About Children's Services

​For a complete listing of locations and hours of operation in Simcoe County visit:

EarlyON Child and Family Centre in the Barrie & Bradford Area​​

EarlyON Child and Family Centre in the Midland & Orillia Area

EarlyON Child and Family Centre in the Collingwood & Alliston Area

 ​

EarlyON Child and Family Centres offer free, drop-in programs for children up to six years old and their parents/caregivers. EarlyON centres are places to engage and connect with others in the community and feel a sense of belonging.

You will be welcomed by qualified early-year’s professionals who can provide support, advice, and helpful resources. EarlyON centres are where children and their parents/caregivers can learn, play, laugh, be curious, make friends and engage with others.

For a complete listing of locations and hours of operation in Simcoe County visit:

EarlyON Child and Family Centre in the Barrie & Bradford Area​

EarlyON Child and Family Centre in the Midland & Orillia Area

EarlyON Child and Family Centre in the Collingwood & Alliston Area

​​​​​​​​​Financial assistance for child care fees is available to eligible families within Simcoe County.  In order to apply, Parents/Guardians must be:

• working
• attending school
• fulfilling a participation agreement with Ontario Works or
• in need of developmental programming for a child with special needs
• in receipt of Ontario Works Temporary Care Assistance
• Children’s Aid Society Referrals

Eligibility for Child Care Fee Assistance is determined by a standard assessment based on income only. County of Simcoe residents interested in applying for Child Care Fee Assistance should have their childcare arrangement in place prior to scheduling an appointment for assessment of eligibility.

For more information about Child Care Fee Subsidy, please contact Carol-Ann Harkness at 705-722-3132 ext. 1164 or by email at carol-ann.harkness@simcoe.ca​ 

Child Care Subsidy Eligibility Calculator

Child Care Subsidy Estimator

To use this estimator, you will need the information from Line 236 from your Federal Income Tax Notice of Assessment for you and your partner.

Disclaimer:
Completing this Child Care Subsidy Estimator provides only a basic screening and does not confirm actual eligibility.

On Line Fee Subsidy Application:

​Please follow the link below to apply for Child Care Fee Assistance.  Upon receipt of this application in our office, you will be contacted within 48 hours  and will be scheduled an appointment.

OLAF (On Line Application for Fee Subsidy)

Or to schedule a Child Care Fee Assistance interview please call:
705-722-3132 or 905-729-4514 and press 2.

Note:
If we are in a waitlist situation, your application will be placed on a first come, first served waiting list with a priority ranking based on income level.

Accessing Child Care Fee Subsidy

​Child Care Fee Subsidy Appeal Form

Fee Subsidy – Self Employed Package

Required Documentation for Interview

Verification of Income

Downloadable Forms:

• Recognized Need for Child Care Fee Subsidy – Early Intervention
• Recognized Need for Child Care Fee Subsidy – SMFC
• Recognized Need for Child Care Fee Subsidy – Medical Professional
• Declaration of Family Information

Special Needs Resourcing

Services for preschool aged children with special needs are funded in part by the County of Simcoe and delivered by community agencies throughout the service areas in Simcoe County. The following agencies provide special needs resource services:

Resource Consultants Programs offered County-wide:

CLH Developmental Support Services
230 Aberdeen Blvd Unit 9
Midland On L4R 5N4339 Olive Street
1-888-399-8394

Blind Low Vision Early Intervention Program is offered County-wide by:

Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

201 Georgian Drive
Barrie, ON L4M 6M2
(705) 739-5696 or 1-800-675-1979

Speech & Language Services are offered County-wide by:

Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre​
201 Georgian Drive
Barrie, ON L4M 6M2
(705) 739-5696 or 1-800-675-1979

Occupational and Physio Therapy Services are offered County-wide by:

Orillia Soldier’s Memorial Hospital​​
Children’s Therapy Services
170 Colborne Street West
Orillia, ON L3V 2Z3

​​As a parent, you want to choose the kind of care that will help your child learn and grow. You want your child to be safe and happy.

