purpose Funding opportunities

2022 Special Purpose Funding application forms are now available. Applications will be reviewed and processed following the re-opening of the child care sites.

  • 2022 Funding Application Guide
  • 2022 Funding Application Form - Health & Safety / Toys & Equipment / Transformation
  • 2022 Capacity Building Funding - Request for Training
 Forms and fee subsidy payment policy
  • Serious Occurrence report
  • Accessibility for Ontarians information sheet
  • Certificate of Insurance form
  • Fee Subsidy payment policy

Durham Region Health Department inspection information

The Health Department inspects all licensed child care centres in Durham Region to prevent the spread of illness. We provide information, control outbreaks and respond to complaints.

Check&GO! logo

 Online inspection results are here!

Child care centre inspection reports

Durham Notice of Inspection Disclosure By-law

Application package for child care centres (new or altered spaces)

You can fill out and submit an application for new programs or altered spaces in your child care centre.

Child care centre application

Child care educational resources

Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Online Learning Module

Child care staff can support their education on infection prevention and control through the IPAC Online Learning Module.

The learning module has information about:

  • Chain of transmission
  • Risk assessment
  • Hand hygiene
  • Hygiene and disinfection practices
  • Environmental controls
  • Outbreak management
Access the learning module
If you have not registered with Adobe Connect:
Register here
If you have already registered an account with Adobe Connect:

Log into the module

Download instructions

Minimum system requirements
  • A computer with Internet access is required to access the IPAC module. Each chapter may take three to five minutes to load. Please be patient.
  • Flash Player 10 or higher is required to view the IPAC module.
  • The IPAC module contains audio narration; it is recommended that you turn on your computer's speakers, or wear headphones if you are in a shared environment. 

Wee Care Manual

Wee Care Manual Survey Results

The Wee Care Manual is an educational resource provided by the Health Department to all licensed child care centres for all of your centre's day-to-day needs.

If your centre doesn't have a manual, please contact your area public health inspector.

The manual has information about:

  • Infection control and outbreak management
  • Immunization
  • Infectious diseases
  • Safe environment
  • Healthy lifestyle
  • Related fact sheets
Infection control practices
Use these guides for preventing the spread of germs in your centre and to help your staff follow correct infection control practices:
  • Infection prevention measures for pedagogical approach | Mesures de prévention et de contrôle des infections l'approche pédagogique
  • Cleaning of blood or body fluid spill | Nettoyer un écoulement de sang ou de liquid organique
  • Diapering procedure | Changer une couche
  • Toileting routine | Habitudes d'élimination
  • Cover your cough | Restreignez votre toux
  • Water play safety | Consignes de sécurité concernant les jeux d'eau
  • Tooth brushing
Outbreak management and reporting in child care settings

Experiencing an outbreak or suspected outbreak in a child care setting

Outbreaks or suspected outbreaks must be reported to the health department immediately.

Report an outbreak in a child care setting

If this online reporting form is not available, please contact the Durham Health Connection Line. For after-hours public health emergencies, please call 905-576-9991 and ask to speak to the public health inspector on call.

Use the following resources to prevent outbreaks and to detect when they occur:

  • Outbreak control package for child care centres
  • Pre-outbreak checklist
  • Flu prevention guide | Guide de prévention de la grippe
  • Outbreak sign | Flambée de la maladie
  • Illness surveillance form
  • Outbreak line listing template (XLSX)
Keeping hands clean

You can stop the spread of germs and reduce your risk of getting sick by keeping your hands clean.

  • Facts about handwashing
  • Handwashing steps | Bien sa laver les mains
  • Hand sanitizing steps | Les désinfectants pour les mains

Keeping hands clean video

Cleaning and disinfection

You can reduce the spread of germs and illness in your centre with regular cleaning and disinfection.

Use the resources below to make sure you are cleaning and disinfecting correctly:

  • Cleaning and disinfection using bleach | Nettoyage et désinfection dans les garderies de jour

  • Cleaning and disinfecting schedule | Calendrier de nettoyage et de désinfection service de garde á l'enfance
  • Dilution calculator for bleach
Animals and child care centres

Animals can offer a valuable learning experience, but can also expose children and staff to infections and injuries, and are a source of allergens.

Children can develop infections from animals. Younger children, under age five, are at a higher risk.

  • Animals not recommended | Animaux dans un service de garde
  • Supporting resource | ressource d’qppui
  • Recommendations for the management of animals in child care settings
  • Visiting animals in public settings
Wee Care newsletter

The Wee Care newsletter is designed specifically for operators and staff of licensed child care centres in Durham Region, to provide information and resource material to help in their daily operation. This newsletter is published twice a year.

  • Fall/Winter 2022
  • Spring/Summer 2022
  • Fall/Winter 2021
  • Spring/Summer 2021
  • Fall/Winter 2020
  • Fall/Winter 2019
  • Spring/Summer 2019

Learn more about submission guidelines.

Other resources

Guidelines for infectious diseases reporting and exclusion

  • Food safety
  • Immunization
  • Lead in drinking water
  • Playground safety

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) application

If your licensed child care centre requires additional personal protective equipment (PPE), please submit a completed PPE application form.

Rapid Antigen Test Kits

The Ministry of Education continues to provide rapid antigen test kits for distribution to community-based child care operators. To receive a replenishment of kits, please contact your quality assurance advisor or Janine Keith at Janine.Keith@durham.ca. 

Financial Supports during the COVID-19 pandemic

The Children's Services Division encourages licensed child care operators and providers to visit Invest Durham for updated financial support information. This website includes a variety of government and non-government funding programs, as well as links to funding, calculators, financial resources, and business supports.

Receive email updates

Contact Us

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101 Consumers Dr. Whitby, ON L1N 1C4
T.: 905-723-3818
Toll Free:: 1-888-777-9613
F.: 905-666-1887
Email Health Department


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