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High-Quality Early Years and Child Care

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Page Summary

Learn about the importance of high-quality child care and the positive impact that early childhood educators have on children, their families, and the economic growth of the Region.

Child care factsheet

Thumbnail of the high-quality licensed child care factsheet.

Download the high-quality licensed child care factsheet (external PDF) for more information about how early childhood educators (ECEs) help build a strong foundation for child development and well-being.

Importance of high quality early years and child care

High-quality licensed child care provides Ontario’s children with safe, responsive, and caring interactions that build a strong foundation for development and well-being. Studies show that children who participate in high-quality learning environments experience increased cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development. Participation in high-quality learning environments, can benefit children with:

  • Improved physical and mental well-being
  • Decreased chronic health problems
  • Increased self confidence
  • Improved outcomes in literacy, math and science
  • Higher rates of completing high-school
  • Increased conflict resolutions skills

How Early Childhood Educators are making a difference

Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) shine a light on the path to a bright future. They provide Ontario’s children with safe, responsive, and caring interactions that build a strong foundation for their development and well-being.

Using their extensive knowledge of learning and child development, ECEs create high-quality learning opportunities through play and exploration.

Educators are trained to:

  • Understand brain development and how to support healthy growth
  • Identify children’s development stages and capabilities
  • Work together with families to support children’s well-being
  • Plan activities to promote learning and build upon children’s abilities and interests

Every day, through early years and child care programs, educators and other early years professionals provide Ontario’s children with the tools they need to grow into future leaders. Thank you for helping our children thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment!

Halton’s Early Years and Child Care Workforce Strategy

Early childhood education is a growing profession in Halton! We are developing an early years and child care workforce strategy that aims to address workforce challenges in the early years and child care sector.

Learn more about becoming an Early Childhood Educator and Halton’s Early Years and Child Care Workforce Strategy.

Licensed Home Child Care

Licensed home child care offers high-quality early learning and child care experience for children. With over 100 licensed homes in Halton Region, licensed home child care is a great child care option for many families!

A licensed home provider is contracted by a licensed home child care agency with the Ministry of Education. Home child care providers with a licensed agency are supported by a home child care visitor with a background in Early Childhood Education (ECE) who meets Ministry of Education requirements (external link).

Benefits of Licensed Home Child Care

Home child care provides a nurturing, safe learning environment for children. Benefits include:

  • A home environment where siblings can often be cared for together.
  • Providers are screened and supported by a licensed home child care agency.
  • Flexible care options to meet the needs of families.
  • Eligibility for reduced child care fees through Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care System. Families can also qualify for a child care fee subsidy.

Role of the Provider

A licensed home child care provider is contracted by a licensed agency to deliver a child care program from their own home. They may care for children from infancy to 12 years of age and offer full-day, half-day, before and after-school or extended-hour care.

Role of the Agency

A licensed home child care agency recruits, screens and approves providers who offer child care in their homes to help ensure a safe, nurturing environment. Through regular home visits, the agency will carefully monitor the provider and their home. Agencies work with providers to offer resources, guidance and training in various areas of their program.

Agencies also support families to determine their child care needs and preferences and select a home child care provider within their agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does licensed home child care mean?

Every home child care agency in Ontario must be licensed by the Ministry of Education. All licensed home child care providers must follow the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (external link) requirements.

Licensed home child care providers must post a green decal on display at their home that says they are licensed to make it easier to recognize licensed home child care.

Non-licensed home child care or informal care is not required to meet the same government requirements as a licensed home.

How many children can a home child care provider care for?

A home child care provider with a licensed agency can care for a maximum of six children under the age of 13. A home child care provider not with a licensed agency can care for a maximum of five children under the age of 13.

All home child care providers must count their own children under the age of six and cannot care for more than three children under the age of two.

Do providers with an agency have to have a Criminal Record Check?

Yes, the provider and all adults in the home must have a Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening before caring for children.

How do agencies help ensure a home provider will provide high-quality care?

The agency and provider are regulated to ensure specific standards are met and that they follow provincial and municipal requirements.

Agencies regularly support and monitor providers and their homes to ensure they meet policies and procedures regarding health and safety.

 

Program planning is informed by How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years (external PDF). Licensed home child care providers also participate in Halton Region’s quality initiative, Quality First. Quality First supports providers to offer a high-quality early learning program through coaching and consultation with a Quality First Consultant and setting goals to improve quality.

 

Agencies provide guidance, resources and access to training, workshops and professional development for providers.

What is a home visitor and what do they do?

A home visitor is a professional who works for a licensed agency and ensures licensed homes are meeting licensing requirements and standards while providing a safe, nurturing environment for the children in their care. Home visitors have a background in early childhood education and child development.

Home visitors conduct initial inspections of homes before children are enrolled and regularly visit to ensure they continue to meet the provincial requirements and the agency’s policies and procedures.

They support providers by:

  • Providing training and guidance to support providers in the quality of their program.
  • Visiting regularly to answer questions and concerns.
  • Offering support in planning activities for children at different stages of their development, nutritious meal planning and choosing materials and equipment that are safe and suitable for the children.

Contact a Licensed Home Child Care Agency in Halton

Once families apply to a licensed home child care agency, they are placed with a provider that best suits their needs.

Other Links:

Early years and child care resources

Contact our Children’s Services Team

If you have any question about the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care system, ECE recruitment or the workforce strategy, send us an email at childcareservices@halton.ca or call Access Halton at 311.

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