Being a working parent is difficult. One of the hardest problems you’ll inevitably have to face is what to do with your child during the day. At Colwell Nursery School and Kindergarten, we do everything we can to cater to your children’s needs. These are some of the childcare options available to you in Pickering, Ajax and surrounding areas in Ontario.
TYPES OF CHILDCARE
There are three main categories of childcare here in Ontario. Each one caters to differing types of needs and situations faced by parents. Let’s take a detailed look at each of these types and the benefits they can offer for parents who can’t spend their days at home:
1. LICENSED HOME CHILDCARE
This type of childcare is offered by individuals in their own homes. Typically, such places undertake the care for infants, toddlers and preschool children. In some cases, they also offer before and after school services as well. Think of them as home daycare centres. These facilities are rigorously inspected and regulated by a governing body. One of the benefits of this type of arrangement is that the groups are generally smaller, so your child will receive more individual attention. Another benefit is that if you have more than one child, they’ll be placed together and not in different classes. If you find yourself in need of financial aid, these institutions are often subject to fee subsidies to make things more affordable.
2. LICENSED CHILDCARE CENTRE
These institutions cater to a variety of childcare needs. For example, our own nursery school and kindergarten in Pickering offers both part-time and full-time placements. Think of these institutes as your traditional daycare centres. They can operate out of different types of buildings, workplaces, community centres and even schools. They’re rigorously regulated and inspected, are staffed entirely by trained and licensed professionals and include activities that are specifically tailored to your child’s level of development.
3. UNLICENSED HOME CHILDCARE
You don’t require a license to operate as a nanny or child caregiver in Ontario. So, if it suits your needs, you can hire an unlicensed individual to take care of your child in their or your own home. While not inspected by a governing body, the ministry of education investigates all complaints against such providers.
If you’re in need of childcare services in Pickering, Ontario, contact us at Colwell Nursery School and Kindergarten. We provide full-time, part-time and afterschool programs. Visit us here for more information regarding enrollment.