Licensed home child care

Individual home child care providers are not licensed by the Ministry of Education. They are contracted by home child care agencies that are licensed by the ministry.

These providers may care for:

  • infants
  • toddlers
  • preschool aged children
  • school aged children

They may offer:

  • full-day care
  • before and after school care
  • extended hours
  • overnight care

Home child care agencies also oversee child care providers who offer parents in-home child care services.

An individual home child care provider that is overseen by a licensed agency can care for up to six children under the age of 13, which must include any of their own children under the age of four. Only three of these children can be younger than two years old.

All licensed child care centres, home child care agencies and child care providers that are overseen by a licensed home child care agency have a decal on display that says that they are licensed. Private residences that provide in-home services will not have a decal.

Benefits

Home child care allows for:

  • government-regulated and inspected homes that meet specific standards
  • siblings to be placed together
  • small group size
  • child care fee subsidies that may be available
  • standards that must be met by providers

Licensed home child care agencies also provide professional development, support and monitoring for home child care providers.

Home visitors

Home visitors work for licensed home child care agencies. They screen and monitor home providers that are overseen by a licensed agency. A home visitor must be either:

  • a member in good standing of the College of Early Childhood Educators, with at least two years of experience working with children under 13 years old
  • approved by a director, who is an employee of the Ministry of Education

They check that a home is safe before children are enrolled and conduct routine inspections to ensure providers are following provincial rules and the agency's policies and procedures.

Home visitors can also help families find a home child care provider who meets their needs and is overseen by a licensed agency.

Examples of ways home visitors can help providers include:

  • developing programs for children at different stages of development
  • providing advice about nutritious meal planning
  • helping choose toys and equipment that are safe and suitable

Inspections

The Ministry of Education inspects licensed home child care agencies, and some home child care locations, at least once a year to ensure they meet specific provincial health, safety and program standards.

Licensed child care centres

Licensed child care centres can care for:

  • infants
  • toddlers
  • preschool aged children

They may include:

  • nurseries
  • full-day care
  • extended hours care
  • overnight care
  • before and after school programs

Child care centres operate in a variety of locations including workplaces, community centres, schools and places of worship.

As of March 31, 2022 there were 5,545 child care centres and about 472,997 licensed child care spaces in Ontario.

Benefits

Licensed child care centres:

  • are government-regulated and inspected
  • allow children to be with other children their age
  • hire qualified educators
  • have to meet certain standards of care
  • have activities designed for children at different stages of development
  • may have child care fee subsidies available

Inspections

The Ministry of Education inspects child care centres at least once a year to ensure they meet specific provincial health, safety and program standards.

Before and after school care

Where there is sufficient demand and/or viability, schools that offer kindergarten to grade six must also offer before and after school programs. These programs complement the regular school day with a mix of exploration, guided independent activities, quiet times and outdoor play.

School boards may:

  • operate before and after school programs directly
  • enter into a third-party agreement with a licensed child care centre or an authorized recreational and skill building program to operate the program

Unlicensed child care

Unlicensed child care providers are not inspected by the Ministry of Education and are not required to meet most provincial standards. However, the Ministry of Education does investigate complaints from the public about child care providers who may be operating illegally.

Under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014, unlicensed child care providers are not allowed to care for more than five children, which includes:

  • the provider's own children under the age of four
  • no more than three children under the age of two

This limit on the number of children applies regardless of how many adults are present at the home.

Unlicensed providers may not operate at multiple premises and must disclose to parents in writing that they are not licensed.