Operating a Child Care Centre

You can find information about opening a child care centre on the Ministry of Education website.

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 or by phone at 1-800-387-0642 ext. 3782 and request an application.

If you need help, you can contact the Wage Enhancement Team by email WageEnhancement@durham.ca or by phone at 1-800-387-0642 ext. 3782.

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

On January 1, 2018, the Fair Workplace Better Jobs Act, 2017 came into effect. The Ministry of Education provided funding to the Consolidated Municipal Service Managers (CMSMs) to support licensed child care operators with employees currently earning less than $14 an hour. The objective of the Fee Stabilization Support funding was to increase wages and stabilize licensed child care fees in Ontario.

In November 2018 the Making Ontario Open for Business Act became law, repealing or adjusting much of the Fair Workplaces Better Jobs Act.

Details on funding allocations are expected after the announcement of the provincial budget in spring 2019. We will share funding information as it is made available.  

The Children's Services Division approves or denies new Purchase of Service Agreement applications in Durham based on quality and strong community need. This allows Children's Services to make sure that growth of the child care system is well planned. 

The most important thing is that children and families in Durham have good quality, safe, child care and early learning programs.

Operators can contact the Children's Services, Early Learning Team to enquire about a Purchase of Service. Please call the Early Learning Secretary for assistance at 906-668-4113 ext. 2691.

Before moving ahead with the Purchase of Service application process, the Children's Services Division will consider factors such as community need and if the child care operator has had 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 a year to complete. We will send a letter to the operator with the result.

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

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

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

The Region of Durham, Children's Services Division offers additional funding to support child care operators. View our Funding Application Guide to see what type you can apply for.

• Funding Application Guide
• Funding Application - Health & Safety / Toys & Equipment / Transformation
• Funding Application - Backfill Costs (Capacity Building)
• Funding Application - Request for Training (Capacity Building)

• Serious Occurrence report
• Accessibility for Ontarians information sheet
• MFIPPA form
• Certificate of Insurance form
• Fee Subsidy payment policy

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

• Child care review application
• Diapering policy statement
• Blueprint/plan checklist
• Food premises questionnaire

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

The Child Care IPAC Online Learning Module is currently being evaluated.  Stay tuned for a summary report.  The evaluation will help to improve the module and a revised module will be launched in the coming months.  Thank you for your feedback.

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

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

Experiencing an outbreak

Call the Health Department to report if there is a higher number of sick children in your centre, or if you think your centre is having an outbreak.

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

• Pre-outbreak checklist
• Flu prevention guide | Guide de prévention de la grippe
• Outbreak sign | Flambée de la maladie
• Illness surveillance form
• Outbreak line listing form

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

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 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
• Supporting resource
• Recommendations for the management of animals in child care settings
• Visiting animals in public settings

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.

• View the latest edition
• Spring/Summer 2019
• Fall/Winter 2018

Learn more about submission guidelines.

Other resources

Guidelines for infectious diseases reporting and exclusion

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