• Step 1: Understanding child care in Waterloo Region
• Step 2: Choosing a program
• Step 3: Applying for licensed child care and before and after school care
• Step 4: After you have applied for child care
• Additional resources

Step 1: Understanding Child Care in Waterloo Region

Types of Care

There are different types of child care available in Waterloo Region. Programs can be licensed or unlicensed. Options include centre-based or home-based child care. Child care programs are also available for school-age children before and after school.

Learning about the options may help you choose a provider. Explore the options below to see the differences between them. 

Licensed Child Care

Licensed child care programs must meet provincial standards for health, safety and supporting the developmental needs of children (as outlined in the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014). These programs are monitored and inspected for compliance by the Ministry of Education. Licensed programs have a green sign prominently displayed near the entrance of their centre or home.

Licensed child care operators and licensed school boards participating in Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program offer reduced fees to families with children under six years of age. Visit the Region of Waterloo CWELCC website to see who is participating in the program.

Unlicensed Child Care

Unlicensed child care programs are not inspected by the Ministry of Education unless they receive a complaint and are not required to follow the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014. Unlicensed care could include unlicensed home child care providers, a nanny, or a relative. Care is often provided in the caregivers home, but may be provided in your home.

Before and After School Programs

Licensed Before and After School Programs are available in most schools for children in Kindergarten to Grade 6. These programs are sometimes called Extended Day Programs and/or Youth Development Programs (grade 3-6 only). For a complete list of before and after school options, including locations and who operates the program, go to OneList Waterloo Region.

Depending who operates the program, there are different policies and procedures related to the registration and enrollment process. Each operator of these programs will have different hours of operation, policies and procedures related to changing your schedule, billing, cost of care, and notice of registration, withdrawal/end care. For the most up to date information, please contact the Licensed Child Care Provider or School Board.

Comparison of Child Care Options

Licensed Centre-Based Care

• Licensed by the Ministry of Education
• Operated by non-profit and for-profit organizations
• Age-specific groups (infants/toddlers/preschoolers)
• Children aged 0-12 years* cared for
• Hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.*
• Fee subsidy available
• Reduced rates through CWELCC**
• Special needs resources available
• Programs must all employ a minimum number of Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs) as per the CCEYA. The percentage of RECEs varies from program to program.
• Vulnerable sector checks required by all staff
• Apply using the OneList Waterloo Region

Quality Matters!

High quality Early Years programs play an important role in healthy child development and improving quality of life for families. Licensed Child Care operators are working with Region of Waterloo to keep improving the quality of their services. The ongoing focus on improving program quality is supported by the Region of Waterloo’s Quality Initiatives team and Conestoga College’s Professional Resource Centre.

Each year all Licensed Child Care programs follow a continuous quality improvement cycle called Early Years Engage. The annual cycle starts by gathering information to reflect on areas that are working well and identify areas that need improvement.

Next, the Licensed Child Care programs each make commitments to work on concrete changes that to improve experiences, relationships, and environments that benefit children and families, leading to a higher quality of life. Early Years Engage is built on The Ministry of Education’s resource guide: How Does Learning Happen? Ontario's Pedagogy for the Early Years. This guide supports educators to look at the what they do every day and understand how their actions have an impact on children and their families in six key areas: 

1. Establishing positive, responsive adult-child relationships;
2. Providing inclusive learning environments and experiences that encourage exploration, play, and inquiry;
3. Engaging children as co-learners along with families/caregivers, and others;
4. Planning and creating environments as a “third teacher”;
5. Using documentation to make the children’s thinking and the learning visible; and
6. Participating in ongoing reflective practice and collaborative inquiry with others. 

Support for Black, Indigenous and/or Racialized Families

If you need help accessing early years services, such as applying for child care, child care subsidy, or special needs supports, reach out to an Early Years and Child Care (EYCC) Navigator today to assist and provide support in accessing these services in Waterloo Region.

Early Years Navigators are available to support equity deserving families including Black, Indigenous and others who experience barriers accessing Early Years Child Care services. They can provide information about the Child Care options available, help you to set up an account on OneList and apply to licensed child care programs, provide information about child care subsidy and help you access other community resources including EarlyON drop in centres, Special Needs Resourcing support, Public Health and other community services.

