*Once a facility licence is approved for designation, a member of the Operational Support Services (OSS) team will contact the Operator to provide information on accessing the Operator Portal and how to submit reports.
The Operator Portal is a tool for operators*, that provides access to their unique facility information, the management of their enrolment data and funding reports, and to share availability of childcare spaces with families registered in Child Care Connect NB.
Operator Resources and Support
Go to Operator Portal*Once a facility licence is approved for designation, a member of the Operational Support Services (OSS) team will contact the Operator to provide information on accessing the Operator Portal and how to submit reports.
The key elements of quality childcare services include a stable workforce that is knowledgeable, experienced, and caring. Early Childhood Educators play a critical role in supporting the development and education of young children in various early learning and childcare settings.
Many Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) in New Brunswick start their career after obtaining an ECE Certificate, Diploma, or Bachelor’s Degree, others choose to enter the field prior to obtaining their credentials. Whatever career path an educator chooses the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) supports the delivery of a wide range of innovative training options for educators.
New Brunswick has transformed its childcare system through the designation of New Brunswick Early Learning and Child Care Centres and New Brunswick Early Learning and Child Care 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 the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) is a standardized grid that sets the fees that operators of Designated Early Learning and Child Care facilities can charge families.
Fees paid by families for children 0-5 years old, who are enrolled in a designated facility have been reduced on average by 50% since June 1, 2022. Operators of designated facilities are required to apply the standardized Parent Fee Grid rates.
Funding under the Canada-New Brunswick Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement is only available to designated facilities for the services offered to preschool-aged children.
Operators of designated facilities are eligible to receive infant and quality operational grants and subsidies.
To help cover the difference in revenue from parent fees and the Parent Fee Grid, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) introduced the Parent Fee Reduction Subsidy for operators of designated facilities. This grant bridges the financial gap between the standardized Parent Fee Grid and operator fees on record, for their designated facility.
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) is not accepting new applications for designation as all 3,400 spaces for the Open Call for Proposals have been allocated.
EECD may issue targeted calls for proposals in specific communities, in accordance with Policy 901- Space Allocation for Designated Early Learning and Child Care Facilities.
Note: The following applications will be accepted by Early Learning and Childcare Services (PDF) teams, throughout the year for:
The designation of a New Brunswick Early Learning and Child Care Centre and Home is a recognition given to licensed early learning and childcare facilities that offer services to preschool children aged five and under, through a voluntary application process. The facility commits to providing equitable and affordable access to higher quality, inclusive early learning and childcare services by removing barriers linked to family income, children’s ability and needs, language, and minority settings.
Parents with preschool-aged children, enrolled in a designated facility, will pay a standard childcare fee. No applications, eligibility criteria, or income testing are required by parents.
The Market Fee Threshold sets a provincial fee grid within which early learning and childcare operators can manage their fees. The Market Fee Threshold has been updated following a review in 2023 and sector consultations. See the new Market Fee Threshold effective April 1, 2024:
Policy 901 Space Allocation for Designated Early Learning and Child Care Facilities applies to all applications for a new designated licence, existing non-designated facilities that want to become designated, or to expand spaces within an existing designated facility. This policy also applies to the reallocation of unused designated spaces.
Policy 901 establishes the criteria for the allocation of spaces and the process for the designation of early learning and child care facilities by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD). It also establishes the order of priority, the application process, and the evaluation criteria for applying for a new designated licence or the expansion of spaces in existing designated facilities.
Policy 901 Appendix A – Exceptions outlines the criteria for exceptions to Policy 901 and the approval process for these exceptions.
Policy 901 Appendix B – Evaluation Committee outlines the criteria for the evaluation committee.
Operators of Designated Early Learning and Childcare facilities must adhere to the requirements outlined in the Early Childhood Services Act and Regulations which support accessibility, affordability, inclusion and improved quality in early learning and childcare. Any changes to designated spaces must be approved by EECD prior to changes being made.
The Wage Support Program for Early Childhood Educators (WSP-ECE) is a wage enhancement program administered by the EECD to support Operators of Early Learning and Child Care facilities with the recruitment and retention of trained educators.
Located on the Parent Portal, Child Care Connect NB is a secure tool offered by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD), to connect families with licensed Early Learning and Child Care operators and to inform EECD about the child care needs of NB families.
Steps for establishing a designated not-for-profit (NFP) early learning and childcare facility.
The Parent Subsidy Program and the Daycare Assistance Program (DAP) are available to provide support for low- and middle-income families. Families must be working, in a training program, or have a special circumstance to qualify. Together, these programs support preschool children enrolled in designated facilities, and children attending non-designated facilities, based on annual household income.
Note: Families must provide operators with the same email address that is associated with their Parent Portal account. This will ensure that their benefits are received in a timely manner.
A child care facility can be licensed but not designated as a New Brunswick Early Learning Centre or Home. Operators participate in a voluntary application process to obtain the 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 reduced parent fees in the Parent Fee Grid do not apply for children 0-5 years in non-designated facilities and school age programs.
Low- and middle-income families registered in non-designated facilities may be eligible for the Daycare Assistance Program (DAP) to help cover the cost of childcare fees.
Inclusion means that all children and their families are welcomed and supported to participate in every aspect of early learning and child care programs. Inclusion requires early learning and child care operators and their staff members to create an environment that supports meaningful connections and caring relationships with children and their families.
Coming Soon! The 2024 Early Learning and Child Care Quality Framework
Unlicensed childcare is not monitored or inspected by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development unless there is reasonable and probable grounds to believe that a person is operating a facility without a licence in circumstances in which a licence is required.
Including the children of the operator, the numbers of children permitted without requiring a licence are as follows:
a) two infants (0-23 months);
[or]
b) four preschool children (ages two to five, not in school);
[or]
c) eight school-age children;
[or]
d) five children of a mixed age grouping. In this grouping, only one child can be an infant and at least one must be a school-age child;
Operating a childcare service over and above these numbers without a licence constitutes an offence under subsection 60(2) of the Early Childhood Services Act.
If you have questions about becoming a licensed early learning and child care home operator, or about reducing the number of children in your care, please contact Early Learning and Childcare Services (Licensing Team) for further information.
Excluded Child Care Services: For information regarding services provided by an operator that are excluded, see the Early Childhood Services Act Part 2, Section 2.4.
The Early Learning and Childcare Division is responsible for licensing childcare facilities, including designating early learning and childcare facilities, and monitoring compliance to all legislation and policies for supporting improvements to increase quality of service.
Reports are located in the More Details section for each facility in Childcare Finder.