Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care system

As a child care operator, you will make a difference in the lives of children, families, and our community by providing quality care for children, supporting their development and well-being, while contributing to the economy and society. It is integral to Ontario's prosperity! Access to early years services and licensed quality child care services:

• Encourages labour force participation, giving more people the opportunity to return to work earlier if they choose to do so,
• Reduces poverty for low-income families; and,
• Leads to better educational, employment and earnings outcomes as these children become adults, meaning a strong labour force and economy.

It is a smart investment! Public investment in early years and child care has a multiplying effect in economic benefits. In Ontario, the multiplying effect of investing in child care is approximately $2.27, meaning that every dollar invested in child care results in an economic output of $2.27.

• Affordable child care can help boost women’s workforce participation, with significant economic benefits.
• Mothers with young children are currently contributing an estimated $53 billion per year to the Canadian economy.
• High-quality licensed child care provides Ontario’s children with safe, responsive, and caring interactions that build a strong foundation for development and well-being.
• 90% of adult brain development occurs between 0-5.
• High-quality licensed child care helps children develop vital skills during their first five years which marks a critical developmental period in a child’s life.

Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) provide children with the foundation they need to grow into future leaders. ECEs use their extensive knowledge of learning and child development to create high-quality learning opportunities through play and exploration. Educators are trained to:

• Understand brain development and how to support healthy growth.
• Identify children's developmental stages and capabilities in social, emotional, cognitive, linguistic, and physical domains.
• Build partnerships with families to support children’s well-being.
• Plan activities that promote learning and build on children's current abilities and interests.

Participation in high-quality learning environments, can help support children and their communities and to improve social, health, and academic outcomes. Benefits for children:

• Improved physical and mental well-being.
• Decrease in chronic health problems.
• Increase self-confidence.
• Improved outcomes in literacy, math, and science.
• Higher rates of completing high school.
• Increase in conflict resolutions skills.

Benefits for communities:

• Increases the number of women in the workforce.
• Decreases the need for social assistance.
• Increases household income.
• Decreases participation in criminal activity.

In 2021, the Government of Canada identified child care as a national priority to enhance early learning and childhood development, support workforce participation and contribute to economic recovery. The Federal Government committed to investing in a national child care system called the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) System to:

• Create more affordable, quality licensed child care spaces.
• Support the early childhood workforce through enhanced compensation, training, and professional learning opportunities; and
• Improve accessibility by addressing barriers to providing inclusive and flexible child care.

The CWELCC System is a five-year plan that will reduce fees every year, reaching an average fee of $10/day by 2026. As the Service System Manager (SSM), The County of Lambton’s role in the CWELCC System is to:

• Implement provincial guidelines,
• Establish local policies, procedures, and funding approaches,
• Develop and implement an application and approval process for the CWELCC System,
• Contract for CWELCC funding through Service Agreements,
• Provide fiscal oversight & funding; and,
• Report to the Ministry of Education and The County of Lambton on the CWELCC System. 

County of Lambton Directed Growth Plan

Ontario’s Action Plan for implementing the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system included developing a framework to support the creation of new, affordable child care spaces for children under age six in targeted locations and for populations most in need.

In alignment with Ontario’s Access and Inclusion Framework, Lambton County’s Directed Growth Plan prioritizes child care expansion to:

• increase access equity by supporting child care expansion in areas with an access rate lower than the provincial average of 37%.
• support child care access for low-income children, vulnerable children, children from diverse communities, children with special needs, Francophone, and Indigenous children.
• maintain the proportion of not-for profit licensed child care spaces at 90% or higher.

In addition to reviewing the social-economic factors identified by the province, community prioritization for child care expansion was achieved by reviewing population trends, waitlist data, current access rates, and proximity to existing centres.

Lambton County has been allocated a target of 573 net new child care spaces by the end of 2026.  More information can be found in the County of Lambton Child Care and Early Years Service System Plan 2024-2028.

Under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) the County of Lambton as a Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM) is designated to manage child care and early years services across the County. These services include the planning and funding of licensed child care programs, administering financial assistance for eligible families through fee subsidy, and allocating additional resources to families and programs that provide care to children with special needs. Additionally, CMSMs are responsible for the oversight of EarlyON Child and Family Centres, Indigenous-led child care and early years services, and the implementation the new Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) agreement. 

