Children’s Services

The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system will support quality, accessibility, affordability and inclusivity in early learning licensed child care serving eligible children.

Key objectives include lowering child care fees for eligible children, improving wages and increasing access to quality child care programs.

CWELCC is a five-year plan that is based on equity and inclusion. All families, including those with a fee subsidy, will have access to CWELCC programs by 2025.

The County of Huron is proud to announce that all licensed child care centres and approved home child care locations are participating in the CWELCC system.  Families will see a reduction in daily child care fees in 2022, with a future reduction in January 2023.

Please contact your licensed child care program for further information on rates and rebates that you are now eligible for.

View the Child Care and Early Years Community Plan, which discusses the current services and challenges in Huron County.

EarlyON Child and Family Centres and programs are a place where parents and caregivers of children (from birth to six years of age) can:

• Participate with their children in a range of age-appropriate programs and activities;
• Discover answers to questions on child development;
• Find information about programs and services that are available for young children and families in their area;
• Talk to EarlyON Professionals, as well as other parents and caregivers in their community.

Qualified early years professionals can help families and caregivers find support, get advice, make personal connections and access a network of resources.  If you are a parent or caregiver,  join us in a safe learning environment where we can share play-based activities, story and music time, and information that supports families in their own communities.

EarlyON programs offer indoor and outdoor in many locations through out the county,  as well as virtual programming, telephone and email support.

Huron County currently has over 25 programs per week.  Find a location near you.

In addition to our programs being welcoming, fun, and interactive, they teach parents new activities to do at home to enhance their child’s development.

Join us  for programs such as:

• Baby time
• Parent-child Mother Goose
• Songs & stories
• Parent chats
• Links to other agencies that support early intervention.
• Parent/Caregiver sessions: (toilet learning, Circle of Security Parenting, guest speakers, and so much more.)

Huron EarlyON uses the online registration system  KEyON a digital sign-in system that provides parents with a quick and simple way to sign in at EarlyON Centres in Huron County and across Ontario.  You can preregister for indoor, outdoor and virtual programs in a few easy steps by selecting Huron from the region drop down section. A step-by-step guide is available in the resources section.  

The KEyON system works best in Google Chrome.  

If you prefer a printable calendar, visit the Resource Section.

Like & Follow us on the Huron EarlyON Facebook or Huron EarlyON Instagram pages for daily songs and activity ideas, creative fun, parent information, community resources, and our most current program information. Ask your EarlyON Facilitator about our YouTube Channel.

Your family’s well-being is important to us. It’s OK to ask for help!  We are here to talk outside of program times.  Have child-related or parenting questions? Connect with us either by geographical area or by contacting a facilitator directly.  Huron County Public Library has many child and adult books for borrow on the topic of mental health and well being.

Here are some other local mental health supports you can access:

• Huron Perth Helpline and Crisis Response Team: If you or someone you know needs mental health and/or addiction support, contact the 24-hour helpline at 1-888-829-7484.
• 211 (visit the website or just dial 211) is a free helpline that connects you to community and social services in your area 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in over 150 languages.
• The Huron-Perth Centre for Children and Youth is an accredited community-based children’s mental health centre.
• Children’s Mental Health Ontario
• Kids Help Phone

Need help? Have questions?  Call 519-482-8505 or Email earlyon@huroncounty.ca

As a parent, you want to be confident that your child gets the best possible start in life, in a healthy, safe and happy environment. You also want child care and EarlyON programs that meet your child’s needs as he or she grows and learns. The County of Huron supports the Ministry of Educations vision that:

• Every child has a sense of belonging when he or she is connected to others and contributes to their world.
• Every child is developing a sense of self, health, and well-being.
• Every child is an active and engaged learner who explores the world with body, mind, and senses.
• Every child is a capable communicator who expresses himself or herself in many ways.

Register with OneHSN

OneHSN is designed to help you learn about the licensed child care services available in our community and apply for a child care space. The application process is easy to use and the information you provide will determine the child care options available to you. You can apply your child(ren)’s name to as many Centres as you choose & the Child Care Centre will contact you when a space becomes available.  Use our Parent Guide to help you apply to OneHSN.

