What is "Licensed" Child Care?

As a licensed child care centre, NHCS has been assessed, approved, and licensed by the Ministry of Education.

Licensed child care is governed by the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA) which sets standards for nutritional requirements, the amount of physical space needed per child, staffing qualifications, programming requirements, staff to children ratios, health and safety, equipment needed and how to manage children’s behaviours.

Licensed child care centres utilize many checks and balances and are thoroughly inspected annually by a representative of the Ministry of Education to ensure they continue to meet the conditions required.

Licensed Child Care also means that families can qualify to receive child care subsidy. It is recognized that high quality child care can be a financial challenge for some families and subsidies help cover all or a portion of child care costs. Please click here for information about subsidized child care.

We are currently licensed to provide care for

3 infants (Younger than 18 months);

5 toddlers (18 months or older but younger than 30 months);

16 junior preschoolers (30 months or older but younger than 6 years); and

16 senior preschoolers (44 months or older but younger than 13 years)

Each classroom is staffed by at least one Registered Early Childhood Educator.

We have a bright, stimulating child care centre that invites learning through exploration and play. NHCS implements How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years, believing that learning is developed through relationships with young children and their families.

Our ‘play-based’ approach means that our Educators plan programming and activities based on children’s interests, developmental needs and they will adapt their plans to incorporate identified interests that children may have.

Our Early Years programs play an important role in supporting children’s learning, development, health, and well-being. Evidence from diverse fields of study tells us that children grow in programs where adults are caring and responsive. Children succeed in our programs as we focus on active learning through exploration, play, and inquiry, where they and their families are valued as active participants and contributors.