Learn more about your child care options​.

Choosing quality licensed child care that is right for you and your child takes time, patience and planning. The checklist provided in the Simcoe County Child Care Booklet will outline some key questions to ask when searching for child care.  Search the online directory to look for child care in Simcoe County.

The Ministry of Education’s Licensed Child C​are website (LCCW) supports families in finding licensed child care programs in Ontario, and indicates whether the child care program is enrolled in the Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program. ​

Home child care is provided in a caregiver’s home. You can find home child care for infants, toddlers pre-school and school-aged children. Learn more about licensed home-based child care.

​View our Interactive Child Care Map to locate Child Care Providers in Simcoe County.

The extended day before and after school programs provides children with more opportunities to learn and grow, and provides a seamless day with fewer transitions for children and families.

The exact times for these programs may vary from school to school.  Parents can choose to enrol their child(ren) in the before school, the after school or both programs, or not at all.

All before and after school programs in Simcoe County are run by a third-party child care provider. 

• Simcoe County District School Board Child Care (Before & After)
• Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board In School Child Care Programs

Full Day Early Learning in Ontario

• Ministry of Education Full-Day Kindergarten

​​Canada-Wide Early Learning Child Care (CWELCC) Plan​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Directed Growth

• Lauren Spinks, Program Supervisor,​ Lauren.Spinks@Simcoe.ca or 705-722-3132 ext. 1852

2023 CWELCC Funding Guidelines​

​​​2023 CWELCC Funding Guidelines​​​ – New​

Ontario’s Access and Inclusion Framework 2023

​​​​​​​All licensed child care operators are eligible to apply for wage enhancement funding, regardless of auspice (commercial or non-profit), participation in municipal quality initiatives, or current purchase of service status.

​​​The County of Simcoe is the designated Child Care Service System Manager (CMSM) responsible for planning and managing the early years services at the local level. Early years services are managed through a service planning process that reflects current child care legislation, regulations and directives. Child care service system planning is critical to supporting the broader system goals of an increasingly co-ordinated and integrated early learning and care system for children and families. Planning is ongoing and based on local community needs following a process that engages child care service providers, school boards and local stakeholders.

The following outlines the current funding that is available to support eligible child care service providers who hold an existing contract with The County of Simcoe: 

General Operating

The purpose of the General Operating funding is to support some costs associated with operating a licensed child care program in order to reduce wait times and fees for services, stabilize service levels, and where funds allow, improve access to high quality affordable early learning and child care services.  As part of General Operating, funding is also available to child care service providers to support an increase in base salary to individuals working in a licensed child care program.

For more information about General Operating funding, please contact Kristen McArthur at 705-722-3132 ext. 1728 or by email at Kristen.McArthur@Simcoe.ca​

2023 Centre-Based Child Care – GOG Application

2023 Home Child Care – GOG Application

2023 GOG Gui​delines

Transformation 

This funding is intended to cover onetime costs for non-profit child care service providers that are involved in business transformation activities and/or require business transformation supports such as amalgamation of two or more centres, the relocation of a child care centre to a school or within the community, or the retrofitting of an existing child care centre to serve younger age groups.

Repairs and Maintenance 

This funding is used to support licensed child care service providers who are not in compliance with licensing requirements or may be at risk of not being in compliance, under the Day Nurseries Act.

For further information please contact Kristen McArthur at 705-722-3132 ext. 1728 or by email at Kristen.McArthur@Simcoe.ca​

​​A Purchase of Service – Fee Subsidy Agreement is a written legal agreement between the Licensee and the County of Simcoe’s Children and Community Services Department

No new Purchase of Service – Fee Subsidy agreements will be established with for-profit licensees.

If a non-profit Licensee is unable to meet the need in the community, the County may put out a request to a for-profit Licensee with an existing Purchase of Service agreement to meet the community need; if a for-profit Licensee with an existing Purchase of Service contract is unable to meet the community need, the County may put out an open call so that a for-profit Licensee with no existing Purchase of Service contract may apply for a Purchase of Service agreement.

The Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM) reserves the right to accept or deny any request pending the need for child care in the area and availability of funding.

Child Care Licensees must be in operation for one year before applying for a Purchase of Service – Fee Subsidy Agreement.

For more information about a Purchase of Service – Fee Subsidy Agreement​, please contact Carol-Ann Harkness at 705-722-3132 ext. 1164 or by email at carol-ann.harkness@simcoe.ca​ 

Inclusion Support Funding is delivered through CLH Developmental Support Services to support the inclusion of children with exceptional and significant needs that are attending Licensed Child Care and School Age Programs.  The funding allows licensed child care and school age programs to hire additional staff known as an Inclusion Support Assistant to support programs with the resource options needed to enhance their inclusive practices.

Inclusion Support Funding is provided by The County of Simcoe – Children Services Department, through Special Needs Resource Funding.

For further information, or if you are interested in applying for Inclusion Support Funding, please click on the link below.

CLH Developmental Support Services

​​Vision

The Simcoe County Child Care Committee (SCCCC) is a professional network and learning community who share responsibility for enhancing quality child care that supports children, families and early learning professionals.

Members have regular opportunities to network with community partners from all geographical areas of the County to promote advocacy and awareness of the importance of early learning and development.

Goals of the SCCCC:

1. To support relevant initiatives of the Child, Youth and Families Coalition of Simcoe County.
2. To collaborate with members to identify and promote best practices in early learning and child care environments all across Simcoe County. 
3. To work collectively with system-level partners; e.g., Ministry of Education, Public Health Unit, Special Needs Resource Agencies.
4. To support and promote professional learning in Simcoe County. 
5. To respond with reflective feedback on child care directions and initiatives from local, provincial and federal sources as appropriate.

Membership

• Membership is open to all child care and early years supervisors and community partners.
• There is no membership fee.  Opportunities are supported through the County of Simcoe’s Capacity Funding provided by the Ministry of Education. 

For further information please contact Zelia Alves at 705-722-3132 or 905-729-4514 ext. 1126 or by email at ​Zelia.Alve​s@Simcoe.ca

The Best Start Network of Simcoe County is a planning table for Early Years services and programs. The Network intends to reflect the unique composition of our community and a broad range of community perspectives.

The Best Start Network is guided by a VISION:

“Children and families in Simcoe County are well supported by a system of responsive, high-quality, accessible and increasingly integrated early year’s programs and services that contribute to healthy child development today and a stronger future tomorrow.” (Ontario Early Years Policy Framework)

The Network plans, implements and monitors the Best Start Network vision through promotion of the well-being of children and families and creating conditions where they can live into their full potential.

Best Start Network members identify priorities through strategic planning for the Early Years. They Act as a common voice for Early Years’ Service Providers in Simcoe County.

There are several sub-committees within the Network:

• Early Intervention Council
• Infant and Early Mental Health Committee
• Early Years Learning Committee
• Simcoe County Child Care Committee
• EarlyON Child and Family Centres Leads

Parents may engage with service planning through community consultation, focus groups and surveys.

The Network supports movement to integrated system of services for children and families that is seamless and responsive to local community needs. This system will serve:

• Children through coordination of services that support well-being and optimal success.
• Parents and Caregivers through collaboration among providers in the delivery of information, services, and resources.
• Community Partners by promoting collaborative process and application of best available practices in service planning and delivery.

County of Simcoe Children Services staff and Best Start Network agency members participate on the Child, Youth and Family Services Coalition of Simcoe County to identify Early Years issues and priorities as required.

The Best Start Network meets virtually every 4^th Wednesday of each month except July, August and December.

For further information please contact:
Best Start Network Co Chairs
Tonya Millsap 705 722 3132 ext. 1486  tonya.millsap@simcoe.ca
Megan Legg 705 431 7410 ext. 5204  mlegg@innisfilidealab.ca​