Child Care Expansion

Designated as the Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM) for Leeds and Grenville by the Government of Ontario, the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville (Counties) is responsible for planning and service system management of all licensed child care programs in Leeds and Grenville.

Through the Children’s Services Department, the Counties is responsible for identifying community needs, licensed child care expansion planning, allocating funding to address child care and early years requirements, and for developing a Service Plan that identifies local child care and early years system priorities.

2022-2026 CWELCC Directed Growth Strategy

Ontario’s vision for the Canada Wide Early Learning Child Care (CWELCC) system is that more families in Ontario have access to high quality, affordable, flexible, and inclusive early learning and child care no matter where they live.

As such, each region across the province has been allocated expansion licensed child care spaces that will be supported with CWELCC funding to ensure that families are able to access affordable child care.

For more information about where these new licensed child care spaces will be created in our community, please see the 2022-2026 Leeds and Grenville CWELCC Directed Growth Strategy.

For inquiries about these expansion licensed child care spaces or to receive an Expression of Interest (EOI) package for the Leeds and Grenville 2022-2026 CWELCC Directed Growth Strategy, please contact us by Email.

Licensed Child Care Expansion

The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville (the Counties) is embarking on a five-year plan to increase licensed child care spaces in Leeds and Grenville and invites licensed child care operators (Operators) who are interested in creating new licensed child care spaces in our community, within the next five years (2023 – 2027), to submit their interest in expansion via an Expression of Interest (EOI) 2023-01 Licensed child Care Space Expansion 2023 - 2027.

With the introduction of the Canada Wide Early Learning Child Care (CWELCC) system, the Province of Ontario has approved Leeds and Grenville for a total of 397 CWELCC new child care spaces through the CWELCC Directed Growth Strategy. For more information about the Counties’ Directed Growth Strategy, please refer to the 2022-2026 Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) Directed Growth Strategy.

Operators interested in partnering with the Counties to create CWELCC Directed Growth Strategy spaces should complete and submit this Expression of Interest Application to express interest in this project. While the Counties supports all Operators to apply for CWELCC Directed Growth Strategy spaces, please note that only a limited number of these child care spaces will be allocated as for-profit.

Submission Deadlines

For more information about licensed child care expansion in Leeds and Grenville or assistance with the Expression of Interest (EOI), please contact our office a childrenservices@uclg.on.ca

Funding may be available from the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, for eligible child care Operators, to open new or expand existing licensed child care programs in our community. Only Operators that hold a Service Agreement with the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville are eligible to be considered for this funding.

This includes:

• Wage Enhancement Grant/Home Child Care Enhancement Grant Funding*
• Child Care Fee Subsidy (CCFS)
• General Operating Funding
• Small Waterworks Funding
• Play-Based Toys and Equipment Funding
• Capacity Building (Training and Professional Learning) Funding
• Repairs and Maintenance Funding
• Enhanced Support Funding
• Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care Funding (CWELCC)

*Note: It is not a requirement for an Operator to have a Service Agreement with the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville to apply for/receive Wage Grant or Home Child Care Enhancement Grant Funding.

Additional information about the funding and services available from the United Counites can be found on our Child Care Funding and Service Guidelines page.
For more information about entering into a Service Agreement with the County, please contact our office by Email.

The Ontario Ministry of Education governs all child care programs across the Province. This includes centre-based programs. Licensed home-based programs and private home programs.

To open a child care centre or home child care agency, you must apply to the Ministry of Education for a license to operate the program. The process to get a child care license can take approximately 4 to 6 months.

To apply for a child care license, you will need to:

• Register for the Child Care Licensing System (CCLS)
• Submit your application and pay your non-refundable fee deposit
• Gather and submit to the Ministry of Education any required supporting documents.

Before you apply for your license, you should:

• Review the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 and Ontario Regulation 137/15 to understand the licensing requirements
• Review other Resources such as Child Care Licensing Manuals and Guidelines
• Contact the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville who is responsible for the planning, managing and coordinating child care in the region, to learn about the child care needs in your community as well as opportunities for funding.

For more information about Starting a Child Care Program, please visit the Province of Ontario's Start a child care program page.

Child Care Program Legislation (Home Based and Centre)

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

• Foster learning
• Support the health and safety of children
• Provide for oversight of providers
• Help parents make informed choices about child care options

In Ontario, child care providers must follow the rules set out in the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) and its regulations. The CCEYA sets out the standards, rules and regulations that must be met to ensure the safety and well-being of children. The act applies to:

• Licensed child care centres
• Licensed home child care agencies
• Unlicensed child care providers
• Home child care providers that are overseen by a licensed agency
• Providers of in-home services that are overseen by a licensed agency
• Authorized recreational and skill building programs

For more information about the requirements for child care programs and/or the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014, please visit the Province of Ontario's Start a child care program page.

Child Care Program Licensing Manuals & Guidelines

The Ontario Ministry of Education Child Care Licensing Manuals and Guidelines provide information about the legislative and regulatory requirements for licensed child care programs.

This includes information on:

• Mandatory requirements as set out in the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 and Ontario Regulation 137/15
• Special instructions to understand and interpret the requirements
• Measures used to assess compliance with the requirements
• Recommendations for alternative ways of demonstrating compliance and for enhancing program quality

For more information about Child Care Centre Licensing Requirements and for a copy of the licensing manual, please visit the Province of Ontario's Child care centre licensing manual page.

For more information about Home Child Care Licensing Requirements and for a copy of the licensing manual, please visit the Province of Ontario's Child care centre licensing manual page.

For more information about Before and After School Program Licensing Guidelines, please visit the Province of Ontario's Before and after school program licensing guideline page.

With a focus on learning and development through relationships, particularly the relationships between children, families and educators, HDLH? outlines goals for children, expectations for programs and questions for reflection based on the four foundations of belonging, wellbeing, engagement and expression.

This resource discusses:

• The importance of creating a sense of belonging through fostering relationships and connections
• How to create environments and experiences to engage children in learning through play and inquiry
• The importance of supporting children's sense of self, health and wellbeing
• How to support positive self-expression and communication in all forms

For more information about How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years, please visit the Province of Ontario's How does learning happen: Ontario’s pedagogy for the early years page.