Apply with OneHSN

Child Care Options

1. Licensed Centre-Based Child Care

Licensed child care centres care for infants, toddlers, pre-school, and school-aged children. They include nursery schools, full-day care and before-and after-school programs. Ministry of Education staff inspects child care centres at least once a year to make sure the programs meet specific provincial standards for the health, safety and meeting the developmental needs of the children.

2. Licensed Home Child Care Agencies

Home child care agencies are licensed by the Ministry of Education and meet provincial standards. These agencies then contract caring and knowledgeable providers who offer child care for children 0 – 12 years in their own homes.

Unlicensed Child Care

Unlicensed child care is a private arrangement made between the parents and a caregiver who is not contracted with a licensed home child care agency. It is often an independent provider who operates a business in their home. Unlicensed child care providers are not inspected by the government unless there has been a complaint. They are required to identify themselves as unlicensed in writing to parents. Unlicensed child care providers can care for:

• a maximum of five children including their own children under the age of six; and
• a maximum of two children under the age of two

Choosing Child Care Checklist

The early years in a child’s life are viewed as the beginning stages of lifelong learning. A child’s earliest experiences and interaction with adults and other children play a key role in a child’s development.

Caring, competent caregivers play an important role in promoting the social, physical, emotional and cognitive development of children.  Click here for a printable checklist.  

Need this information in a different language? Click here.  

When choosing a child care provider, consider the following:

Does the early childhood educator or home provider

• foster caring relationships to create a sense of belonging between children, adults, and the community through positive and consistent interactions?
• Show flexibility in meeting the different needs of all the children and their families?
• nurture children’s healthy development?
• Listen to children, and respond with interest and respect?
• encourage choice, independence and relationship building and problem-solving?
• have a current First Aid/CPR certificate and experience as an early childhood care provider?

Does the Program

• offer a variety of activities to meet the needs of all children, including cultural needs?
• provide a flexible schedule with a mix of indoor and outdoor time and a rest period?
• offer nutritious meals and snacks, that accommodate all cultural and health needs?
• accommodate for the health or special needs of the children?
• encourage children to take part in age-appropriate life skills such as washing hands, dressing routines?
• foster social and emotional well-being in children and support communication and expression in all forms?
• provide clear expectations about administrative matters such as hours of operation, sick and medication policies, payment schedule?

Does the Physical Environment offer

• experiences for children to be active, creative, and engage in meaningful exploration, play, and inquiry?
• a designated space for the child’s belongings?
• a soft and cozy space as well as areas that invite active and messy play?
• both indoor and outdoor environments that are clean, accessible and safe
• an indoor play space comfortable, bright and warm?
• precautions and safety measures for any pets?
• an area for children’s work to be displayed?

Families living in the County of Huron may qualify to have the full or partial amount of their child care costs paid by the County of Huron if funding permits. This can be arranged when child care is provided at a licensed childcare centre or an approved home provider.

Generally, child care costs are the responsibility of parents or legal guardian. Child care subsidies are available to families living in Huron County that meet certain employment and financial qualifications. Eligibility is determined by guidelines set by the Ministry of Education – Early Learning Division.

Parent(s) or legal guardian can apply when:

• The child is under 12 years old in a licensed childcare program or approved home child care.
• A school age child is enrolled in an approved recreation program.

To qualify, parents or guardians must be participating in one of the following approved activities:

• Employed and working full or part time.
• Educational or training program.
• Employment assistance activity as approved under the Ontario Works program.
• Parent of a special needs child (medical, delays in development, social and emotional concerns) referred by a professional working with the family.

Financial eligibility for child care fee subsidy is based on family net income. Applicants must have filed last year’s income tax return and can verify family net income with a current Notice of Assessment (NOA) or Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) Notice from the Canada Revenue Agency

Child Care Fee Subsidy Applications are now available on-line for Huron County residence accessing licensed child care.  To create an account or sign in, please click on the following link.

For more information, FAQ, and instructions on how to apply for childcare subsidy, please contact Huron County Children’s Services at 519.482.8505 or toll free at 1.888.371.5718, or email childservices@huroncounty.ca

*You may be subject to a fee subsidy wait list.