Information for families

The Child Care Finder and Child Care Connect NB are services dedicated to helping families throughout their child care journey. By utilizing these resources together, you gain the ability to make well-informed choices, providing reassurance and a smooth pathway to finding the best care for your child

Begin your search by using Child Care Finder. This intuitive, map-based tool allows you to easily explore licensed early learning and childcare options within your community. Find detailed profiles of each operator, including space availability, and identify the best match for your family's needs, all in a few easy steps.

Child Care Connect NB helps families by connecting them with child care providers offering available spaces that meet their unique needs within their communities. The data collected through Child Care Connect NB also helps the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development decide where new child care spaces need to be created.

Operators of licensed early learning and childcare facilities who offer services to preschool children aged five and under may apply to become a designated early learning and child care facility.

Families with preschool-aged children, enrolled in a designated facility, will pay the standard Parent Fee Grid rates. No applications, eligibility criteria, or income testing are required by parents or guardians.

Families can check the designation status of an early learning and childcare facility in Childcare Finder. 

Note: If a facility is designated it will be indicated in blue under the facility’s language of service

A child care facility can be licensed but not designated as an early learning and child care (ELCC) Centre or Home. Operators participate in a voluntary application process to obtain designation.  

Early Learning and Child Care facilities that are not designated are not eligible to receive funding from the Canada-New Brunswick Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. This means that the Parent Fee Grid does not apply to children aged 0 - 5 years, not yet attending school, currently enroled in non-designated facilities and/or school age programs. 

Low- and middle-income families enroled in non-designated facilities and/or school age programs, may be eligible for the Childcare Assistance Program (CAP) to help reduce the cost of childcare fees.

The Parent Fee Grid applies to families whose children are enrolled in designated  early learning and child care facilities

New Brunswick has transformed its childcare system through the designation of New Brunswick Early Learning and Childcare Centres and early learning and childcare homes.  The designation program focuses on ensuring affordable access to services for families and strengthening quality learning for children. 

The Parent Fee Grid implemented by Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is a standardized grid that sets the fees operators of designated early learning and child care facilities can charge families. 

Fees paid by families for children 0-5 years of age, who are enrolled in a designated facility have been reduced on average by 50% as of June 1, 2022. 

Operators of designated facilities are required to apply the standardized Parent Fee Grid rates.  To help cover the difference in revenue from parent fees and the Parent Fee Grid, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development introduced the Parent Fee Reduction Subsidy for operators of designated facilities. This grant helps cover the difference between the standard Parent Fee Grid and the fees charged by the designated facility.

Families can check the designation status of an early learning and childcare facility in Childcare Finder. Note: If a facility is designated it will be indicated in the facility details, under the facility’s language of service.

Community Type: Large urban or small urban & rural can be found in Childcare Finder - More Details -  Licences Details - Community Type.  Operators can also confirm the community type for their facility.

To be eligible for the Parent Fee Grid, children must be 5 years of age or younger, not attending school, and be enrolled in a designated early learning and child care facility.

When children attend a designated early learning and child care facility, the Parent Fee Grid rates will be applied, and families will pay the applicable rates to the operator.

If you have any questions regarding the Parent Fee Grid, please speak with the ELCC facility operator or contact the Operational Support Services (OSS) team at 1 833 221-9339.

Childcare Financial Assistance provides support for low- and middle-income families.   Parent/Guardian(s) must be either employed, or in a training program, or have a Parent Referral or a Child Program Referral; and a gross annual household income (before deductions) of $80,000 or less. 

The Childcare Financial Assistance program consists of two subsidies that families may qualify for, depending on the age of the child and the designation status of the Early Learning and Childcare (ELCC) licence:  

1. Parent Subsidy Program 

• Applies to families whose children are enroled in a designated Early Learning and Child Care facility (aged 0-5, not yet attending school) 

2. Childcare Assistance Program (CAP) (previously known as the Daycare Assistance Program DAP) 

• Applies to families whose children are enroled in a non-designated Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) facility, (aged 0-5, not yet attending school) 

• Applies to families whose children are enroled in a school age program, (aged 5-12, attending school)  

The application is processed by Service New Brunswick, and the appropriate Childcare Financial Assistance benefit is applied, based on the licence type, age of the child, community type and gross annual household income. 

To apply for all Childcare Financial Assistance subsidies, parents/guardians complete one application through their Parent Portal account.

Inclusion means that all children and their families are welcomed and supported to participate in every aspect of early learning and childcare programs. Inclusion requires early learning and childcare operators and the staff members to create an environment that supports meaningful connections and caring relationships with children and their families.

Did you know that play is the way children learn? This means it’s easy to help children learn about their world – just play together!

• Prenatal Benefits Program
• Postnatal Benefits Program
• Infant Parent Attachment Program
• Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases in Early Learning and Childcare (ELCC) Facilities (PDF)
• Canada’s Food Guide website

As a parent, guardian, or community member, you have the right to provide feedback about child care services in New Brunswick. Your feedback provides an opportunity to improve the safety and quality of early learning and child care in our province.

How do I file a complaint or concern?

It is always best to address and resolve a complaint or concern with the operator of the Early Learning and Childcare Facility when and where it occurs.  If your concerns remain, you can contact the regional Early Learning and Childcare Services team.  

When contacting the regional Early Learning and Childcare Services team, here is information you may need to provide:

• Name of facility
• Describe in detail (who, what, when, where, why)
• Explain the events in the order in which they occurred
• Explain any other actions you have taken
• Provide any additional supporting information

Your feedback — positive or negative – helps us to improve the safety and quality of early learning and childcare services in our province. 

The Early Learning and Childcare Services team will follow up on the information provided. 

For regional Early Learning and Childcare Services team contact information and map, please see:

If you have questions or need help, please contact us.