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Child Care Options
In Ottawa, there are different types of child care options to help meet the needs of parents, families and children. You can arrange to have full-time child care, or part-time care. Programs operate in either English or French. No one type of child care will be right for everyone. Below is a description of the different types of child care available. Child care services are available in both centres and in private homes, and can be licensed and monitored or through your own private, informal arrangements with perhaps a neighbour, relative or friend. Child Care CentresChild care centres provide care for children in a group setting. All child care centres are licensed under the Day Nurseries Act and are annually inspected by staff from the provincial Ministry of Children & Youth Services. Centres are licensed for a maximum number of children who are grouped together by age. There are also maximum group size and staff to child ratios that vary according to the age of the children. Every group of children must have at least one trained staff that has their Early Childhood Education certificate or an equivalent qualification. Child care centres can offer services for children aged six weeks right up to 12 years of age. Some centres provide care for all ages within this range, while others only offer care for certain ages, such as toddlers and pre-school children. The operating hours for centres varies, but most provide full-time care Monday to Friday during regular working hours. Some centres also offer part-time care as well as before and or after-school care. Most child care centres have both regular full fee and subsidized spaces for families that qualify. If you think group care is the option for you, arrange to see a few centres as soon as you know what your child care needs will be. The City of Ottawa mandated Child Care Information, a City-funded non-profit service to extend the Child Care Centralized Waiting List to all licensed child care centres and home child care agencies within the City of Ottawa boundaries. Any parent/guardian seeking licensed child care services can contact the information line directly to obtain a registration form. Child Care Information: 613-248-3605 The section Location of Child Care Programs lists all the licensed child care centres. Home Child CareHome child care offers children a home-like atmosphere in a provider’s private home. Home child care provides flexible child care arrangements such as evening, early morning, weekend and part-time care and is often available to all children in the same family. Licensed Home Child CareLicensed home child care agencies screen, select and monitor home child care providers. The agency ensures that the selected home child care providers meet the standards set out in the Day Nurseries Act through regular unscheduled visits. These standards include appropriate child ratios, nutritional standards, fire, health and safety procedures and appropriate programming to ensure quality care . Providers working with a licensed agency may care for five or fewer children under ten years of age. In addition, there are limits on the number of children in specific age groups who can be cared for in the provider’s home. Specifically:
Licensed home child care agencies provide professional on-going support to their providers such as training opportunities and age-appropriate toys and equipment-lending services. Agencies also assist in arranging alternate care for children when providers are sick or on holiday. Licensed home child care assists parents in making an informed choice and matching their needs to the appropriate child care placement, including the geographic requirement, hours of care and cultural needs. There is a partnership formed between the child care provider, the family and the agency. Licensed home child care agencies provide full and part-time care for infants to children 12 years of age. Both subsidized and full fee spaces are available to parents through licensed home child care agencies. Parents who are interested in licensed home child care should contact the Child Care Centralized Waiting List at 613-248-3605 or visit the website at www.childcareinforamtion.ca to place your child's name on the waiting lists for agencies within the City of Ottawa boundaries. Municipal Home Child CareMunicipal Home Child Care Program is a bilingual child care program operated by the City of Ottawa and is licensed under the Day Nurseries Act. The program offers quality child care in the provider's home. Qualified Early Childhood Educators monitor the provider's home, on a monthly basis to ensure that children are learning and developing to their maximum potential. The program offers subsidized child care for children from 6 weeks to 12 years of age. Full time and part-time child care arrangements are available including flexible hours such as early morning, evening and weekend care. For more information on the program call 613-580-2424, ext. 24104. Home Daycare AgenciesLa Maisonnee : phone: 613-789-3020 Nursery SchoolsNursery schools are licensed programs under the Day Nurseries Act. They provide part-time/part-day care for pre-school children between two and five years of age as well as many different models. Cooperative nursery schools involve parents in the program. Head start programs provide an enriched preschool learning experience giving priority to children from economically and socially deprived environments. Subsidized spaces may be available in some nursery schools Child Care Information produces a booklet listing all the nursery school programs in Ottawa. Municipal Child Care CentresThe City of Ottawa operates 17 child care centres that provide quality child care for children between the ages of six weeks and 10 years of age. The child care centres are open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. They offer both full fee and subsidized spaces. The centres provide planned, supervised indoor and outdoor activities as well as nutritious meals. Professionally trained staff provide individual attention within a group setting including support to children with special needs who are integrated into our programs. To locate the City's directly operated child care centres go to Location of Municipal Child Care Programs. Ontario Works Child CareThe Ontario Works Child Care (OWCC) program provides bilingual assistance in helping parents make an informed child care choice and fulfill their Ontario Works participation agreement. OWCC provides funding for child care arrangements for the participant’s children who are six weeks to 12 years. Ontario Works clients, who are involved in an activity approved by their Case Coordinator (school, training, community placement, job search or employment) are informed of the child care options in the community, such as subsidized child care, on-site child care, community center programs or OWCC funds to make a private arrangement. To access OWCC call 613-580-2424, ext. 24384. Informal Child CareInformal care is a private informal arrangement between the parent and a non-licenced provider, perhaps a neighbour, relative or friend. The provider is not monitored by an agency. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure they are comfortable with the standard of care that their child will receive from the provider. Child care subsidies are not available for informal child care settings. |
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