Finding Quality Child Care
Finding quality child care and children's programs in Durham Region
Licensed child care for infants, toddlers, pre-school, and school-aged children is offered in centres and homes across the region. The Region of Durham owns and operates seven early learning and child care centres, as well as provides support to more than 300 licensed child care centres.
The Children's Program Locator or the Child Care Directory may be used to find licensed care that meets your family's needs. A video to learn how to use both tools is also available.
Care Directory The Children's Program Locator
| How to use the Children's Program Locator and the Child Care Directory (video) |
Types of child care
There are a variety of child care opportunities within Durham Region. Families can choose from licensed child care centres, licensed home child care, before-school and after-school care, nursery school programs and unlicensed home child care.
More information on the types of child care and what to consider when looking for quality child care can be found on the Ministry of Education's website.
The Ministry of Education has rules for child care and inspects all licensed home child care and licensed child care centres. Additionally, many licensed child care centres in Durham Region must meet Durham Region's Operating Criteria. These quality assurance assessments rank rooms as exceeding, meeting, or not meeting expectations.
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.
Recreation programs are also available to families, including in schools. While rules for recreation programs are established under the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA), 2014, these programs are not considered child care, do not require a licence, and are not regulated in the same way as licensed child care. For more information, consult Recreation programs, what parents and providers need to know.
Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system
In 2022, the Ontario government reached a deal with the federal government to lower child care fees for families in Ontario through the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system. The Region of Durham, as the service system manager for early learning and child care in Durham Region, continues to work with the Ministry of Education to implement the system.
On June 6, the CWELCC application was opened for enrolment. Licensed child care providers have the option to apply to participate in the system and must notify The Region of Durham of their intent to do so by September 1, 2022. Providers must also notify eligible families of their intention within two weeks of notifying The Region of Durham. We expect participating providers to be ready to give refunds this fall.
If you have any questions about whether your child care provider plans to apply for the CWELCC, please reach out to them directly.
More information about the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system can be found on the provincial website and in the frequently asked questions below.
| Frequently asked questions |
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Am I eligible for reduced fees under the CWELCC? You may be eligible if:
The amount that you will save depends on the current fees your child care provider charges. Parents or guardians of children do not have to apply to receive a child care fee reduction. When can I expect to see further fee reductions? Eligible families will see a 50 per cent fee reduction on average by the end of December 2022, further fee reductions in 2024, and a final fee reduction to an average of $10-a-day child care in September 2025. How do I know if my licensed child care provider has enrolled in the CWELCC system? Licensed child care providers are required to notify The Region of Durham and the Ministry of Education of their intent to apply to enrol in the CWELCC system by September 1, 2022. Providers must notify families of eligible children within 14 days of notifying the Region of Durham. What happens after my licensed child care provider notifies me of their enrolment in the CWELCC system? Once a licensed child care provider has notified families of their enrolment into the CWELCC system, they must reduce their fees for eligible families within 31 days. Within 60 days, all eligible families will receive a rebate retroactive to April 1, 2022 (or the date that a license was issued if after April 1, 2022). What if my licensed child care provider does not enrol in the CWELCC system? Notification of a provider's decision not to enrol in the CWELCC system must be provided to the Region of Durham and the Ministry of Education by September 1, 2022. Providers must also notify existing families of children under six of their decision. Fees will not be reduced, however, your provider must continue to follow the rules and requirements for operating a licensed child care program. Families will have 30 days to provide 30 days’ notice of withdrawal with no penalty if they so choose. What will my reduction in child care costs be? The amount you will save depends on the current fees that you pay for your eligible children. The initial reduction will be 25 per cent of your current rate, to a minimum of $12 per day, retroactive to April 1, 2022. The provincial goal for an average of $10-a-day child care is anticipated for September 2025. What if I was receiving child care fee subsidy? The Ontario child care fee subsidy program will continue to be available for families who are eligible for financial support. The amount you will pay depends on your family’s income test and your child’s age. For more information on fee subsidy or how to apply for support, visit the Child Care Fee Help (subsidy) Will I still be eligible for the child care tax credit? The Ontario Child Care Tax Credit program will continue to be in effect for eligible families. Where can I find more information about the CWELCC system? |
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 health and safety requirements within licensed child care centres and home child care agencies in Durham Region. Operators and educators have maintained welcoming inclusive environments that promote a sense of belonging, well-being, expression, and engagement for children of all ages.
Individuals should continue to self-screen each day before attending child care. The provincial COVID-19 school and child care screening tool may be used.
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