Licensed home child care a great option for families

Finding safe, affordable and high-quality child care is a need for many parents in York Region. With long wait lists at many child care facilities and not enough spaces to meet demand, it can be challenging for parents to juggle schedules and workloads while they look for a suitable child care option.

The Regional Municipality of York is committed to delivering accessible, affordable, responsive and high-quality child care services for residents in our communities. As part of the Region’s Child Care and Early Years Service System Plan (2024-2027), access to high-quality child care services is a priority, along with ensuring parents, caregivers and professionals have the knowledge and capacity to support child development.

Licensed home child care is a great alternative to help meet the growing demand. Home child care involves individual providers caring for children in their own homes. Operators care for infants, toddlers and pre-school aged children, as well as their siblings, and may include full-day and extended hours, as well as before/after school care.

Operators are contracted with home child care agencies that are licensed by the Ministry of Education and must follow the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014. They are also inspected annually by the Ministry to ensure they meet licensing standards and may participate in programs like the Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care Program.  

Parents and families who are currently on a wait list or looking for child care services, should consider licensed home child care as a great option for affordable, safe and high-quality care.

To learn more about home child care services in York Region, visit york.ca/HomeChildCare