Finding Quality Child Care
Child care
COVID-19 infection prevention and control in child care
The Children's Services Division is committed to working alongside the Durham Region Health Department and Ministry of Education to support enhanced health and safety requirements within licensed child care centres and home child care agencies in Durham Region.
Licensed child care operators have implemented stringent health and safety protocols as guided by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health. Multiple protection strategies are implemented to protect children, educators, visitors, and families. These strategies include Vaccination protocols for educators and frequent visitors, daily screening, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, requirement to wear personal protective equipment by educators and visitors, exceptional hand hygiene practices, physical distancing, cohorting, and implementing activities to reduce sharing of toys and equipment. Operators and educators have maintained welcoming inclusive environments that promote a sense of belonging, well-being, expression, and engagement for children of all ages.
Daily screening tool
To help determine whether your child or you (as a visitor or staff member) may enter a licensed child care centre, please complete the Durham Region Daily Screening for Licensed Child Care.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
During this time of uncertainty, we know families have many questions. This section helps provide answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about licensed child care. For questions specific to schools, please review the Schools Reopening Toolkit.
| COVID-19 and child care |
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What type of safety measures have been put into place? All licensed child care centres and licensed home child care agencies have signed attestations with the Ministry of Education to ensure strict health and safety measures have been put into place. These measures include:
How has COVID-19 impacted the quality of programming? Licensed child care providers in Durham Region are committed to providing high-quality services to children ages birth to 12 years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has altered some daily operations, the quality of programs remain unchanged. Children are viewed as curious, competent, and rich in potential of achieving their best with their development fostered by their Registered Early Childhood Educators. Throughout this pandemic, educators are committed to delivering high-quality programming, aligned to Ontario's approach to early learning called How Does Learning Happen? |
| Screening and testing for COVID-19 |
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What are the most common symptoms of COVID-19 in children?
Other symptoms of COVID-19 in children include sore throat, rhinorrhea (runny nose), nasal congestion (stuffy nose), abdominal pain, headache and conjunctivitis and decreased or lack of appetite. Do I have to complete a screening every day? Yes. In accordance with the directive from the Ministry of Education and the Durham Region Health Department, you must complete a screening every day before arriving at child care. What if my child develops symptoms while attending child care? All parents are required to complete a daily self-screen for their child before arrival at their child care centre or home. If a child experiences any symptoms of COVID-19 while in child care, the following steps are taken:
When can my child return to child care? The guidance on when your child can return to care depends on their symptoms and advice from a health care professional. Please follow the advice on the Durham Region child care screen tool for further guidance. Can siblings of a child with COVID-19 symptoms attend child care? Siblings may not attend child care unless they are asymptomatic, fully vaccinated, and it has been at least 14 days since they received their final dose. Any unvaccinated siblings must, therefore, stay at home until the child showing symptoms tests negative, is cleared by the Durham Region Health Department or is diagnosed with another illness. My child was tested for COVID-19 and we are waiting for results. They no longer have symptoms. Can they go to child care? No. In accordance with the Durham Region Health Department directive, you child must self-isolate from others while waiting for their test results. All household contacts are also required to stay at home until your child tests negative, is cleared by Durham Region Health Department, or is diagnosed with another illness, unless the household contact is fully vaccinated and it has been at least 14 days since their final dose. Do I need to provide a doctor's note in order to return to child care after having symptoms and/or COVID-19? No. The Ministry of Education and the Durham Region Health Department do no require parents to provide a medical note or proof of negative result for a child to return to child care. My child's room has been closed and they are required to isolate. Does their sibling have to isolate too? Siblings of high-risk contacts who have COVID-19 symptoms are required to isolate and cannot attend child care or school until otherwise directed by the Durham Regional Health Department, unless they are fully vaccinated, and it has been at least 14 days since their final dose. Siblings can return to child care or school only when the symptomatic child tests negative, is cleared by the Health Department, or is diagnosed with another illness from a health care provider. If the high risk contact does not have symptoms of COVID-19, siblings can attend child care or school.
