Finding Quality Child Care

Finding quality child care and children's programs in Durham Region

Licensed child care for infants, toddlers, pre-school, and school-aged children is offered in centres and homes across the region. The Region of Durham provides support through funding and training to more than 300 licensed child care centres and home child care agencies and directly operates eight early learning and child care centres. 

The Child Care Program Locator or the Child Care Directory may be used to find licensed care that meets your family's needs. A video to learn how to use both tools is also available. 

 Child Care Directory  Child Care Program Locator

Finding licensed child care - Frequently asked questions for Durham Region families

Types of child care

There are a variety of child care opportunities within Durham Region. that families can choose from:

Licensed child care centres - located in schools and in community-based locations. Care is available full days or before and after school. Centres are regulated by the Child Care and Early Years Act. Fee subsidy and CWELCC may be available. 

Licensed home child care - located in private homes under the supervision of the licensed home child care agency. These homes are licensed and regulated through the Child Care and Early Years Act. Fee subsidy and CWELCC may be available. 

Recreation programs - in Durham, authorized after-school programs are offered in school locations. These programs are not licensed. Fees subsidy may be available, CWELCC in not available. While rules for recreation programs are established under the Child Care and Early Years Act, these programs are not regulated in the same way as licensed child care. For more information, consult Recreation programs, what parents and providers need to know. 

Nursery school programs - these are half day, part-time programs that offer programming that builds children's social skills. 

Unlicensed home child care - unlicensed homes are not licensed or regulated. Neither fee subsidy nor CWELCC are available. 

More information on the types of child care and what to consider when looking for quality child care can be found on the Ministry of Education's website. 

The Ministry of Education has rules for child care and inspects all licensed home child care and licensed child care centres. Additionally, many licensed child care centres in Durham Region must meet Durham Region's Operating Criteria. These quality assurance assessments rank rooms as exceeding, meeting, or not meeting expectations.

When looking for a child care, there are some common questions to ask the child care provider.

Here are some tips to help your child get ready for child care.

Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system

In 2022, the Ontario government reached a deal with the federal government to lower child care fees for families in Ontario through the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system. The Region of Durham, as the service system manager for early learning and child care in Durham Region, continues to work with the Ministry of Education during the implementation of the CWELCC system.

In January 2025, parent fees were capped at $22 per day. Eligible families will see further fee reductions, with an average of $10-a-day child care anticipated by 2026.

The Ministry of Education has directed municipalities to manage the growth of the CWELCC system gradually from 2022 to 2026. This means that child care spaces created after December 31, 2022, are only eligible for CWELCC if they are within the space targets and align with the Regional Municipality of Durham’s expansion plan for directed growth.

If you have any questions about whether a child care provider is enrolled in CWELCC system, please reach out to them directly or access our Child Care Directory and/or Child Care Program Locator.

More information about the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system can be found on the provincial website and in the frequently asked questions below.