The CCEYA outlines that each service system manager shall have a child care and early years service plan for its service area. The plan should be reviewed and approved by Council and reflect local priorities as well as align with Provincial interests and policy statements.  The 2024-2028 County of Lambton’s Child Care and Early Years Service System Plan can be found at Lambton County Children’s Services.

Service Agreements

To receive financial supports and services, licensed child care operators must enter into a purchase of service agreement with The County of Lambton.

The purchase of service agreement is a legally binding contract between the County and the operator. The purchase of service agreement is pursuant to the CCEYA and provides authority to The County of Lambton to administer delivery of financial assistance provided by the Ministry of Education with respect to licensed child care services and authorized recreational programs within its geographical area.

To apply for a Purchase of Service Agreement, interested applications must submit:

• Proof of Insurance
• Copy of Parent Handbook
• Fee Schedule as per O. Reg. 236/22
  
• Owner/Board Contact Information
• Ministry of Education Approved License
• CWELCC Application (if required)

Once the application to enter into a purchase of service agreement has been approved by The County of Lambton’s Children’s Services, the operator will receive:

1. An agreement for review and signature,
2. Information regarding fee subsidy billing,
3. Information regarding available funding, including CWELCC, if applicable, and
4. Access to The County of Lambton child care waitlist system.

Currently, operators may be eligible for receipt of funding from The County of Lambton for fee subsidy, wage enhancement grant, general operating grant, enhanced programming support, special purpose, and CWELCC funding supports upon approval and agreement execution. 

Funding Supports

The Lambton County Service Provider Guidelines contains important information regarding service agreements, roles and responsibilities, expectations and requirements, the fee subsidy program, funding opportunities and eligibility, reporting requirements, and resources available to agencies with a purchase of service agreement.

Operator reviews and understands the:

• Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) and Ontario Regulation 137/15 to understand licensing requirements.
• Child Care Licensing Manual  to understand the legislative and regulatory requirements for licensed child care centres.
• Ontario’s Access and Inclusion Framework 2023(En Français)
• The County of Lambton Child Care and Early Years System, including the:
  • County of Lambton Child Care and Early Years Service System Plan
  • Purchase of Service Agreement requirements and supports (above).

Interested operators may express interest to open or expand a licensed child care program. 

• Operator submits an expression of interest in writing to The County of Lambton Children's Services Department(See section titled “Process to Open a Licensed Child Care Program”).
• The County of Lambton Children's Services Department reviews expression of interest for Service System Plan priority alignment and eligibility to make an informed decision.
• The County of Lambton Children's Services Department responds to the expression of interest, and, if necessary, provides required applications to be submitted.
• The County of Lambton Children's Services Department reviews the application and communicates the decision to applicant in writing. 

If successful, a meeting will be scheduled with The County of Lambton and the approved applicant(s) to review next steps. 

• Successful applicant reviews the Start a Child Care Program website to learn how to obtain a child care license in Ontario, including how to apply, information on fees and required approvals.
• Licensee builds, renovates, or retrofits new space; licensee submits status update(s) to The County of Lambton Children’s Services Department regarding status of project at key milestones as outlined in project plan.
• Operator submits the signed Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care New License Application Service System Manager Confirmation Form found on CCLS.
• Operator notifies The County of Lambton Children's Services once licensing is approved by Ministry of Education.
• Operator and The County of Lambton enter into a Purchase of Services Agreement.

• Operator adheres to The County of Lambton’s required reporting and reconciliation requirements, as prescribed by the purchase of service agreement, the Lambton County service provider guidelines, or as communicated by The County of Lambton Children’s Services staff.

Start-up grant funding supports directed growth by enabling space creation in neighbourhoods that have had historically lower rates of space availability that may not be accommodated through natural growth.

Start-up grants can be used to offset the initial costs required to expand or create spaces such as equipment and leasehold improvements. The grants support community-based space expansion projects and prioritize the creation of new licensed full-day spaces for children aged 0-4. Start-up grants may be used for retrofits, renovations, or expansion projects, but cannot be used to purchase land or buildings. Space expansion projects for child care programs that run during school hours for kindergarten and school-aged children are ineligible for Start-up grants.

The application for Start-up grant funding will only be available to successful expansion applicants.

If you have interest in opening or expanding a licensed child care, or have any questions about the process, please email childcareadmin@county-lambton.on.ca with your questions and contact information and we will follow up as soon as possible.

Expansion approvals are subject to space and funding availability.

Lambton County does not guarantee approval of applications into the CWELCC program.