Centre-based
Infant / Toddler	5,844
Preschooler	54,697
Family day care	21,761
Total spaces regulated by MFE*	82,302
*  Ministère de la famille et de l'enfance

School-age* (estimate)	92,700
* under the ageis of the Ministry of Education

Total spaces regulated*	175,002
* by MFE AND under the ageis of the Ministry of Education

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Children with special needs in regulated child care

1,495

 

SUBSIDIES

Children receiving subsidies (1998)*	38,070
Percentage of children in regulated child care receiving subsidies (1998)	22%
* The number of children receiving subsidies is decreasing with the implementation of publicly-funded services. (See RECENT DEVELOPMENTS.)

 

SPONSORSHIP OF REGULATED CENTRE SPACES (1998)

Non-profit	58,376
For-profit	23,935

Maximum child care facility size	80 spaces
Maximum garderie size	60 spaces

Staff qualification requirements   In 1998, one-third of staff were required to have a college diploma or university degree in early childhood education (ECE) or 3 year's experience plus a college attestation degree or certificate in ECE. For new child care centres, two- thirds of staff must have a college diploma or university degree in ECE. By September 1999, all services had to conform with this requirement.

Parent involvement   All child care services must have a board of directors with 51% parent members or a five member parent advisory committee.The parent committee must be consulted on issues of service delivery. Non-profit services may receive a permit (or license) if their boards of at least seven members includes two-third parent users. Staff, providers and assistants may not sit on these boards.

Licensing, monitoring and enforcement   Ministère de la famille et l'enfance (MFE) issues permits (licenses) for up to a 2 year period. MFE inspectors may visit any licensed operation to monitor its compliance with regulations. There is no regulatory requirement for the frequency of visits by inspectors. Inspectors are not required to have a degree, diploma, or training in early childhood education.

If a centre is found to be in non-compliance with legislative requirements but there is no immediate danger to the health or well-being of the children, MFE informs the centre’s board, in writing, that the program is in non-compliance with a specific regulation(s) and requests rectification. A follow-up check is done by an inspector when sufficient time is deemed to have passed. Repeated instances of non-compliance which do not pose an immediate threat may result in a court hearing. Québec does not issue conditional or provisional licenses. The operator may appeal the loss of license (or the refusal by MFE to renew a license) to a tribunal set up by MFE to hear the case and may be represented by a lawyer. If not satisfied with the tribunal’s ruling, the operator may appeal a decision to the Commission des affaires sociales. Its decision is binding.

REGULATED FAMILY DAY CARE

Family day care providers are supervised by licensed early childhood agencies (CPE's).

Maximum capacity   Up to six children including the provider's children under 9 years; no more than two children may be under 18 months. If the provider is assisted by another adult, they may care for nine children, including the providers' own children, with not more than four children under 18 months.

Provider qualification requirements

Family day care child centre worker    Staff duties include approving/hiring people responsible for family day care, providing technical and professional support to such persons, and exercising control and supervision for such persons. Staff responsible for supervision must have at least 3 years of full-time experience working with children or supervising or directing people.

Family day care provider     Family day care providers must hold a first-aid certificate and complete a training program lasting at least 45 hours pertaining to child development, health and diet issues, and organization and leadership in a "life environment". Many early childhood agencies provide training for providers.

Licensing, monitoring and enforcement   Staff are required to do on-site visits. MFE monitors records of home visits and activity reports.