Provide child care and early years programs

Information for child care and early years providers and registered early childhood educators about operating home and centre-based child care, EarlyON child and family centres, day camps, recreation programs and before and after school programs.

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Rules for child care and early years programs

The Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 ( CCEYA ) establishes the rules for child care and early years programs and services in Ontario to:

Get started

Start a child care program

Use the child care licensing system

Operate a licensed child care program

Program requirements

Learn the rules for different kinds of children's programs.

Home-based child care

How many children are allowed in home child care

Find out how many children licensed home child care and unlicensed child care providers are allowed to care for.

Operate a licensed child care program

Professional learning resources

Centre-based child care

Operate a licensed child care program

Test yourself on the Child Care and Early Years Act

Professional learning resources

School programs, recreation programs and day camps

Before and after school programs

Recreation programs

Day camps

Help provide affordable child care

The Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care ( CWELCC ) Agreement is helping Ontario create a system to lower fees for families and increase spaces available for children aged 0 to 5.

If you are a licensed child care provider, you could be eligible for financial support to provide affordable child care programs in your community.

Early years

EarlyON Child and Family Centres

Early years accommodations in schools

Read the early years accommodations in schools reference guide. Get information about early years programs operating in schools, including accommodation costs, agreements and partnerships.

Early childhood educators

Early childhood educators qualifications upgrade program

Professional learning resources

Register with the College of Early Childhood Educators ( ECEs )

If you have an ECE qualification, and are planning, delivering and assessing play-based programs for children, you must register with the college of ECEs .

The Early Childhood Educators Act

Support children's emotional well-being

Engaging in responsive relationships and supporting children's emotional well-being is as important as ensuring their health and safety. How does learning happen? Ontario's pedagogy for the early years is a resource that focuses on learning and development through relationships, and outlines goals for children and expectations for programs based on the four foundations of belonging, wellbeing, engagement and expression. Building on How Does Learning Happen? Pedagogical Approaches to Re-opening Early Years and Child Care Programs in Ontario shares ideas, questions and lessons to consider during the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Annual reports

Early Years and Child Care Annual Reports describe the early years and child care system, including key data and measures for licensed child care and EarlyON Child and Family Centres.