Centre-based
	Full-day	Part-time
Infants/toddler	1,006	24*
Preschool	7,913	4,161
School-age	-	3,897
*This represents children under 2 years who may be attending a program licensed as a nursery school.

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Children with special needs in regulated child care

600

 

SUBSIDIES

Children receiving subsidies (1998)	8,957
Percentage of children in regulated child care receiving subsidies	44%

 

SPONSORSHIP OF REGULATED CENTRE SPACES (1998)**

Non-profit	7,752
For-profit	1,167
**More than 95% of regulated part-time programs re non-profit.

Maximum centre size	70 spaces
Maximum room size	Two groups of children

Group sizes and staff/child ratios for occasional day care centres are consistent with full-day preschool and school-age day care centres.

Staff qualification requirements   Manitoba has the following three qualification levels:

• Early Childhood Educator (ECE) III: An approved ECE III program and a recognized certificate program; or an approved degree program from a recognized university.

• Early Childhood Educator (ECE) II: An approved diploma in child care services from a recognized community college or satisfactory completion of the Child Day Care Competency-based Assessment (CBA) Program.

• Child Care Assistant (CCA): Not eligible on the basis of educational requirements for classification at the ECE II or III level; employed in a day care centre.

All staff must be 18 years of age and have completed a first-aid course that includes CPR training relevant to the age group. Two-thirds of a full-time centre’s preschool staff must be classified as ECE II or III and one half of staff employed in school-age centres and nursery schools must be classified as ECE II or III. A director in a full-time preschool centre must be classified as an ECE III and have 1 year’s experience working with children in child care or in a related field. A director in a school-age centre or nursery school must be classified as an ECE II and have 1 year’s experience in child care or in a related setting.

Parent involvement    All licensed non-profit centres are required to have boards of directors where parents constitute a minimum of 20% of the board members. For-profit programs are required to have parent advisory committees.

Licensing, monitoring and enforcement    Twenty-five provincial Day Care Centre Coordinators conduct a minimum of three monitoring visits of each centre each year, one of which is a re-licensing visit. A fourth contact with the facility during the year is also required.

Provisional licenses may be issued if the facility does not meet all of the requirements of the regulations, if the facility is not hazardous to the health, safety and well-being of the children, or if time is required to bring the centre into compliance.

A licensing order may be issued when a severe violation of the Act or Regulations occurs. The order requires immediate correction of the areas listed, and is posted in the centre. Failure to comply may result in suspension or revocation of the license.

A license may be revoked if there is continued non-compliance with licensing requirements and the facility is deemed hazardous to the health, safety and well-being of the children.

REGULATED FAMILY DAY CARE

Regulation    Individually licensed

Maximum capacity   

Family day care homes (one caregiver)
Eight children under 12 years (including the provider's own children under 12 years). No more than five children may be under 6 years, and not more than three children may be under 2 years.

Group day care homes (two caregivers)
Twelve children under 12 years (including the provider's own children under 12 years). No more than three children may be under 2 years.

Provider qualification requirements   There are no training requirements for regulated family day care providers. However, if a provider is classified as an ECE II or III, she/he may charge a higher fee which is equivalent to the fees charged in day care centres. Providers must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid first-aid certificate that includes CPR training relevant to the age group being cared for. Family day care providers are assessed by Child Day Care for their suitability to provide care based on recognized family day care standards.

Licensing, monitoring and enforcement    When an individual applies for a license, provincial Day Care Centre Coordinators complete safety inspection reports of the applicant's home. Three drop-in visits per year and one scheduled re-licensing visit per year are conducted.