Child Care Centres

 

What is a child care centre?

A child care centre is a facility in which a child care service is operated.  A child care centre can operate either on a part-time (4 hours or less per day) or full-time (more than 4 hours per day) basis. Child care centres that do not meet the exemption requirements must be licensed before they can operate. Activities and arrangements that are not considered to be a child care service can be found in section 2(f) of the Child Care Act.

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Who are Early Learning and Child Care providers?

An Early Learning and Child Care provider (referred to as “caregiver” in legislation) is a person who provides care or supervision or both to a child while they are participating in a child care service but does not include a student or volunteer. Often, these providers are Early Childhood Educators who have completed a post-secondary Early Childhood Education program.

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What qualifications do Early Learning and Child Care providers require?

Early Learning and Child Care providers working with children in regulated child care services are required to hold Child Care Services Certification:

  • for the type of facility in which the child care service is operated;
  • at the level required by the child care legislation; and
  • in the age ranges of the children to whom the person is assigned to be a caregiver.

The level of certification is based on an assessment of each person’s academic achievement in Early Childhood Education. The required level of certification and amount of experience vary according to the level of responsibility.

In a child care centre, one caregiver with at least level I certification (usually a one-year post-secondary certificate) must be assigned to every homeroom. The Administrator of the child care centre must have at least Level II certification (usually a two-year post-secondary diploma).

More information on child care services certification can be found at: http://www.aecenl.ca/

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How many Early Learning and Child Care providers are required in a child care centre?

The number of Early Learning and Child Care providers required varies depending on the number and ages of the children participating in the centre. There are provincial regulations in place that must be followed regarding the adult to child ratio. The younger the children, the fewer per adult.

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What is the process to operate a licensed child care centre?

Interested individuals can apply to receive a licence to operate a child care centre by contacting the regional Early Learning and Child Development Division of the Department of Education in the area where their child care centre would be located.

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Contact Information

For more information about child care in this province contact a regional office near you: 

https://www.gov.nl.ca/education/department/contact/#childcare

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