Parents know what is best for their child and what type of childcare services works best for their particular family situation. Having options can help parents choose the childcare provider that best meets their child’s and their family’s individual needs. An early learning and childcare home is one of the options a parent may choose.
Early learning and childcare homes are approved to provide childcare services to a smaller number of children in an individual’s home. Early learning and childcare homes are inspected and monitored by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
Benefits for Children
Some early learning and childcare homes can be located near the child’s home which can help to build positive nurturing relationships in their own neighborhoods. Children are cared for in a safe and responsive learning environment using an experience-based curriculum. This means that children learn through play and activities that are based on the child’s interests as well as on their developmental needs.
Benefits for Parents
Your government recognizes that families need to have accessible, affordable and flexible childcare for their children.
Choosing to access a licensed early learning and childcare home will provide parents with the assurance that the service is regularly monitored to meet standards respecting the Early Childhood Services Act (Loi) and the Licensing Regulations. Because the early learning and childcare home is licensed, parents may also qualify for funding which supports them financially with their childcare costs.
Parents may also choose a designated Early Learning Home and have access to affordable, accessible, inclusive and high-quality early learning and childcare services for their preschool children. Furthermore, the early learning and childcare home may provide more flexible schedules that better meet family needs
Benefits for Childcare Operators
For the operator, being licensed means they are eligible to receive funding under the Quality Improvement Funding Support to support the wages of eligible educators.
The operator may voluntarily choose to become a designated Early Learning Home and offer affordable, accessible, inclusive and high-quality early learning and childcare services to preschool children as well as increase sustainability for their Early Learning Center.
