We are committed to building a child care system that is affordable, inclusive, and accessible through the Canada-Wide Child Care Agreement.
To learn more about the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement and its associated Action Plan, click here.
We’re creating more child care spaces across the Province
We are working hard to increase access to early learning and child care spaces for more children and families across the Province. Our long term vision is that all children and families have access to high-quality, affordable early learning and child care.
We’re steadily working to create new licensed early learning and child care spaces across Nova Scotia. We’re creating a mix of infant, toddler, preschool spaces and before and after school spaces.
By the end of 2026, we plan to have created a total of 9,500 new spaces. Visit this page regularly for updates on our progress.
Nova Scotia Early Learning and Child Care Space Creation Summary
Under the Nova Scotia-Canada Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, Nova Scotia has committed to creating 9,500 new early learning and child care spaces in licensed centres, licensed family homes, and the NS Before-and-After Program, by March 31, 2026.
| Spaces Opened | |||||
| Program Type | 2021-2023(1) | 2023-2024 | |||
| July 13, 2021 - March 31, 2023 |
Q1 Apr 1 - Jun 30 |
Q2 Jul 1 - Sep 30 |
Q3 Oct 1 - Dec 31 |
Q4 Jan 1 - Mar 31 |
|
| Licensed child care centres | 377 | 310 | 302 | ||
| Licensed family homes | 546 | 100 | 150 | ||
| NS Before-and-After Program (NSBAP) | 768 | 0 | 804 | ||
| Total | 1691 | 410 | 1256 | ||
| Cumulative Total | 1691 | 2101 | 3357 | ||
Notes:
(1) 2021 to 2023 covers the time period from July 13, 2021 (when Nova Scotia signed the Canada-Nova Scotia Wide Agreement) to March 31, 2023.
Nova Scotia Early Learning and Child Care Space Closure Summary
Spaces fluctuate when third-party operators make decisions about their child care centres (e.g. selling the business, retiring, or reducing their licensed capacity).
| Spaces Closed (represented as a negative value) | |||||
| Program Type | 2021-2023(1) | 2023-2024 | |||
| July 13, 2021 - March 31, 2023 |
Q1 Apr 1 - Jun 30 |
Q2 Jul 1 - Sep 30 |
Q3 Oct 1 - Dec 31 |
Q4 Jan 1 - Mar 31 |
|
| Licensed child care centres | -413 | -38 | -20 | ||
| Licensed family homes | -433 | -7 | -78 | ||
| NS Before-and-After Program (NSBAP) | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | -846 | -45 | -98 | ||
| Cumulative Total | -846 | -891 | -989 | ||
Notes:
(1) 2021 to 2023 covers the time period from July 13, 2021 (when Nova Scotia signed the Canada-Nova Scotia Wide Agreement) to March 31, 2023.
Expansion Project Updates
Licensed Early Learning and Child Care Centres
|
Operator |
Community (County) |
Description |
Spaces (range) |
Anticipated Opening* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayers Westwood Day Care Centre | Halifax (Halifax) | Renovation |
1-10 |
Winter 2023-2024 |
| Centre de la Petite Enfance de la Rive-Sud | Cookville (Lunenburg) | Renovation |
11-20 |
Open |
| Cumberland YMCA Early Learning Centre | Pugwash (Cumberland) | New Location |
41-50 |
2024 |
| Cumberland YMCA Early Learning Centre | Oxford (Cumberland) | New Location |
18 |
Open |
| Cunard Street Children's Centre | Peninsula (Halifax) | Renovation |
10 |
Open |
| Dartmouth Day Care Centre | Dartmouth East (Halifax) | Renovation |
31-40 |
Fall 2023 |
| Dr. Jane Norman Child Study Centre | Truro (Colchester) | Renovation |
11-20 |
Open |
| Dr. Jane Norman Child Study Centre – Douglas Street | Truro (Colchester) | New Location |
35 |
Open |
| Dr. Jane Norman Child Study Centre – Infant Centre | Truro (Colchester) | New Location |
11-20 |
Open |
| East Preston Day Care Centre | East Preston (Halifax) | Renovation |
38 |
Open |
| East Preston Day Care Centre – 1016 Main Street | East Preston (Halifax) | New Location |
51-60 |
Winter 2023-2024 |
| Edward Jost Children's Centre | Spryfield (Halifax) | New Location |
90 |
Open |
| Edward Jost Children's Centre Annex | Spryfield (Halifax) | Renovation |
