Home Child Care Program

Yes. Verifying citizenship is the first step in the application process.

Home child providers should have experience with children, such as caring for family members and working with or volunteering with children.

No. You do not need to be. You can attain your Early Childhood Education Diploma if you wish, and we offer support to become a registered early childhood educator.

A licensed home childcare provider offers independence in running your own business, and a childcare provider has independence in running a business with the support and resources of an agency. Other benefits include:

• Administrative support from an agency to find and place children in your home, collect payment from families and directly pay providers.
• Support from a home visitor who can guide programming and answer questions.
• Access to wage enhancements, such as Wage Enhancement Grants and Operating Grants.
• Access to additional financial support and resources as well as ongoing assistance from the Métis Nation of Ontario, Early Learning Child Care (ELCC)
• Participate in professional learning opportunities and resources and engage in a community of licensed providers.
• The flexibility to care for a small group of children and accept children based on your availability and needs.
• Reduced child care fees for eligible families through the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care System and child care fee subsidy.
• Reassurance for families that your home meets provincial home child care requirements.

• Introductions to families requiring child care.
• Support from trained and qualified childcare professionals and ongoing opportunities to enhance your childcare and business skills.
• Ideas and resources to enhance your child care business.
• Guaranteed payment for the service you provide.

A home visitor is a professional who works for a licensed agency and ensures licensing requirements and standards while providing a safe and nurturing environment for the children in their care. Home visitors have a background in early childhood education and child development.

Home visitors come for an initial inspection of your home before children are enrolled and regularly visit to ensure homes continue to meet the provincial requirements and the agency’s policies and procedures.

They support providers by:

• Providing training and guidance to support providers with quality programming.
• Visiting regularly to answer questions and concerns.
• Offer support in planning activities for children at different stages of their development, nutritious meal planning, and choosing materials and equipment that are safe and suitable for them.

The Licensed Home Child Care Agency provides licensed child care by contracting with self-employed caregivers. An individual caregiver does not hold a license in the province of Ontario.

Requirements
• Access to a suitable space for up to 6 children
• Immunizations for the provider & all members of the household
• Vulnerable sector check
• Standard first aid & CPR level C
• Food handler certification
• Medical documents for all pets in the household

Competencies
• Have experience with young children
• Show warmth, sincerity, and genuine interest when working with children
• Have strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Have strong behaviour guidance skills, including problem-solving, positive reinforcement, and redirection strategies

Yes. The ELCC team has funding and support to help you secure all job requirements.

Yes, as long as you are willing to meet the requirements to become a licensed home child care provider.

Yes, if you are already licensed, we would be happy to discuss having you join our program!

Yes. We would be happy to have your families join you as you transition to licensed home child care.

Prospective licensed home child care providers should consider their hours of operation, how many children they wish to care for, safe indoor and outdoor spaces, equipment, early learning activities and supplies to provide high-quality, licensed home child care.

The Licensed Home Child Care Agency supports each home child care provider throughout the application process. MNO ELCC has funding available for eligible expenses to help you become licensed.

Hours of operation vary according to the needs of families in your community and the hours you are willing to operate your home. 

Licensed home child care agencies collect fees from families and determine a payment schedule for providers once contracted. Agencies have their payment schedules. Be sure to discuss any financial questions you may have with your agency.

The following individuals who are 18 or older require a vulnerable sector check: home child care providers, students and volunteers, persons who are ordinarily residents or regularly at the premises, home child care visitors and employees of the home child care. Anyone in your home and will be in contact with the children during the hours you operate your home child care business will require a police vulnerable sector check.

A caregiver must have a current Standard First Aid, including Infant and Child CPR, and be able to maintain both. MNO ELCC will support you with the cost by offering reimbursement for your successful completion.

Yes, pets are allowed in your home, and we want to ensure that they and their living environments are hygienic and clean for children. For more information, check out the additional resources link at the bottom of the FAQ.

A Commercial General Liability Insurance policy provides payment in the event of a liability loss, such as a negligent act resulting in bodily injury, property damage, or death. 

It protects your business against liabilities from your daily operations as a home child care provider.  You can expect to pay $450 to $1,350 annually. However, it’s best to contact your insurance company to inquire about rates. The ELCC team has funding available to support you with your insurance expenses.

As of July 1, 2019, under the Child Care and Early Years Act of 2014, a licensed home childcare provider can care for a maximum of six (6) children under the age of 13. Providers must care for a maximum of only three (3) children under the age of two (2) (including their own children).

Yes. Licensed home childcare providers must count their children under the age of four (4). As of July 1, 2019, providers no longer need to count their children aged four (4) and older.

No. The maximum number of children applies regardless of the number of adults in the home.

You will work with your Licensed Home Child Care Agency to ensure that requirements are met, and the process may take several weeks to complete.

Please contact the ELCC team at elccpartnerships@metisnation.org for further information.

Home-based child care rules in Ontario – Government of Ontario

Child care rules in Ontario | ontario.ca

How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years

https://files.ontario.ca/edu-how-does-learning-happen-en-2021-03-23.pdf

Learn About Home Child Care in Canada – Canadian Child Care Federation

https://cccf-fcsge.ca/ece-resources/topics/home-child-care/

Recommendations for the Management of Animals in Child Care Settings, 2018 – Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care

Recommendations for the Management of Animals in Child Care Settings, 2018 (ontario.ca)