Early Learning and
Child Care Services in Manitoba

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Manitoba has over 1,150 licensed child care facilities with almost 26,000 spaces. It is estimated that more than 30,000 children, including over 1,300 with disabilities use these spaces each year. Some attend part-time licensed nursery schools. Others attend licensed child care centres or homes part-time or full-time. There are almost 2,000 early childhood educators with diplomas or degrees in early childhood care and education working in centres, and over 550 family child care providers caring for children in home settings throughout the province.

Child care legislation

In 1983, The Community Child Care Standards Act was established. It defined the types of child care settings that require licensing. The act and its regulations also ensure the early learning and child care provided in licensed centres and homes meets proper standards.

Licensed early learning and child care in centres

• nursery schools for children aged two to five years
• school-age programs for children aged five to 12 years
• full-time infant and preschool programs for children aged three months to six years

Licensed early learning and child care in homes

• a family child care home is care provided by one provider in his/her home for up to eight children, aged three months to 12 years
• a group child care home is care provided by two providers in one of their homes for up to 12 children, aged three months to 12 years

Non-profit organizations, or parent co-operatives, private companies or individuals operate all centres and homes. The provincial government licenses them and provides some with operating grants.

A commitment to affordable, accessible, high quality care

The Manitoba Child Care Program, part of the Department of Family Services and Housing, oversees the operation of licensed early learning and child care in the province. It ensures high quality care and education for children aged three months to 12 years by:

• Licensing and monitoring centres and homes according to the act and its regulations.
• Providing subsidies for child care fees to licensed facilities for eligible families who choose licensed early learning and child care.
• Providing grants to eligible licensed centres and homes.
• Placing children with special needs in early learning and child care settings through the Children with Disabilities Program and providing staffing supports for early intervention.
• Classifying all early childhood educators and child care assistants who work in licensed centres.
• Providing a number of online resources and services for parents and providers on Child Care Online at www.manitoba.ca/childcare.

Centres and homes are assessed regularly and licensed annually by a Child Care Co-ordinator from the Manitoba Child Care Program. Licences must be prominently posted in the facility.

Where are child care centres and homes located?

Centres are located in a variety of community settings including schools, community centres, churches, shopping malls, houses, free-standing buildings, government buildings and work-site locations. About 38 percent are located in schools.

Family child care homes are located in almost every neighbourhood in Manitoba.

When is a licence not required?

A licence is not required when:

• A family child care home has no more than four children under 12 years of age in care, including the caregiver's own children.
• Public or private schools choose to take responsibility for the operation of nursery schools or before and after school programs.
• In other situations when parents are onsite and immediately accessible to their children.

Highlights of the legislation

The act and its regulations are research based and among the best in North America. They ensure:

• Early learning and child care environments contribute to the health, safety and well-being of children.
• Activities are available to promote the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of children.
• Parents are involved in the operation or management of centres.

Quality indicators

Staff training:

• Two-thirds of centre staff working with infant and preschool children, and half of school-age or nursery school staff must have a diploma or a degree in early childhood education.
• Family child care providers are assessed by child care co-ordinators for their suitability to provide child care. New providers, licensed after January 2003, must complete a 40-hour course in family child care or early childhood education.
• All child care providers must undergo a police check and have first aid and CPR training.

Supervision: There is strict legislation on staff-tochild ratios (1:4 infants, 1:8 preschool and 1:15 school age) and the maximum number of children allowed in a group in child care centres. Curriculum: Regulations call for child-focused, play-based curricula to encourage healthy child development. Centres must provide a variety of activities, as well as space and equipment for creative art, music, science, dramatic play, reading, fine motor, large motor, outdoor play, blocks, water, sand and construction.

Assessing the value of quality child care

• Seven out of 10 Canadian mothers with children under age six are in the paid workforce.
  (Profiling Canada's Families II, Vanier Institute of the Family, 2000, p.86)
• High quality early childhood care and education has long-lasting effects on a child's social, intellectual and emotional development, regardless of socioeconomic background or mother's workforce participation.
  (The Benefits and Cost of Good Child Care: Gordon Cleaveland and Michael Krashinsky, 1998)
• For every dollar invested in high quality child care, there is a $2 benefit to children, parents and society… Society gains significant benefits from the future effects of enhanced childhood development, economic productivity and lower cost of supports like income assistance and social services.
  (The Benefits and Cost of Good Child Care: Gordon Cleaveland and Michael Krashinsky, 1998)
• Investments in the early period of life are as important as investments in education, post-secondary education and health care.
  (Reversing The Real Brain Drain: Early Years Study, Final Report: Margaret Norrie McCain and J. Fraser Mustard, April 1999)

For more information about child care in Manitoba:

Child Care Information Services
Phone: (204) 945-0776
Toll-free: 1-888-213-4754

Subsidy Information Services
Phone: (204) 945-0286
Toll-free: 1-888-213-4754

Manitoba Child Care Program
Family Services and Housing
Room 219 – 114 Garry Street
Winnipeg MB R3C 4V6

Website: www.manitoba.ca/childcare