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| Positive cases of COVID-19 in child care |
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What if there's one positive case in my child's child care? Licensed child care operators and agencies work closely with the Durham Region Health Department on a regular basis. If there is a positive case at the child care centre, the health department will work in collaboration with the child care centre to identify exposed individuals, ensure they are excluded as required and get tested, as appropriate. Additional measures may include enhanced cleaning and disinfection, close monitoring of children for symptoms of illness, etc. What is considered an outbreak? An outbreak is declared when a cluster of ill children and/or staff with respiratory or enteric symptoms occur. A COVID-19 outbreak is declared when two or more laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in children, staff/providers or other visitors is identified. In both situations the ill individuals must be epidemiologically linked (e.g. cases in the same room) where at least one case could have reasonably acquired their infection in the child care setting. How is an outbreak managed in a child care centre? Your child care centre works closely with the Durham Region Health Department to ensure all necessary health and safety measures are in place to protect the child care community. Depending on the assessment conducted by the Health Department, there may be child care closures ranging from a single room up to a full centre closure. Additional control measures during an outbreak may include:
How will I know if my child can attend the child care centre during a COVID-19 outbreak? Your child care centre will notify you if your child's room or the centre will be closed. Anyone identified as a close contact of the positive case of COVID-19 will be advised to leave the child care centre and to self-isolate at home unless they are fully vaccinated, and it has been at least 14 days since their final dose. The Durham Region Health Department will follow-up with all identified contacts for further assessment and provide recommendations for testing. How do I know when the COVID-19 outbreak is over? The Durham Region Health Department will work closely with your child care centre to manage the outbreak. The outbreak will be resolved when:
Where can I find more about positive cases and outbreaks in Durham's child care? The Durham Region COVID-19 Data Tracker provides regularly updated information on the status of COVID-19 outbreaks in Durham Region schools and child care centres. |
| Educators and visitors |
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What happens when an educator or visitor develops symptoms of COVID-19? All staff and visitors within licensed child care are required to complete a daily self-screen. If the individual has a symptom of COVID-19 they must follow the guidance as outlined by the Durham Region Health Department, which may include seeking advice from a healthcare provider and getting tested for COVID-19. Exceptions apply to anyone who received their COVID-19 vaccination within the past 48 hours and is experiencing mild headache, fatigue, muscle aches and/or joint pain that only began after vaccination. Are parents allowed in the child care centres? With the approval of the licensed child care operator a parent may enter the program. In this case, the parent must complete the self-screen, wear appropriate personal protective equipment, and log their time in and out of the centre. What kind of personal protective equipment are educators required to wear? All educators in licensed child care centres and home are required to wear medical masks when indoors. Medical masks are also required to be worn outdoors if two metres of distance from others cannot be maintained. Eye protection (i.e. face shields or goggles) is required for educators who come within two metres of an unmasked individual both indoors and outdoors.
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| Children and masks |
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Does my child have to wear a mask? All children in grades one and above are required to wear a non-medical mask or face covering while inside a child care setting, including in hallways. All younger children (aged two to SK) are encouraged but not required to wear a non-medical mask or face covering while inside a child care setting, including in hallways. Masks are not required outdoors. Masks are not recommended for children under the age of two. Who will supply my child with a mask? Parents/guardians are responsible for providing their child(ren) with a non-medical mask(s) or face covering each day. Remember that if children are wearing masks, they will be required to store their masks while not in use. Parents are also responsible for laundering their child's mask after each use. What if my child cannot wear a mask? Please inform your child care supervisor as soon as possible if your child cannot wear a mask due to a medical condition, religious belief, or other known cause. Your child care provider is required to document these exemptions within their COVID-19 policies. There are resources available for parents to help encourage the use of masks in children. |
Finding quality child care and children's programs for your child in Durham Region.
Licensed child care for infants, toddlers, pre-school and school-aged children is offered in centres and homes across the region. Durham Region owns and operates seven early learning and child care centres, as well as provides support to more than 200 licensed child care centres. Use the Children's Program Locator or the Child Care Directory to find licensed care that meets your family's needs.
Child Care Directory The Children's Program Locator
Watch the video below to learn how to use the Children’s Program Locator or Child Care Directory to find licensed care that meets your family’s needs.
When you're looking for a child care, there are some common questions to ask the child care provider.
Here are some tips to help your child get ready for child care.
The Ontario Ministry of Education has rules for child care, and inspects all licensed home child care and licensed child care centres.
Many licensed child care centres in Durham Region must meet Durham Region's Operating Criteria (DROC). These assessments rank rooms as exceeding, meeting or not meeting expectations.
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