The London-Middlesex Child Care and Early Years Service System Plan serves as a road map for child care and early years planning, providing a picture of current services and opportunities for growth throughout the area between 2019-2023.
For general community program information, health and family resources, visit familyinfo.ca.
Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement
The Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) Agreement in London and Middlesex 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 licensed child care have accessed to reduced child care fees by up to 52.75%. This means families are benefiting from cost savings that immediately impact the quality of their lives.
Licensed child care operators interested in participating in the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement can enroll through an application process and agreement with the City of London.
Licensed child care providers must let parents know if they are either choosing to participate or choosing not to participate in the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.
The focus on affordability is great news for families. At the same time, the longer-term vision for the agreement goes beyond affordability to include quality, accessibility, inclusivity, and workforce support as vital components of a healthy child care and early years system in Ontario.
For Operators
2023 Expansion
The City of London is currently updating its Service System Plan, which will guide our work for 2024-2028. The next opportunity for expansion will occur after the Service System plan is updated in late 2023. Licensees interested in expanding in London-Middlesex under the CWELCC system can anticipate a call-out in late 2023 with additional information on expansion priorities made available at that time.
Please continue to visit this page for updated information.
Future expansion opportunities
To assist licensees with planning for the future call-out, the SSM is sharing updated data about our community. The data provided below is for information purposes only and is subject to change at any time based on availability of data, new spaces opening, provincial requirements, and changes in our community.
The Ministry of Education has identified that the SSM must maintain their existing ratios of not-for-profit spaces for ages 0-6.
Notional expansion targets in London and Middlesex
Planning district prioritization calculation is based on the following indicators:
- Number of existing child care spaces relative to population size.
- Proportion of individuals whose language most spoken at home is French.
- Proportion of individuals who identify as Indigenous.
- Proportion of population that immigrated between the years of 2011 and 2021.
- Family Centre priority scoring, which is based on Early Development Instrument scores, Low Income Measures, and 0-4 population.
| Area | School-based spaces | Community-based spaces | Total spaces |
| Central London | 0 | 128 | 128 |
| Northeast London | 176 | 214 | 390 |
| Northwest London | 127 | 289 | 416 |
| Southeast London | 88 | 262 | 350 |
| Southwest London | 88 | 388 | 476 |
| Middlesex County | 103 | 217 | 320 |
| Total Spaces | 582 | 1489 | 2080 |
Quintile Map: City of London
The SSM maintains more detailed information on specific neighbourhoods. Licensees planning for expansion are encouraged to reach out to the City of London to learn more.
For Families
Participating Child Care Operators in London
As of January 2023, over 90% of licensed child care operators in London are participating in the CWELCC system, including:
| Acorn Christian Day Care Inc |
| Arbour Glen Day Nursery |
| Blossoms Early Childhood Education Centre (East) |
| Blossoms ECE Centre (West) |
| Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Centre |
| Carrefour Communautaire Francophone de London |
| Chelsea Green Children's Centre Inc. |
| Children's Place |
| Faith Day Nursery |
| Gan-Gani Nursery School of London |
| Grand Avenue Children's Centre |
| Grosvenor Nursery School |
| Humble Beginnings Nursery School |
| Kidlogic London Inc. |
| Kids & Company Ltd. |
| KidZone Day Care Centre Inc. |
| Kinderville Gainsborough London Inc. |
| La ribambelle Centre Préscolaire francophone de London |
| LHCC Dream Weavers Day Care Inc. O/A Wee Watch |
| LHCC London Children's Connection Inc. (London and Middlesex) |
| LHCC London French Daycare |
| LHCC London Smiles Day Care Services Inc. O/A Wee Watch |
| London Bridge Child Care Services Inc. |
| London Children's Connection Inc. |
| London French Daycare Centre Inc. |
| London Gospel Temple Benevolent Corporation (Temple Tots) |
| London Muslim Mosque (London Islamic School) |
| Noah's Ark Preschool |
| Nshwaasnangong Child Care & Family Centre |
| Oak Park Co-operative Children's Centre Inc. |
| Orchard Park Nursery School Inc. |
| Parkwood Children's Daycare Centre of London |
| Simply Kids Inc. |
| The Governing Council of The Salvation Army in Canada |
| The Kangaroo's Pouch Daycare Inc. |
| The Western Day Care Centre Inc. - Blue Heron and Emery |
| Tiny Hoppers Early Learning Centres- London |
| Village Co-operative Preschool Inc. |
| Whitehills Childcare Association |
| YMCA of Southwestern Ontario |
The City of London encourages families to reach out to their licensed child care provider with any questions they have about their participation in the CWELCC agreement. Licensed Child Care providers are required to inform families about their choice to participate or not participate in the CWELCC system.
The City of London is excited to be working with child care providers to support families accessing high-quality, affordable child care that supports healthy child development and makes the city of London the best place to raise a family
Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care System and Licensed Child Care - FAQs
What is the CWELCC System?
The CWELCC System is part of an agreement with the federal and provincial governments to make child care more affordable for families. The program applies to eligible children under 6 years of age who are enrolled in participating licensed child cares.
What does this mean for my family?
If your family has an eligible child (under 6 years of age) enrolled in a participating licensed child care program, you will have a reduced rate for child care fees.
How will I know if my child care is part of the CWELCC system?
Child care providers are required to tell families if they are participating in the CWELCC system or if they are not participating.
How will I find out the what the reduced rate is for child care fees?
The rates for child care fees will be provided to you by licensed child care providers, and you will pay the fees directly to them.
When will the $10/day child care that has been shared in the news go into effect?
The costs for licensed child care (for eligible children under 6 years of age) is expected to reach a provincial average of $10/day by March 31, 2026.
What happens if I change to a different child care provider?
It will be important to find out if the new child care provider is part of the CWELCC system and what rate they will charge for your child to attend their centre.
Not all licensed child care providers have opted into the program. This means that they will not have the same reductions that the CWELCC system is offering.
How will families that are part of the Child Care Fee Subsidy program find out about their rebate?
The City of London will send you a letter that outlines daily fee that you will pay to your child care provider.
What happens when my child turns 6?
Reduced fees are available for children until the end of the month they turn 6, or June 30TH if they turn 6 before the end of their kindergarten school year and are in an eligible program. Your child will be required to pay the non-CWELCC full fee the first of the month following their 6th birthday.
Child Care Fee Subsidy Program
Fee subsidy supports eligible families with the cost of child care expenses by paying all or a portion of the total cost, as funding permits.
Child Care and Early Years Resources for Parents
Ontario Childcare Tax Credit Information
The Ontario Childcare Tax Credit was recently introduced by the Ontario government. This new tax credit will provide about 300,000 families with up to 75 percent of their eligible child care expenses, and allow families to access a broad range of child care options, including care in centres, homes and camps.
Visit the Ontario Childcare Tax Credit page on Ontario.ca for to find out about eligibility requirements, eligible expenses, how to claim and to request more information.
This information is also available to you in French.
Questions about the Ontario Childcare Tax Credit should be directed to the Canada Revenue Agency:
- Tax services offices and tax centres
- Individual tax enquiries line at 1-800-959-8281
Ministry of Education Early Years’ Resources
Middlesex London Health Unit Parenting videos
Locally created short videos can help parents with a variety of topics that include: technology and your child, sexual health, mental health, growth and development, substance misuse, and family meals. View them on the Middlesex London Health Unit website.