A Guide to Vancouver Preschool & Day Care
As of September 2010, children in BC start attending school full-time at the Kindergarten level (ages 5 – 6).
Before children reach that age, parents look to Vancouver area preschool / daycare for their child during the day. They do so as a form of child care while they’re at work, as form of learning development, or both.
There is a general consensus that daycare and preschool in BC, particularly in Vancouver, is too expensive. A recent study found that only 13% of British Columbians with children said the affordability of day care was either good or very good, compared against 31% in the rest of Canada. More about this report.
Vancouver Preschool Strong Start Centres
Strong Start is for parents and caregivers with children ages zero – four. They offer preschool children quality play-based learning experiences and demonstrate to parents and caregivers how they can enhance their child’s development.
The emphasis of the program is on learning through play, language and positive social interactions.
There is no cost to families but the parent/ caregiver is required to remain and participate in the program. Children don’t need to speak English as a first language to attend.
Most Strong Start Centres run from 9-noon, Monday through Friday but some have alternate times, including afternoon sessions. Check with your local Strong Start Centre for their hours. Most of the elementary schools in the Vancouver area have Strong Start Centres. There are 18 Strong Start Centres operating in elementary schools in Vancouver alone. Contact your local school board to find the closest Strong Start Centre to you.
Drop-Off Preschool in Vancouver
If you need to be able to leave your child in the care of others while you work, there are private preschools and community centre preschools with qualified early childhood teachers that don’t require that you stay with your child.
Most preschools work with 3 to 4-year olds, though some have programs for even younger children.
Private preschools are the most expensive and usually have more expansive facilities, while community centre preschools are more affordable because they get government funding.
The cost of Vancouver area private preschool varies based on location and individual programs. Some programs only run 2 days a week while others run 5 days. The hours are usually 2 – 3 hours per day. Some also allow for later pick-up or earlier drop-off times for an additional fee.
You can expect to pay anywhere between $80 and $1400/ month on Vancouver preschool, depending on the type of school, location, and the number of days they care for your child.
Vancouver Daycare
While daycare and preschool are terms that are often used interchangeably, most people think of day care as childminding services that are run out of people’s homes. They are usually run by stay-at-home parents who want to earn extra money by caring for other people’s children alongside their own. Parents can legally care for 2 children that are not related to them in addition to their own without a child care license.
You may still prefer to have someone care for your child who has a BC ECE (Early Childhood Educator) certificate as they have to undergo industry specific training to get it.
Vancouver home daycare offers flexible options for parents and is generally more affordable than Vancouver drop-off preschools.
Many daycares offer full day services, 5 days/ week for families in which both parents work full-time. Full-time care costs $700 – 1,000 per month on average. Most home daycares advertise on CraigsList if they have spots available.
Tip: In some parts of the Vancouver area, like the downtown core, preschool and daycare spots are very competitive. Some parents apply for spots for their children before they’re even born to ensure a placement for them by the time they're 3 years old. Talk to other parents in your area to find out what the competitive climate is like for preschools and daycare centres.
Child Care Subsidy
All parents receive $100/month for each child under the age of 6 as part of the “Choice in Child Care Plan.”
In addition, BC has a child care subsidy that is provided through the provincial government that helps families with low incomes meet the costs of child care. The child care subsidy is paid directly to the child care provider (except in the case of care in the child's home), and the parent is responsible for pay the difference between the full cost of care and the amount that the subsidy covers.
You may be eligible if you...
› Are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or refugee,
› Live in and receive child care in BC,
› Demonstrate financial eligibility,
› Are using an eligible type of child care (licensed group, family or preschool; license-not-required or registered license-not-required; in child's home)
› Are employed or self employed; seeking work; attending school; in an employment program; are considered to have a medical condition that interferes with the ability to care for children
› Have child care recommended by the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD)
The Child Care Subsidy amount varies based on the number of children and the type of child care used. See Child Care Subsidy rate table for more details.
Visit the Government of British Columbia website for more detailed information about eligibility and application for the Child Care Subsidy.