It is important to select the best child care option in advance since there are waiting lists for child care.
Child Care Options
If you need child care services it is important to plan well in advance to select the best option. There are waiting lists for child care and it could take some time before you find an option that is suitable for you and your family.
Child care costs can be high depending on what type of care you are looking for and the age of your child. The average cost of licenced child care is approximately $750 per month and care for infants is generally the most expensive. Child care subsidy is available for eligible families (see subsidised child care below). Cheaper care is available from unlicenced caregivers who provide this service in their homes.
Parents in Peel have a number of options when it comes to finding child care.
Child care centres are licenced centres that look after infants, toddlers, pre-school and school-aged children up to 12 years of age. They operate in locations such as local schools, at affordable rates. The age group may vary by location.
The Region of Peel Children's Services operates 12 licenced child care centres. There are also licenced home-based child care services available to ensure that there are more subsidized spots.
- Find a Region of Peel licenced child care centre near you
- Find other licenced child care centres in Peel near you
Licenced home-based agencies provide children with a safe, educational and caring environment with a caregiver who works with a licenced agency.
- Find a licenced home-based agency near you
Evening child care offers child care for parents who work evenings or different shifts. Children between the ages of 18 months and 12 years are looked after until 11:.30 p.m., if necessary.
Unlicenced/independent home care
Under the Day Nurseries Act and Regulation, caregivers can have no more than 5 children in care under the age of 10 at any one time, not including the caregiver's children.
Unlicenced caregivers are not supervised or monitored.
Some community centres offer free child care programs while you attend LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) classes.
You must meet certain income and employment criteria to be eligible.
Subsidized child care
A parent, foster parent or legal guardian of a child up to 9 years of age may be eligible for fee assistance for child care. You must meet certain income and employment criteria to be eligible. It is advisable that you apply well in advance due to a limited number of spots available.
For information, please call 905-791-1585.
The Ontario Child Care Supplement for Working Families provides support to low and modest income parents who are working, studying or training and have children under the age of 7, as well as working families with one stay-at-home parent.
To learn more about child care services, please visit:
- Child care services offered by Region of Peel
- Child Development Resource Connection Peel provides a wide range of services for parents, including child care telephone information and referral services to families with children up to 12 years of age. This organization has a lot of information for parents including a comprehensive resource guide to help parents choose quality child care.
For helpful information, you can also call:
- Child Care Info Peel:
905-890-9432 or 1-888-836-5550