What is a child care agency?

Licensed agencies work with centres or individual providers who use their own home to take care of children. Being part of an agency means the licensed home-based child care providers receive training throughout the year. Agency Home Child Care Consultants (registered Early Childhood Educators) are there to support the providers and families that work with the agency. The Home Child Care Consultants go to the licensed child care provider’s home every month to ensure policies are being followed and met and that their programming aligns with the Ministry of Education.

 

Agencies also do safety checks in the home every three months. The checklist that is used for these home visits is provided by the Ministry of Education.

 

If a child care provider is licensed, then agencies ensure that cleared Police Vulnerable Sector Checks are completed every five years. Licensed providers also have to have a CPR/First aid Level C that is updated every three years.