In Ontario, all child care centres and home child care agencies providing care regularly for more than five children who do not have the same parents, must be licensed by the Ministry of Education. Licensing requirements provide a foundation upon which high quality care can be built. Although a license is not itself a guarantee of high quality care, it does ensure that basic requirements were met when the licensing inspection took place. Inspections take place at least once per year by the Ontario Ministry of Education.

Centre Based Child Care refers to licensed premises that provide care for more than five children, up to and including twelve years of age.

Centres may be operated by:

• Commercial Operators, also termed independent or private, refers to a person who owns, controls, and manages a child care program for profit.
• Non-Profit Child Care Services are legally incorporated and governed by a Board of Directors, usually composed of parents and/or community members.
• Co-operative Child Care Programs usually provide care at a reduced cost because parents are required to participate in the program as part of the co-operative philosophy. Some co-operative preschool programs accept children whose parents cannot or do not wish to participate in the program. In these cases, fees are usually higher.

Home Child Care refers to self-employed caregivers who provide care in a family setting. Caregivers may be connected to a licensed agency or may work independently with no support from a licensed agency. Flexible hours are usually available through home child care.

Day Care refers to regular child care outside of your home, provided by someone other than yourself. Daycare is usually obtained for the purposes of parents who work or attend an education program.

Nursery School refers to more flexible care, on a half-day basis, for children from 2.5 to 5 years of age. Some programs require parent participation.

School Age Care may be provided to children up to 12 years, attending elementary school:

• before and/or after school care;
• care may be provided during the lunch period; or
• full day care may be available during school holidays.

Fee Subsidies May Be Available

Families choosing certain licensed child care programs may be eligible for financial assistance toward the cost of care. Eligibility is based on family income, expenses, and number and ages of children. See Child Care Subsidy.