Centre-Based Child Care
Centre-based child care is central in Canada, with centers employing around 12 staff, including ECEs, supervisors, and support staff (Charters & Findlay, 2024). About 137,000 workers serve children aged 0–5 across for-profit, not-for-profit, and government-operated facilities. For-profit centers make up 35% of the workforce but typically offer fewer benefits and lower wages, affecting staff morale and care quality (Statistics Canada, 2024).
Staff Qualifications and
Compensation
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Over 90% of centers employ at least one ECE-trained staff member, and 83% of supervisors hold ECE credentials (Charters & Findlay, 2024; Cleveland, 2025).
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Wage disparities exist, with supervisors earning an average of $27.80 per hour, ECE-trained staff $21.90, and untrained staff $18.00 (Charters & Findlay, 2024).
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Wage differences, along with benefits like health plans and paid leave, influence staff retention and the overall quality of child care (Charters & Findlay, 2024).
Process Quality in Child Care
Modern practices emphasize both structural and process quality, focusing on educator-child interactions, emotional support, and instructional strategies. Tools like the CLASS, ECERS-R, and ITERS-R assess and improve early learning environments, promoting play-based learning for younger children and academic preparation for older preschoolers (Government of Canada, 2022)
Family Child Care (FCC) Model
Family child care (FCC) offers a more personalized model, operating from the caregiver’s home. FCC providers use tools like the FDCRS and FCCERS-R to assess care quality, with a focus on interactions, materials, and routines. High-quality FCC is linked to caregiver education, emotional sensitivity, and formal training, fostering developmentally appropriate learning environments (Eckhart & Egret, 2020).
Inclusivity and Innovation
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Canada's child care system is becoming more inclusive through initiatives like the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework (Government of Canada, 2025).
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The ELCC Innovation Program introduced flexible care hours and digital portals to improve accessibility and inclusivity (Government of Canada, 2025).