Information for operators

*Once a facility is licensed, 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 Early Learning and Childcare Services branch is responsible for licensing and designating early learning and childcare facilities, and monitoring compliance to legislation and policies for supporting improvements to increase quality of service.

Open Call for Proposals - CLOSED

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) is currently not accepting new applications for designation as all 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 teams, throughout the year for:

1. Designated ELCC Home licences that will offer, and fill, a minimum of one (1) infant space and meet all licensing and designation requirements. ELCC Homes are exempt from the Call for Proposals process. (Policy 901 – Appendix A - Exceptions.) 
2. Non-designated Early Learning and Childcare Facilities
    

Designation of an early learning and childcare facility is granted to licensed ELC centres and homes that provide care to preschool children aged five and under, through a voluntary application process.  The operator 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, pay a standard childcare fee. No applications, eligibility criteria, or income testing are required by parents.

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.

Steps for establishing a designated not-for-profit (NFP) early learning and childcare facility.

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.

• Early Childhood Services Act
• Early Childhood Services Act - Regulations
• Operator Manual Early Learning and Childcare Homes

Designated Facility Eligibility

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.

Operational Grant

The Operational Grant is funding available for designated New Brunswick Early Learning and Child Care facilities to offset the costs associated with maintaining designation criteria and requirements.  

Parent Fee Reduction Subsidy (for operators)

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 Market Fee Threshold sets a provincial fee grid within which early learning and childcare operators can manage their fees.  The Market Fee Threshold is reviewed annually. See the new Market Fee Threshold effective April 1, 2025:

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.

Parent fee grid

New Brunswick has transformed its childcare system through the designation of early learning and childcare facilities. 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.

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: Childcare Financial Assistance

A child care facility can be licensed but not designated as a New Brunswick 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 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.

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. 

The Operator Portal is a tool for operators*, that provides access to their unique facility information, the management of enrolment data and funding reports, and to share availability of childcare spaces with families registered in Child Care Connect NB.

Operator Resources and Support

*Once a facility is licensed, 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.

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.

• Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of communicable diseases in Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Facilities
• Health Inspection Standards for Early Learning and Childcare Centres
• Canada’s Food Guide website