Before and after school program licensing guideline
Learn about the licensing process to start a before-and-after school program for children kindergarten age and older.
Overview
This guideline:
- provides an overview of licensing requirements for before-and-after school programs, including licensing exemptions
- should be used with the Child Care Centre Licensing Manual, which provides detailed information about licensing rules for child care centres
Benefits of a licensed program
Operating a licensed before-and-after school program means:
- you can assure parents and guardians that your program is regulated and overseen by the Ministry of Education
- you could be eligible for financial support to provide affordable child care in your community
How to open a licensed before-and-after school program
It can take 4 to 6 months to open a new before-and-after school program. Timelines depend on various factors such as:
- completing renovations
- purchasing equipment and play materials
- hiring necessary staff, including a supervisor
- developing policies and procedures
- obtaining police record checks
- obtaining all required approvals, such as health approval
Application Process
The application process for a before-and-after school program is similar to the process for full-day child care programs. You must submit your application to the Child Care Licensing System (CCLS) and pay the required non-refundable fee.
Before applying for a child care centre licence for your proposed before-and-after school program, you should:
- review the child care centre licensing manual and the exemptions that may apply to your proposed before-and-after school program
- review the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) and Ontario Regulation 137/15 to understand the licensing requirements
- review the information for providers about before-and-after school programs and operational requirements for before-and-after school programs operated by school boards
- contact your First Nation or the local service system manager that is responsible for planning, managing and coordinating child care in your area to learn about:
- child care needs in your community
- local processes you must follow
- opportunities for funding, including eligibility for funding under the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system
- decide where to open the proposed before-and-after school program:
- if you plan to operate inside of a publicly funded school, contact the school board or school to confirm that a before-and-after school program can be located therein the school.
- if you plan to operate outside of a publicly funded school, you should review the Planning and Design Guidelines for Child Care Centres for information on how to plan and design a licensed child care centre.
For more information on applying for or renewing a child care licence, please visit Apply for or renew a child care licence.
Licensing exemptions for before-and-after-school programs
Before-and-after school programs care for older children and usually operate for shorter time periods than full-day child care programs. Because of this, some rules under the CCEYA do not apply to them.
Programs that operate in a publicly funded school, may be exempt from additional rules, since they use the same space that students use during the school day.
Exemptions for all before-and-after-school programs
| Requirement | Specific exemption |
|---|---|
| Space requirements: subsection 15 (3) | Before-and-after school programs do not need space for the following:
|
| Building requirements: subsection 21 (2) | Exemption from window glass requirements |
| Outdoor play requirements: section 24 | Before-and-after school programs do not need dedicated outdoor play space Note: Although before-and-after school programs are exempt from all physical outdoor play space requirements, programs are still required to allow for outdoor time. See subsection 47 (1.1) for more information. |
| Food requirements: subsection 42 (2) | Before-and-after school programs do not need to provide snacks or meals for children |
| Rest requirements: subsection 47 (2) | Before-and-after school programs do not need to provide a rest period for children Note: Even though children may not have a dedicated nap time or rest period, before-and-after school programs need to incorporate active play, rest and quiet time into their program planning and program statement. |
Additional exemptions for programs in publicly funded schools
Licensees who operate a before-and-after school program in a publicly funded school do not need to meet certain licensing requirements when:
- the school has already met the requirement (for example, fire safety and building code requirements)
- the requirement does not apply to the fixed design of the school space (for example, requirements for window glass or artificial illumination)
Programs must operate for less than 6 hours and serve children kindergarten age and older.
| Requirement | Specific exemption |
|---|---|
| Space requirements: section 12 and section 15 | Before-and-after school programs in publicly funded schools usually use the same space that students use during the school day, such as classrooms or lunch rooms. Because of this, these programs do not need dedicated space for the following:
|
| Building requirements: section 12, section 20 and section 22 | Exemption from:
Note: Site plans are not required as part of the application process. |
| Compliance with local by-laws: section 12 and clauses 13 (1) (d), (e) and (f) | Because the school has already met these requirements, before-and-after school programs do not need to demonstrate compliance with:
Note: Fire safety and evacuation procedures approved by the local fire department are required. |
Licensing resources
- Child care centre licensing manual: Find information about operating a licensed child care centre following our laws. This manual provides information for all types of child care centres, including before-and-after school programs.
- Planning and Design Guidelines for Child Care Centres: This document provides information on how child care centres need to be designed and includes helpful checklists.
- Apply for or renew your child care licence: Learn how to get a child care licence in Ontario, including how to apply, information on fees and required approvals.
- Access the Child Care Licensing System: Register and use the Child Care Licensing System (CCLS) as a new applicant, existing applicant, licensee or service system manager.
- Information for child care providers: Find information on licensing, funding, rules and program requirements for child care providers and operators.