Understand Alberta’s childcare system – For parents and families

Here are some terms to help you understand Alberta’s licensed childcare system.

• childcare program: a structured service that provides care and early learning for children. This includes daycare, preschool, out-of-school care and family day homes. You can learn more about the different types of childcare programs below.
• early learning: the foundational experiences that help children build social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills before they enter grade 1. In Alberta, licensed programs incorporate early learning through play-based environments that encourage exploration, problem-solving and relationship-building.
  • Flight: Alberta’s Early Learning and Care Framework is a recommended early learning and childcare curriculum that supports holistic play-based practices for children up to 6 years old.
• provider / operator: the person or organization offering childcare services.
• educator / program staff: individuals certified as early childhood educators who care for and teach children in a program.
• program director: the person responsible for the day-to-day operations of a childcare program, including staffing, programming and communication with families.

Here are some requirements licensed childcare programs must follow, which can be useful to know about when choosing a provider:

• childcare program staff must be provincially certified as an early childhood educator within 6 months of being hired and uncertified staff cannot be left alone to supervise children.
• programs are not required to provide meals. If they do, they must follow the necessary health requirements, which may include a permit and dedicated facilities. It’s always a good idea to ask how the program handles food and snacks.
• programs are allowed to operate 24 hours a day and some can accommodate parents with shift work. However, a child cannot remain in childcare for more than 24 consecutive hours.
• programs have a duty to inform parents of any licensing inspection reports or changes to their licence conditions.
• programs are required to ensure an adequate number of staff are in place at all times. Provincial regulations set out the number of staff required depending on the age of the children attending the program.
• programs are required to submit basic enrollment information into a secure provincial registration system. Learn more about your child’s registration information below.

Unlicensed childcare is not monitored by the government. Unlicensed providers may care for up to 6 children (not including their own) and must provide a safe environment. Examples of unlicensed childcare include:

• nannies
• private day homes
• informal arrangements with family, friends or neighbours

Families who use unlicensed childcare do not qualify for funding supports.

Government enforcement and stop orders

Alberta’s government can investigate complaints about unlicensed childcare providers when there is reason to believe that:

• a person is providing care to more than 6 children (not including their own), or
• there is an imminent threat to the health, safety or welfare of any children to whom the person is offering or providing care.

If either of these are confirmed, the Ministry of Education and Childcare will issue and enforce a ‘stop order’ (a legal directive to stop providing childcare). In this situation, parents with children attending the unlicensed provider will be notified of the stop order. You can also search for stop orders by using the Unlicensed Child Care Stop Order Lookup Tool.

In addition to stop orders, unlicensed childcare providers who fail to meet the requirements of the Early Learning and Child Care Act may be issued an ‘administrative penalty’ (a financial penalty). You can search for administrative penalties issued to both licensed and unlicensed providers by using the Administrative Penalty Lookup Tool.

Licensed facility-based programs operate out of a commercial, public or private building and can include:

• daycare: for children kindergarten age and younger, offering care for 4 or more consecutive hours per day. These programs typically operate during regular business hours (for example, 7 am to 6 pm), but exact schedules can vary by provider.
• preschool: for children 19 months to kindergarten age, offering care for less than 4 hours per day per child. Programs focus on early learning and social development, are often scheduled in the morning or afternoon and follow the school-year calendar.
• out-of-school care: for children in kindergarten up to age 12, available before and after school, during lunch hour, and on non-school days, such as PD days and school breaks. These programs may also serve 13 to 14-year-olds with special needs. Hours vary but generally cover early mornings (for example, 7 am to 9 am) and afternoons (for example, 3 pm to 6 pm).

Licensed home-based programs operate out of a private residence and can include:

• family day homes: for children aged 12 and under, depending on the provider. Family day homes are run by a ‘family day home educator’, who can offer childcare in their home for up to 6 children, not including their own. Approved family day home educators are not licensed directly by the government – instead, they operate under contract with a licensed family day home agency.
• family day home agencies: agencies do not provide direct childcare. Their role is to recruit, train and support family day home educators. Agencies monitor each family day home to make sure they follow the Family Day Home Standards and the Act and  Regulation. A licensed agency is your first point of contact to find a day home suitable for your family.
• group family childcare: for children aged 12 and under, depending on the provider. Group family childcare programs are operated by two or more providers caring for up to 10 children. This type of program is uncommon, as new licences are no longer being issued, but existing programs continue under current regulations.

• direct communication: the government can contact you if there’s a safety concern at your child’s program.
• improved monitoring: real-time data helps ensure licensing requirements are being met, such as child-to-educator ratios.

To generate a CCPN, licensed providers securely submit the following information into the Childcare Licensing Portal:

• child’s first and last name
• child’s date of birth
• parent or guardian’s first and last name
• parent or guardian’s phone number and email
• type of program (for example, preschool, daycare, etc.)
• enrolment start date
• monthly hours the child is registered to attend