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Information for Families

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.

The below table summarizes spaces that have opened, by program type, since July 13, 2021.
  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).

The below table summarizes spaces that have closed, by program type, since July 13, 2021.
  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

Fee Reduction Table (PDF)

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

This is an important milestone as part of our commitment to a publicly funded childcare system. We know that for many families, childcare is their single biggest monthly expense, and we are working toward achieving a $10 per day childcare, on average, for families by 2026.

Families will see the savings applied directly to their childcare bill. There is nothing for you to do to receive this reduction.

Families with infants and toddlers and pre-schoolers in licensed, funded childcare centres qualify.

In 2019, on average, a family with an infant in a licensed childcare centre paid $42 per day. Childcare is often families’ single biggest monthly expense. Ten dollars per day childcare is part of our commitment to a publicly funded childcare system to ensure all families have access to high quality, inclusive, and affordable opportunities.

Many families with school-aged children are paying, on average, $9–11 per day for before and after school care. We are working to make this the norm for all families with young children.

Please visit: Nova Scotia Before and After Program - Locations for a list of actively operating locations, and for more information about the Excel Program.

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