10 |
Open |
| First Lake Early Learning Centre Society | Lower Sackville (Halifax) | Renovation |
1-10 |
Fall 2023 |
| La P'tite Academie Societe | Church Point (Digby) | Renovation |
18 |
Open |
| Le Jardin des Petits | Wedgeport (Yarmouth) | New Location |
21-30 |
2024 |
| Le Jardin des Petits | Tusket (Yarmouth) | Renovation |
10 |
Open |
| Learning Grove Child Care Centre | Digby (Digby) | New Location |
1-10 |
Fall 2023 |
| Little People's Place of Shelburne Association | St. Andrews, Shelburne (Shelburne) | Renovation |
4 |
Open |
| Little People's Place of Shelburne Association | King St., Shelburne (Shelburne) | New Location |
32 |
Open |
| Lower Onslow Playschool Association | Lower Onslow (Colchester) | Renovation |
16 |
Open |
| Lower Sackville Nursey School | Lower Sackville (Halifax) | Renovation |
24 |
Open |
| Maritime Muslim Academy | Wolfville (Kings) | New Location |
21-30 |
Winter 2023-2024 |
| Maritime Muslim Academy | Antigonish (Antigonish) | New Location |
21-30 |
Winter 2023-2024 |
| Maritime Muslim Academy | Clayton Park (Halifax) | New Location |
104 |
Fall 2023 |
| Maritime Muslim Academy Preschool | Peninsula (Halifax) | Renovation |
16 |
Open |
| Munro Academy Early Learning Centre | Sydney Mines (Cape Breton) | Renovation |
51-60 |
Fall 2023 |
| Needham Early Learning Centre | Northend Halifax (Halifax) | Renovation |
10 |
Open |
| Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Educators | Port Hawkesbury (Inverness) | New Location |
44 |
Open |
| Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Educators | Northend Halifax (Halifax) | New Location |
21-30 |
TBD |
| Papillons & Pissenlits | Pubnico (Yarmouth) | Renovation |
2 |
Open |
| Playschool Day Care Centre | New Waterford (Cape Breton) | Renovation |
21-30 |
2024 |
| Queens Day Care Association | Liverpool (Queens) | Renovation |
61-70 |
Winter 2023-2024 |
| Taigh Cùraim Day Care Society | Ingonish (Victoria) | New Location |
21-30 |
Winter 2023-2024 |
| Taigh Cùraim Day Care Society | Baddeck (Victoria) | Renovation |
21-30 |
Fall 2023 |
| Taigh Cùraim Day Care Society | Bay St. Lawrence (Victoria) | New Location |
11-20 |
Fall 2023 |
| The Fox & The Hare Daycare | Lockeport (Shelburne) | Renovation |
1-10 |
TBD 2023 |
| Through the Years Day Care & Community Centre | Hubbards (Lunenburg) | Renovation |
16 |
Open |
| Town Daycare Centre | Glace Bay (Cape Breton) | Renovation |
11-20 |
Winter 2023-2024 |
| Whitney Pier Day Care Centre | Sydney (Cape Breton) | Renovation |
21-30 |
Winter 2023-2024 |
| Windsor Day Care Centre | Windsor (Hants) | Renovation |
24 |
Open |
| Windsor Day Care Centre | Windsor (Hants) | New Location |
30 |
Open |
| Windsor Nursey School | Windsor (Hants) | Renovation |
20 |
Open |
| YMCA Halifax | Fall River (Halifax) | New Location |
85 |
Open |
| YMCA of Cape Breton – the Cove Long Term Care Home | Sydney (Cape Breton) | New Location |
41-50 |
2024 |
| YMCA of Cape Breton | Sydney (Cape Breton) | Renovation |
11-20 |
Fall 2023 |
| YMCA of Pictou | Pictou (Pictou) | New Location |
41-50 |
2024 |
| YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia | Bridgewater (Lunenburg) | Renovation |
1-10 |
Fall 2023 |
| YWCA Early Learning & Childcare Centre | Guysborough | New Location |
21-30 |
Fall 2023 |
| YWCA Early Learning & Childcare Centre | Tatamagouche (Colchester) | New Location |
21-30 |
2024 |
*Anticipated timeframes are subject to change based on typical construction risks and delays.
Finding Care
Finding Care in a Licensed Early Learning and Child Care Centre
Visit the Directory of Licensed Child Care Facilities to search for licensed child care facilities in your community.
Finding Family Home Child Care
Family Home Child Care (FHCC) Agencies can help families find care in a regulated, home-like environment. FHCC Agencies support individual child care providers who operate early learning and care programs from their own homes.
To learn more about the family home child care options available in your community, contact your nearest FHCC Agency.