Step 4: After You Have Applied for Child Care

Waitlists

Every child care program manages their own waitlist. Your position on their waitlist is based on several factors, such as:

• Your application date
• Your child’s age
• Days / hours of care required
• Programs may give priority to applications when (but not limited to):
  • A sibling is already enrolled
  • The applicant is a staff member
  • The family has been approved for child care subsidy
  • There is an agreement with an organization or learning institution to reserve child care spaces for their staff or students

OneList does not provide information about waitlist times, space availability or vacancies. To inquire about where your child is on a waitlist or when a space may be available, contact the programs directly.

If you no longer require care, please go into your account and remove your applications. 

Being Offered a Child Care Space

When there is a space available for your child at a program that you have applied to, the program will contact you to offer you the spot. Typically, programs need a response within 24 to 48 hours of making an offer, so be sure to check your e-mail regularly.

Once you have accepted a space, the program will require you to complete a registration package. Some programs may charge a registration fee or deposit, which may or may not be refundable.

When you apply to programs through OneList, you need to prioritize your top three applications. When you accept a space at a program, applications ranked below the one you accepted are removed from your account. Programs prioritized higher than the program you accepted, will remain on your account.

Child Care Costs

Child care fees vary from program to program. Fees are based on the age of the child, and sometimes on the number of hours, they attend.

With the introduction of the Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program, families with children under six years of age enrolled in a child care program participating in CWELCC have reduced child care fees. Daily fees will be reduced to an average of $10/day by 2025. Visit the Region of Waterloo CWELCC website to see who is participating in the program.

Contact the child care centre, the home child care agency, or school board (or visit their website) for specific details on fees. In addition to the monthly fees, some programs may charge other fees, so it is important to ask about this ahead of time.

Additional Help Paying for Child Care

In addition to reduced fees through the CWELCC program, some families are also eligible for further financial support to help pay for child care. The Region of Waterloo, Child Care Subsidy program helps parents pay for licensed child care so they can go to work or school. Child Care Subsidy may cover all or part of a family’s child care costs.

To learn more about Child Care Subsidy, visit the Child Care Subsidy website or call 519-575-4400. You can also use the online calculator.

Parents can apply for Child Care Subsidy online or over the phone by calling 519-575-4400. You can apply for Child Care Subsidy up to 26 weeks before starting care. Since wait times for licensed care may be longer than 26 weeks, you can apply for licensed care before submitting an application for Child Care Subsidy. 

Questions or Concerns About Your Child's Care?

Making a complaint

The first step is to talk to your child care educator/provider.

If they cannot resolve your issue, speak with the centre supervisor/home child care consultant.

If you still cannot resolve the issue, you may file a complaint with the Ministry of Education by calling 1-877-510-5333 or emailing childcare_ontario@ontario.ca.

You can also share your concern/complaint with the Region of Waterloo Children's Services by calling 519-575-4400.

Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) Extended Day Programs

For more information or questions (regarding Parent Handbook, policies, billing inquiries, tax receipts or schedule changes):

Email care@wrdsb.ca

Phone: Extended Day Information Line at 519-570-0003 ext. 4704

Website: WRDSB Extended Day website

Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) Licensed Before/After School Programs

Please direct your questions or concerns to the Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) in the Extended Day Program.

For more information or questions (regarding Parent Handbook, policies, billing inquiries, tax receipts, schedules, etc.):

Email extended.day@wcdsb.ca

Phone: 519-578-3660

Website: WCDSB Extended Day webpage

Special Needs Supports

If you have concerns about your child's development, call the Special Needs Access Point (SNAP) at 519-514-SNAP, visit the Special Needs Access Point website, or email snap@kwhab.ca.

SNAP is a single point of access for referrals to services and supports for children 0-12 years of age who are attending or planning to attend any licensed child care program or Before or After School Program within Waterloo Region (except School Board operated programs). The SNAP Resource Coordinator will contact you to discuss your concerns and explain what supports are available to help your child.

Additional Resources

• Early Learning And Child Care Navigators - Early Learning and Child Care Navigators - EarlyON Child and Family Centre
• Ministry of Education
• OneList Waterloo Region
• Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Program
• Questions to ask a Child Care Provider
• Public Health Inspections
• Characteristics of a Quality Child Care Program
• Early Years Engage, a quality initiative, through the Region of Waterloo, to support child care operators in continuous quality improvement 
• The Ministry of Education resource guide: How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years
• Frequently Asked Questions about OneList
• Ontario Child Care Tax Credit 
• Region of Waterloo, Child Care Subsidy webpage
• Region of Waterloo, fee subsidy calculator
  
• Special Needs Access Point (SNAP)
• Ministry of Education, complaints about child care
• Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) Extended Day Program
• Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) Extended Day Program