Operating a child care

The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) Agreement is a transformational investment in affordable licensed child care for families across our communities. Families with children under 6 years of age in a participating CWELCC-enrolled licensed child care centre or home-agency have access to reduced child care fees for CWELCC eligible age groups. 

Licensed child care providers must let parents and staff know whether or not they are participating in the CWELCC System.   

Application for CWELCC enrollment in London-Middlesex is conducted through a Directed Growth plan process that will be posted here on the City of London’s website. 

Purpose of Directed Growth of the CWELCC program

The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) is a federal-provincial initiative introduced in 2022 to make child care more affordable and accessible for families across Canada. CWELCC expansion across all of Ontario aims to create 86,000 net new licensed child care spaces by the end of 2026 as part of this initiative. 

The Ministry of Education has directed the City of London and County of Middlesex to create 2,510  new licensed CWELCC-enrolled child care spaces by 2026, focusing on access and inclusion for all children as part of the CWELCC System.

Role of the Service System Manager

The City of London is designated as the Service System Manager (SSM) of Licensed Child Care and Early Years for the City of London and County of Middlesex. 

As part of the Directed Growth Plan and in partnership with the County of Middlesex, the SSM:

• Uses established data and criteria to assess alignment with local service system priorities for increasing access to the CWELCC program; and
• Provides advice to the Ministry of Education during the child care licensing process on the likely CWELCC eligibility of new licensed child care spaces.

Note: The City of London and the County of Middlesex do not approve child care licences. Licensing is managed by the Ministry of Education.

Note: Advice provided to the Ministry of Education on likely CWELCC eligibility does not guarantee funding.

Licensees (or individuals/organizations seeking to become a Licensee) that do not agree with a decision made by the SSM related to CWELCC (i.e., eligibility to enroll, funding levels, etc.) have the option to utilize the London-Middlesex CWELCC Appeal Process. 

Appeals must be submitted in writing, including via email, no sooner than 24 hours after the CWELCC-related decision is released, and no later than 10 business days after receipt of notification of the CWELCC-related decision.

The details of this process are set out below: 

1. Licensees seeking to appeal a CWELCC-related decision can send an email (ChildrensServicesAdmin@london.ca) or written letter to the Director, Child Care and Early Years at the City of London (355 Wellington St., Suite 248, P.O. Box 5045, London ON  N6A 3N7). 

   The appeal request should include the decision being appealed, the reason for the appeal, and any supporting information. 

2. Appeals will be reviewed by CCEY staff, who may request a meeting with the Licensee or individual/organization during the appeal process.
3. Licensees have the right to appeal within 10 business days of a decision and will be advised of the outcome within 10 business days of receipt of their appeal (being the date that the SSM received notification of the appeal).
4. Final decisions regarding CWELCC eligibility rest with the SSM. 

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