| County | Name of Licensed FHCC Agency | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Inverness, Victoria, Cape Breton, Richmond | Cape Breton Family Place Family Home Child Care Agency | jlatulippe-rochon@familyplace.ca 902-562-5616 https://familyplace.ca/ |
| Pictou, Antigonish, Guysborough, East HRM | Family Home Child Care Society | melissa.j.m@eastlink.ca 902-928-2211 http://www.familyhomechildcare.com/ |
| Colchester, Cumberland | Jane Norman College Family Home Child Care Agency | leanne.joudrie@janenorman.ca 902-897-5111 https://www.janenorman.ca/ |
| Halifax Regional Municipality | Chebucto Family Centre Home Child Care Agency | jane@chebuctofamilycentre.ca 902-479-3031 http://chebuctofamilycentre.ca/ |
| Annapolis, Lunenburg | Family Matters Family Home Child Care Agency | fhdcfamilymatters@gmail.com 902-584-2100 https://family-matters.ca/ |
| Kings, West Hants | Kings County Family Resource Centre Home Child Care Agency | family.centre@kcfrc.ca 902-678-5760 https://kcfrc.ca/ |
| Halifax Regional Municipality | Sackville Family Day Care | sfdca@live.com 902-864-6363 https://www.facebook.com/memorylanefamilyplace/ |
| Halifax Regional Municipality | YWCA Family Home Child Care Agency | m.walsh@ywcahalifax.com 902 423-6162 https://ymcahfx.ca/ |
| Halifax Regional Municipality | Fox Hollow Family Home Child Care Agency | leannethomey@outlook.com 902-826-2709 https://foxhollowfamily.ca/family-agency-contact |
| Halifax Regional Municipality | Giant Steps Family Home Child Care Agency | gsfamilyhome@gmail.com 902-820-3236 https://www.giantstepschildrenscentre.ca/contact |
| Shelburne, Digby, Yarmouth | Lil Jems Family Home Child Care Agency | liljemsfhca@gmail.com 902-740-0789 https://liljemschildcare.ca/ |
| Shelburne, Digby, Yarmouth | Home Away From Home Family Home Child Care Agency | hafhfdca@eastlink.ca 902-745-3663 https://www.facebook.com/homeawayfromhomefamilydaycareagency/ |
| East Hants | East Hants Family Home Child Care Agency | easthantsagency@gmail.com 902-805-6296 |
| Digby | La Garderie Familiale de Clare | lagarderie@bellaliant.com 902-645-2673 |
Before and After School Care
The Nova Scotia Before and After Program is available to families of children ages 4 to 12, who are enrolled in the Nova Scotia Pre-primary Program or the public education system. The program is delivered on-site at school, so children have a seamless day. To learn more about program locations, visit: https://www.ednet.ns.ca/bap/locations.
To learn about the EXCEL Program (available in Halifax Regional Centres of Education Schools), visit: https://www.hrce.ca/about-our-schools/parents/excel-child-care/about-us
How it works: 50 per cent fee reduction
Effective December 31, 2022, families received an additional 25 per cent child care fee reduction (on average). Families are now paying an average of 50% less for child care than they were in 2021. Scroll down to learn more.
This change will help parents and guardians with infants, toddlers and preschoolers across the province. Fees will be moving to $10 a day, on average, by 2026. As part of the Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, our province is starting a five-year journey to build a system of child care that is affordable, inclusive, and accessible. Our vision is child care that cares for everyone – children, families, operators, and early childhood educators.
Fee reductions are applied directly to child care bills. The daily fee reduction amounts are:
| Jan 1, 2022 Average Fee Reduction ($) | Dec 31, 2022 Average Fee Reduction ($) | Total Average 50% Fee Reductions ($) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Child Care Centres | |||
| Infant | -10.50 | -12.50 | -23.00 |
| Toddler | - 9.00 | -9.25 | -18.25 |
| Preschool: Full Day | - 8.75 | -9.50 | -18.25 |
| Preschool: Part Day ? | - 3.75 | -0.75 | -4.50 |
| School Age: Full Day | - 6.75 | -3.25 | -10.00 |
| School Age: Before and After? | - 5.00 | -1.00? | -6.00 |
| School Age: After Only | - 4.00 | -0.50 | -4.50 |
| School Age: Before Only | - 3.00 | 0.00 | -3.00 |
| Family Home Child Care | |||
| Infant | - 8.50 | -8.50 | -17.00 |
| Toddler | - 8.25 | -8.25 | -16.50 |
| Preschool: Full Day | - 8.25 | -8.25 | -16.50 |
| School Age: Full Day | - 8.25 | -8.25 | -16.50 |
| School Age: Before and After | - 5.00 | -1.00 | -6.00 |
| School Age: After Only | - 4.00 | 0.00 | -4.00 |
| School Age: Before Only | - 3.00 | 0.00 | -3.00 |
| Nova Scotia Before and After Programs | |||
| School Age: Before and After | - 4.25 | 0.00 | -4.25 |
| School Age: After Only | - 3.25 | 0.00 | -3.25 |
| School Age: Before Only | - 1.50 | 0.00 | -1.50 |
Eligibility
Licensed centres that sign their amended annual funding agreement, which reflects the principles of the Canada-wide agreement, will be provided with full funding to offset the additional fee reduction. Regulated family home child care programs will be provided with full funding to offset the additional fee reduction.
Child Care Subsidy
Families that receive support from the Province's Child Care Subsidy Program will continue to receive subsidy coverage in addition to the fee reduction. Please reach out to your caseworker or child care centre if you have any concerns.
Parent choice
As a parent, you will always have choice in who provides care for your child. As we advance our work under the Canada-Wide Agreement, parents will continue to have choice. If you would like help in finding a space that can provide you with the fee reduction, please reach out: ECDServices@NovaScotia.ca
Frequently Asked Questions
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